The old Chinese saying “as happy as spending the New Year” might be outdated now in the busy modern world. The Spring Festival is regarded as the most important festival for Chinese people and an occasion for all family members to get together, like Christmas in the West. But many traditional customs accompanying the Spring Festival, however, have weakened in practice.
Setting off firecrackers was once the most typical custom of the Spring Festival. People thought the sputtering(爆裂)sound could help drive away evil spirits. However，the activity has been completely or partially forbidden in big cities for years as the government has taken security, noise and pollution factors into consideration.
“In recent years, some cities have begun to allow people to light firecrackers during limited hours at the Spring Festival, surrendering to(屈从于)public demand. Respecting folk traditions is a gesture of respect toward public opinion,” said Zhou Xing, a folklore researcher.
“As people gain more income and it becomes easier to buy daily goods, the New Year holiday is just like any other. After long workdays, many people use the New Year holiday to take a rest, rather than visiting friends and neighbors. The process of making and enjoying the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve is the most important thing. However, many families would like to eat out to save time and energy,” said Li Shunzhi，a resident of Harbin, Heilongjiang.
“I enjoy the holidays very much in the countryside. My family has been preparing for the Spring Festival more than two weeks before the holiday, cleaning the house, buying holiday goods and decorating the house with paper-cuttings. On New Year’s Eve, the whole family stays up to see the New Year in, and in the days to follow, a series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held. Without the ancient traditions, the holiday is nothing to us,” said Zhang Hui, from Hebei.
1.Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?
A.Setting off fireworks has been forbidden in some big cities for years.
B.Nowadays, people can light fireworks in some cities at the Spring Festival.
C.People believe that the sound of fireworks can drive away evil spirits.
D.In the past, setting off fireworks couldn’t be seen almost anywhere.
2.What Li Shunzhi said implies _____.
A.what people do during the festival now is different from the past
B.people would like to have the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve
C.people prefer to visit friends and neighbors rather than take a rest
D.the New Year holiday is just like any other day
3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.Zhang Hui often spends two weeks preparing for the Spring Festival.
B.Zhang Hui is used to spending the Spring Festival with his family.
C.Zhang Hui always takes part in a series of activities after the Spring Festival.
D.Zhang Hui lives in the urban area.
4.What does the whole passage show?
A.The Spring Festival is as lively as before.
B.The Spring Festival is outdated now.
C.The Spring Festival is losing its qualities.
D.The Spring Festival in China is more important than Christmas in the West.
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