1 . The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms (节气). Cold Dew (寒露), the 17th solar term of the year, begins this year on Oct. 8 and ends on Oct. 23. At this time, the dew is greater and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe. Here are three things you should know about Cold Dew.

Foggy autumn

Temperatures drop significantly in October. When the cold air encounters autumn rain, the abundant water vapor in the air soon reaches saturation (饱和状态), and then it turns into fog. When the humidity is high, there will be foggy regions formed in many areas of China.

Season for fishing

People always say that fishing in shallow water in autumn makes sense. That’s because during the Cold Dew period, temperatures decrease quickly and sunshine doesn’t reach deep water thoroughly. Fish swim to shallow water areas where the water temperature is relatively high.

Season for drinking chrysanthemum (菊花) wine

Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness, many regions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival, which often falls around Cold Dew. According to ancient records, drinking wine made with chrysanthemums, poria cocos mushroom and pine oleoresin grants (给予) people long-lasting youth.

1. What is NOT the characteristic of Cold Dew?

A．Wet weather.	B．Low temperatures.
C．Foggy conditions.	D．Fully-grown crops.

2. Why is Cold Dew a time for fishing?

A．Because fish become mature in autumn.

B．Because fish move slowly in cold water.

C．Because fish eat more in low temperatures.

D．Because fish tend to gather in warm areas.

3. Which is the function of drinking chrysanthemum wine?

A．Celebrating Cold Dew.	B．Relieving people from autumn dryness.
C．Ensuring people a stronger build.	D．Keeping people warm in low temperatures.

2 . End of Heat, the 14th solar term of the year, implies that most parts in China are getting rid of the hot summer and entering autumn.     1    

Enjoying clouds

When the End of Heat comes, summer heat is gone. Clouds in the sky scatter around forming different shapes. There is a saying that goes, “Enjoying the clouds of various forms in July and August (lunar month).”

Autumn weariness

There is a saying that goes, “People tend to feel sleepy in spring, doze in summer and feel tired in autumn.” As the weather becomes cool during End of Heat, many people will feel tired and weary, which is called “autumn weariness”.     2     Get enough sleep, do more exercises and keep plants indoor to help.

Eating Duck

Duck has a sweet flavor and according to traditional Chinese medicine it has a “cool” nature.     3     There are many recipes for cooking duck such as roast duck, cooked duck with lemon, smoked duck with walnut dressing and sautéed duck with ginger shoots. The tradition of eating duck during the End of Heat period is still popular in China.

The Fishing Season Festival

    4     During this period, the Fishing Season Festival is held in regions along the coastline of the East China Sea in Zhejiang Province. The festival is held on the day when the fishing ban ends and fishermen can start fishing again. Due to high temperatures in the sea, stocks of fish remain and become mature.     5    

A．It is a sign that the human body needs rest.

B．For fishermen, the End of Heat is a season of harvest.

C．End of Heat is also the busy harvest season for farmers.

D．People can enjoy many kinds of seafood during this period.

E．A folk tradition is to eat duck during the End of Heat period.

F．The following are things that you should know about End of Heat.

G．The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms.