1 . The practice of drinking tea has a long history in China. According to a popular story. tea was discovered by Shennong in 2737 BC when a leaf from a nearby shrub（灌木）fell into the water Shennong was boiling. Tea is deeply woven into the history and culture of China.

The Chinese have a saying: “Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea are the seven necessities to begin a day.” Though tea is the last on the list, we still can see its importance in daily life. A simple meal in Chinese is Cu Cha Dan Fan, which shows even a simple meal is finished with tea.

For the Chinese, tea drinking and tasting are not parallel. Tea drinking can help keep up one’s spirit while tea tasting has cultural meaning. Tea and tea sets should match the breeze, the bright moon, bamboo and so on. All these show the goal of Chinese culture: the harmonious（和谐的）unity of human beings with nature.

Similarly, tea-drinking habits differ in different parts of China. Generally. flowering tea is popular in northern China; green tea is preferred in eastern China, and black tea is fit for people in Fujian and Guangdong. Green tea is the most popular type of tea drunk in China. Green tea usually loses its flavor（味道）within a year while the flavor of black tea can remain for several years. As a result, black tea has long been traded worldwide. It still accounts for over ninety percent of all tea sold in the West. At present, tea is commonly seen in Chinese restaurants and grocery shops worldwide.

1. Why does the author use the Chinese saying in Paragraph 2?

A．To show the tea’s role in Chinese culture.

B．To express the author’s love for tea.

C．To show the history of tea.

D．To explain the Chinese saying.

2. What does the underlined word “parallel” probably mean?

A．Different.

B．Strange.

C．Ordinary.

D．Equal.

3. Why has black tea been long traded as goods?

A．It suits people in Fujian and Guangdong.

B．It tastes better than green tea.

C．Its flavor can be kept for a long time.

D．Its flavor is preferred by the West.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The development of tea drinking in China.	B．The culture of tea in China.
C．The popularity of tea drinking in China.	D．The history of tea in China.