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The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms.Minor Snow, the 20th solar term of the year, begins this year on Nov.22 and ends on Dec.6.
Here are five things you should know about Minor Snow.
Light snow
An ancient Chinese book about plants explains that “in Minor Snow, the weather is cold and it is going to snow, but the snow is light and the earth is not frozen enough.”
Drinking soup
During Minor Snow, indoor heating begins to work, making most people might find their noses and mouths feel a bit dry.The solution is to drink more hot soup, such as cabbage and bean curd soup, mutton and radish (小萝卜) soup and so on.
Eating glutinous (粘的) rice cakes
People have glutinous rice cakes around Minor Snow, which in ancient times, were a traditional festival offering to the bull god.
Making preserved pork
After Minor Snow, the temperature declines sharply and the air becomes dry.It is the best time to start making preserved pork to eat in the bitter winter, especially in the Spring Festival.In the past, when storage conditions were poor, people developed many ways to store food and preserved pork is one such example.Some even say preserved pork tastes more delicious than fresh meat.
Avoiding spicy food
On cold days, people may be greedy for some hot and spicy food to keep warm.Experts say it's wise not to eat overly spicy food since that will increase your inner heat.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了小雪这个节气及其习俗。
1．Which of the following is TRUE about Minor Snow?
A．It will certainly snow in this term.
B．It has the coldest days of the year.
C．It is a term used in China's northern areas.
D．It is a term concerned with weather in China.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第三段可知，小雪是一个有关中国天气的术语。
2．Which food is recommended to eat in Minor Snow?
A．Cabbage and bean curd soup.
B．Preserved pork.
C．Cakes.
D．Spicy food.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第四段第二句中的“The solution is to drink more hot soup, such as cabbage and bean curd soup, mutton and radish (小萝卜) soup and so on.”可知，在小雪时，建议吃白菜豆腐汤。
3．Why did people make preserved pork in the past?
A．People found it hard to store meat in cold winter.
B．It was more delicious to eat than fresh meat.
C．People couldn't afford to buy fresh pork.
D．Nowhere could people buy fresh pork in winter.
解析：选A 推理判断题。根据第六段第三句可知，过去人们之所以做腊肉是因为在寒冷的冬天很难储存肉。
