There are 24 solar terms (节气) in China, and the Grain Rain(谷雨) is one of them. It falls on April 19 this year.

    This solar term is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the Grain Rain because it is known for “rain” that helps the grain grow. From its name, we can guess it{#blank#}2{#/blank#}a time of more rain. So if you go out in the next two weeks, you may need to bring an umbrella with you.

    But this is a great time for{#blank#}3{#/blank#}crops. If you miss the time for planting during the Grain Rain, you will feel sorry later. So maybe you can try to plant some flowers or vegetables in your garden. When the spring rain falls,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} begin to grow crops (庄稼). Farmers often say, “Spring rain is as precious (珍贵的) as oil.” It{#blank#}5{#/blank#}farmers hope for a good year ahead.

    There are also many interesting{#blank#}6{#/blank#}during the Grain Rain. In the northern part of China, people like to eat

    Chinese toon{#blank#}7{#/blank#}with eggs. The food made during the Grain Rain tastes wonderful and is good for your stomach. In the southern part of China, the tea leaves are picked during the time. They are called Grain Rain tea, which is famous for its freshness and sweet smell.

    A kind of little cars may some day take the place of today's big ones. People will like this kind of small cars more and more. The car is as small as a bike but can {#blank#}1{#/blank#} two people in it. Everybody can drive it, just like riding a bike. Even children and old people can drive them to school and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    If everyone drives such a car in the future, there will be less {#blank#}3{#/blank#}in the air. There will also {#blank#}4{#/blank#}more space for all the cars in cities, and the street will have more space for people to walk. Three such cars can fit in the space now needed for one car of the {#blank#}5{#/blank#}size.

    The little cars of the future will cost much less {#blank#}6{#/blank#} to own and to drive. And they can go only 65 kilometers an hour, so driving will be safer, too.

    The cars of the future will be fine for {#blank#}7{#/blank#} around a city, but they will not be useful for a long trip.

    This kind of cars can save a lot of gasoline( 汽油 ). They will go 450 kilometers {#blank#}8{#/blank#} needing to stop for more gasoline.

    If big cars are still used along with the small {#blank#}9{#/blank#} , two sets of roads will be needed in the future. Some roads will be needed for the big, faster cars and other roads will be needed for the small, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} cars.