The traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural（农业
）production. But solar term culture is still useful today to guide people's lives through cultural activities and special foods that go with each term.
Great Heat, the 12th solar term of the year, begins this year on July 22 and ends on August 6. During Great Heat, most parts of China enter the hottest season of the year. Here is something you should know about Great Heat.
Great Heat is a season of harvesting（收割）. During this time, the sunshine, high temperatures, and heavy rainfall are good for the plants. But many natural disasters also happen. So, it's important to harvest and plant in time.
Sending the Great Heat ship is a tradition in Taizhou. The ship is full of all kinds of meat. More than 50 fishermen take turns carrying the ship as they walk through the streets. The ship will finally be pulled out of the port and burned at sea. People believe that is a symbol of good harvests and health.
Great Heat is a season with most crickets（蟋蟀）in the countryside. Cricket fighting is popular game for some people in China during this period. The custom dates back over 1,000 years ago.
People in different places enjoy different food. For example, in southern Shandong, people would like to drink mutton soup. Grass jelly is very popular in Guangdong because there is a saying “Eating grass jelly in Great Heat will make you stay young.”
41. Ancient Chinese people created 24 solar terms to ________.
A. keep a healthy life B. serve different food C. help farming
42. Great Heat lasts for ________days this year.
A. 6 B. 16 C. 22
43. In Taizhou, people send the great Heat ship________.
A. just for fun B. to get exercise C. with good wishes
44. According to the passage, ________.
A. Great Heat is an important time to harvest and plant
B. cricket fighting games are getting popular in China now
C. people in Guangdong enjoy mutton soup during Great Heat
45. Which of the following shows the structure of the passage? (P=Paragraph)
A. 
B. 
C. 
本文介绍了大暑是一年中重要的一个节气，是收获和种植的重要时间。不同地方在大暑期间有不同的活动。
41.C【解析】细节理解题。根据“In China, the 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago to guide agricultural（农业的）production.”可知，中国古人创造24节气是为了帮助农业。故选C。
42.B【解析】推理判断题。根据“Great Heat, the 12th solar term of the year, begins this year on July 22 and ends on August 6.”可知，今年大暑从7月22日开始，到8月6日结束，一共持续16天，故选B。
43.C【解析】推理判断题。根据“Sending the Great Heat ship is a tradition in Taizhou. ...People believe that is a symbol of good harvests and health.”可知，在台州，人们带着美好
祝愿送走大暑船。故选C。
44.A【解析】细节理解题。根据“Great Heat is a season of harvesting（收割） ... it's important to harvest and plant in time.”可知，大暑是收获和种植的重要时间，故选A。
45.A【解析】篇章结构题。根据第1段介绍中国传统历法将一年分为24个节气。第2段介绍大暑是一年中的第12个节气以及大暑的时间。第3-6段介绍人们在大暑期间的活动。因此本文分为三部分：第1段，第2段，第3-6段。故选A。
