BBC: 2024农历新年快乐

Happy Lunar New Year 2024

常速| 四级 | 高考| 392词 | 2min33s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. What is the main difference between the Gregorian calendar and the lunar calendar mentioned in the text?

A. The Gregorian calendar has fewer months.

B. The Gregorian calendar always starts on January 1st.

C. The lunar calendar celebrates the New Year in December.

D. The lunar calendar doesn’t follow any cycles.

Q2. During which period can the Lunar New Year occur according to the text?

A. Between December 1st and December 31st.

B. Between January 1st and January 20th.

C. Between January 21st and February 20th.

D. It is fixed on February 1st each year.

Q3. What animal is highlighted in the Chinese zodiac for this year’s Lunar New Year in the text?

A. Dragon.

B. Rabbit.

C. Ox.

D. Dog.

Q4. What do younger people receive from others during Lunar New Year celebrations in some cultures according to the text?

A. Fireworks.

B. Envelopes containing money.

C. Colorful floats.

D. Lanterns.

Q5. Which food is traditionally eaten by the Vietnamese during Lunar New Year?

A. Bun cha.

B. Banchan.

C. Bunchun.

D. Toku.

Q6. What is the central idea of the text?

A. The differences between the Gregorian and lunar calendars.

B. The fashion trends during Lunar New Year.

C. The foods associated with Lunar New Year traditions.

D. The celebration of Lunar New Year across different Asian cultures.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Happy Lunar New Year 2024

It’s Lunar New Year, a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the beginning of the New Year. In the lunar calendar, the event is marked by many Asian cultures in lots of different ways. (Q1) In the UK, like in other countries around the world, we use what’s called the Gregorian calendar. This divides the year into 12 months and always starts on January 1st. But the lunar calendar is different. It follows the cycle of the moon, and the Lunar New Year is marked at the start of a new moon. (Q2) Because of this, the date of the Celebration changes each year but always falls sometime between January 21st and February 20th.

(Q3) In Chinese tradition, this year marks the year of the Dragon because each year is named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, which include rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. And every 12 years, each of these animals gets a moment in the spotlight. In Chinese culture, it’s believed that the animal associated with the year that you’re born represents the different qualities and characteristics that you have. So if you’re born in the year of the Dragon, you’ll be confident and intelligence. Other cultures have different zodiac animals. The Vietnamese Lunar New Year zodiac, for example, includes a cat instead of a rabbit.

the Chinese zodiac: 中国十二生肖

Lunar New Year celebrations last for around 15 days, and the important occasion is marked in a variety of ways. In different cultures, new clothes are often worn. For the Chinese, red is seen as a lucky color. Koreans like to wear hanbok. And the Vietnamese by red, yellow and blue clothing for luck. (Q4) In some cultures, younger people are given envelopes containing money, fireworks and special parades with colorful floats and performances fill the streets. Windows are decorated and beautiful lanterns are often lit and released.

A big part of Lunar New Year across all cultures is food. (Q5) The Vietnamese traditionally eat bunchun, made from sticky rice, mung beans and pork. Koreans eat toku, a special soup containing rice cakes. And the Chinese often celebrate with foods including fish dumplings and spring rolls. It’s a time when families come together to let go of the past and welcome the new. A very happy Lunar New Year to those who are celebrating.

sticky adj. 黏（性）的

mung n. 绿豆

Part III. KEY

Q1. B. 细节题。文章中提到：“In the UK, like in other countries around the world, we use what’s called the Gregorian calendar. This divides the year into 12 months and always starts on January 1st.” 意为：“在英国，像世界上其他国家一样，我们使用所谓的公历。它将一年分为12个月，并总是从1月1日开始。” 而农历遵循月亮的周期，这是两者主要区别。因此答案为B。

Q2. C. 细节题。文章中提到：“...the date of the Celebration changes each year but always falls sometime between January 21st and February 20th.”意为：“……庆祝日期每年都在变化，但始终落在1月21日至2月20日之间。” 因此答案为C。

Q3. A. 细节题。文章中提到：“This year marks the year of the Dragon because each year is named after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac...”意为：“今年是龙年，因为每年都以中国十二生肖中的一个动物命名……”。因此答案为A。

Q4. B. 细节题。文章中提到：“In some cultures, younger people are given envelopes containing money...” 意为：“在某些文化中，年轻人会收到装有钱的红包……”。因此答案为B。

Q5. C. 细节题。文章中提到：“The Vietnamese traditionally eat bunchun, made from sticky rice, mung beans and pork.” 意为：“越南人传统上吃由糯米、绿豆和猪肉制成的bunchun。” “Bun cha” 和 “Banchan” 是不同国家的其他食品，而 “Toku” 是韩国人在新年期间吃的食品。因此答案为C。

Q6. D. 主旨题。整篇文章讲述了不同亚洲文化中庆祝农历新年的多种方式，包括日历差异、生肖、庆祝活动和传统食物。虽然文章涉及了日历、食物和时尚，但所有这些细节都是围绕庆祝农历新年这一核心主题展开的。因此答案为D。

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