Ⅰ.阅读理解
Winter solstice (冬至), an important solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, as the name implies, means the coming of winter.It generally occurs between December 21st and 23rd.According to the traditional Chinese calendar, one year is divided into twentyfour solar terms.On this day, in the Northern Hemisphere the period of daytime is the shortest of the year and the period of night is the longest.
In Northern China there is a custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice.The tradition of eating dumplings during the winter solstice has its origin in early times.It is said that dumplings were invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a wellknown doctor from the EasternHan Dynasty.
One winter, he noticed that many people's ears were frozen, which made him sad.In order to prevent and cure the freezing injury caused by the cold, he asked his followers to boil mutton, chilies and other ingredients with medicinal properties in a pot for fending_off cold.After these were boiled, they ladled (舀取) the mutton and other ingredients out of the pot, cut them into pieces, and then wrapped them with dough skins in the shape of ears.Afterward, they put these into pots to boil again.
On the day of the winter solstice, the people whose ears were frozen were sent to eat the dumplings.People who ate it felt warm from head to toe and had their cold injury healed.Thereafter, every winter solstice people ate dumplings.Then there became a saying that if you eat dumplings during the winter solstice, then you won't freeze your ears off.
Afterwards, Zhang Zhongjing died on the day of winter solstice.In order to honor him, every year on the day of the winter solstice every household makes dumplings.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了华北地区的人们在冬至吃饺子这个习俗的由来。
1．What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Winter solstice is the most important among twentyfour solar terms.
B．Australia in the Southern Hemisphere has the longest period of daytime on winter solstice.
C．If people don't eat dumplings, they will have their ears frozen off.
D．China has the longest period of daytime on winter solstice.
解析：选B 推理判断题。根据第一段最后一句可知，冬至这天，在北半球白天的时间是一年中最短的，而澳大利亚在南半球，所以冬至这天白天时间最长。故选B项。
2．What does the underlined phrase “fending off” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A．Putting off. B．Putting out.
C．Keeping up. D．Fighting off.
解析：选D 词义猜测题。根据第三段内容可知，张仲景为了预防和治疗寒冷引起的冻伤，他让人们把各种食材放入锅内煮以此来御寒，故该短语意为“避开，抵挡”。故选D项。
3．According to the passage, people make dumplings to eat every winter solstice because ________.
A．they want to honor Zhang Zhongjing, who invented dumplings to cure people of freezing injury
B．they want to celebrate the important solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar
C．dumplings boiled with mutton, chilies and other ingredients with medicinal properties taste delicious
D．they can feel warm from head to toe and have their freezing injury healed
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据最后一段内容可知，张仲景在冬至那天去世了，为了纪念他，每年冬至的时候，每家每户都包饺子。故选A项。
4．Which of the following should be the best title for the passage?
A．The Inventor of Dumplings
B．The Origin of Winter Solstice
C．The Importance of Eating Dumplings
D．The Origin of the Custom of Eating Dumplings on Winter Solstice
解析：选D 标题归纳题。本文主要讲述冬至吃饺子这个习俗的由来，而A、B、C三项只是文中的细节。故D项是最合适的标题。
