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 called the Grain Rain because it is known for “rain” that helps the grain grow. From its name, we can guess it means 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 planting 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, farmers begin to grow crops (庄稼). Farmers often say, “Spring rain is as precious (珍贵的) as oil.” It brings farmers hope for a good year ahead.

    There are also many interesting customs during the Grain Rain. In the northern part of China, people like to eat Chinese toon (椿芽) mixed 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.

Chinese Paper Cutting

    As traditional Chinese art, paper cutting has a long history. The first and earliest pa per cutting was found in China 1,500 years ago. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Luckily, Voyo Woo, a Chinese immigrant（移民）in America, is trying to bring this art back to life.

    One Saturday in 2014, Ms. Woo held a paper cutting show at a shopping center near Washington. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. She hoped more people would enjoy the art of paper cutting.

    Ms. Woo began to study the art of paper cutting as a 14-year-old girl in her hometown in China. She said all the students at school had to learn paper cutting. But she had a deep love for it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Later, she won the second prize in a national painting and art competition. Ms. Woo went to America after she finished college in 2008. Soon after that, she took part in an activity to promote（宣传）Chinese paper cutting. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. “It is important to promote this art to Americans or anyone who is interested in it. Maybe it will make this art more popular.” Woo said.

    From the art of paper cutting, people can know about Chinese cultural values, history and stories of people's life. Ms. Woo uses the art as a tool to show Chinese culture to people who know little about it. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, but also for people all over the world. 

信息归纳。请阅读下面有关母亲节的文章，根据所提供的信息，完成信息卡, 把答案写在答题卡指定的位置上。

    Mother's Day is celebrated in the USA. It is also a holiday in some other countries. It is on the second Sunday in May. It is a day to thank mothers. On that day mothers usually receive flowers or cards. On the cards, children will write “Thanks, Mom”，“To the best mother in the world”，“Best wishes for Mother's Day” and so on. We should make mothers happy on that day.

    Where does the idea for the holiday come from? We should thank Miss Anna M．Jarvis. She brought up the idea of having such a day. She lived in West Virginia. Her mother died on May 9th, 1905.She had a deep love for her mother. She wrote letters to some important persons. In her letters she asked them to decide a day for all mothers. Then Mother's Day was made on the second Sunday in May by the USA in 1913.

    In China, children give presents to their mothers on Mother's Day, or the whole family go out and try to do something nice for their mothers. Because mothers always think of others more than themselves. They love their children and families very much. Everybody should show his love to his mother and help her as much as possible.

Information Card

    Is it difficult for you to get up in the morning? Are you often late for work or school? Yes? Then a scientist called Mike has a special bed for you. His Bed will get you up in the morning! Here is how it works!

    The bed is connected to an alarm clock. First, the alarm clock rings. You have a few minutes to wake up. Next, a tape recorder in the bed plays soft music and then your girlfriend's beautiful voice comes, “Wake up, darling, please.” A few minutes later, loud music comes from the tape recorder. At the same time, you may hear the voice of your boss. Your boss shouts angrily, “ Wake up at once, or you'll be late!” If you don't get up after that, you'll be sorry! A plastic “foot” is in the bed. It kicks you in the head. Then the bed waits for a few more minutes. What! You're still in bed! Slowly the top of the bed rises higher and the foot of the bed goes lower. Finally, you fall off the bed and onto the floor. You are out of the bed and awake!

    Mike made his bed because he wanted to take part in a competition. Mike won one of the top prizes for his bed.

    Confidence(自信) is very important in daily life. It can help you to develop a healthy attitude (态度). A study shows that the people who are more confident are much happier. They can have more chances to make themselves successful. But how to be more confident? Here are some suggestions:

    Speak loudly When you are not confident，you can't do well what you want to do. You speak in a voice so low that other people can hardly hear you. Try to speak loud enough so that people can understand you clearly. The high voice can help you become more confident.

    Play sports Playing sports makes you tired but completely relaxed. When you do sports，you will be full of confidence.

Encourage yourself Write down a list of things you did during the day and see how many things you have done well. Did you finish your homework? Did you tell a joke that made everyone laugh? Give yourself praise for the good things you've done.

    Get rid of(消除) fear Fear comes along with failure(失败).But it's easy to get over(克服) if you know that failure is part of your life. Don't hide your head just because you said something stupid last time. Try to start again and believe you can do better.

    Pick up what you like to do If you like singing, sing as much as you can. In some ways, a hobby can make you excellent. And it will make you happy and confident.

    The play takes place in a typical, old Beijing teahouse. The main characters are teahouse's owner (Wang Lifa)and his customers, who all live in the same neighbourhood. They come in and out of the teahouse and talk to each other.

    The play reflects(反映) changes in the lives of almost 70 characters. It includes three parts. The first act takes place in 1898 at the time of the Qing Dynasty. The second act jumps forward 20 years and the final act takes place in 1948.

    In Teahouse, the writer Lao She says goodbye to the old Chinese society and hello to the new one. It's about the changes that have taken place in Chinese society in almost 50 years. All types of people come to the teahouse in Beijing. Some come to do business. Others come just to sit and pass the time. There are some good, kind people and there are also some bad, nasty(讨厌的) characters. They meet, they talk, they argue, they gossip(闲聊)and then they get on with their lives.

    Teahouse was first put on in 1958. It is still one of the most popular plays in China. It is a favourite work by Lao She, one of China's most popular writers. Anyone who is interested in Chinese life and history should see the play. It helps one to understand Chinese culture better.