Practice Test 12
•25 QuestionsPassage (Mid-Autumn Festival): The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Zhongqiu Jie, is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon appears especially bright and round. Historically, moon worship and harvest thanksgiving practices existed in earlier dynasties; over time, the festival became a widely shared occasion emphasizing reunion and gratitude. A well-known legend tells of Chang’e, who flew to the moon after consuming an elixir, leaving her husband Hou Yi on earth; in many retellings, the story highlights longing and devotion rather than triumph. In contemporary life, families gather for dinner, step outside to admire the moon, and share yuebing (mooncakes). The moon’s roundness symbolizes completeness, so people often say “tuan yuan” (reunion) when greeting relatives. Mooncakes vary by region. In Guangdong, Cantonese-style mooncakes are rich and dense, often filled with lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk. In Suzhou, some mooncakes have flaky pastry and can be sweet or savory. In Beijing and northern areas, mooncakes may be lighter and less oily, with fillings such as red bean or mixed nuts. Beyond food, lanterns are common symbols: children carry bright lanterns, and some communities hold lantern fairs. In parts of Fujian and Taiwan, families may also set out fruit offerings, such as pomelos, because their name sounds like “blessing” in some dialects. A university student in Shanghai says, “I study far from home, so sharing mooncakes on video call still makes me feel connected.” An older resident in Guangzhou adds, “The moon reminds us to be grateful and to return when we can.” Based on the passage, why are lanterns important in the context of the Mid-Autumn Festival?
Passage (Mid-Autumn Festival): The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Zhongqiu Jie, is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon appears especially bright and round. Historically, moon worship and harvest thanksgiving practices existed in earlier dynasties; over time, the festival became a widely shared occasion emphasizing reunion and gratitude. A well-known legend tells of Chang’e, who flew to the moon after consuming an elixir, leaving her husband Hou Yi on earth; in many retellings, the story highlights longing and devotion rather than triumph. In contemporary life, families gather for dinner, step outside to admire the moon, and share yuebing (mooncakes). The moon’s roundness symbolizes completeness, so people often say “tuan yuan” (reunion) when greeting relatives. Mooncakes vary by region. In Guangdong, Cantonese-style mooncakes are rich and dense, often filled with lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk. In Suzhou, some mooncakes have flaky pastry and can be sweet or savory. In Beijing and northern areas, mooncakes may be lighter and less oily, with fillings such as red bean or mixed nuts. Beyond food, lanterns are common symbols: children carry bright lanterns, and some communities hold lantern fairs. In parts of Fujian and Taiwan, families may also set out fruit offerings, such as pomelos, because their name sounds like “blessing” in some dialects. A university student in Shanghai says, “I study far from home, so sharing mooncakes on video call still makes me feel connected.” An older resident in Guangzhou adds, “The moon reminds us to be grateful and to return when we can.” Based on the passage, why are lanterns important in the context of the Mid-Autumn Festival?