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The year 2009 is the Year of Ox. The ox is a representative of the farming culture of China. In the farming economy （经济）, oxen are the major animals pulling plows （犁）.
Of course, the good of oxen is not limited to plowing. In fact, they are seen as “ boats on land ” for their ability to carry loads. Besides, the whole body of an ox is full of treasures. Their meat and milk are food full of nutrition, and their skin can be used to make clothes and shoes. With all these qualities, oxen are regarded as generous creatures.
In the past, oxen played an important role in the spiritual life of the Chinese. Even today, oxen still play a special part in some folk activities. For example, some people who live in southwest China will cook cattle bone soup and share it among family members when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13. They believe that the cattle bone soup represents the blood relationship among family members. In order to express their love for oxen, people in some other areas will run to shake off diseases on the 16th day of the first month by the lunar calendar （农历）, and during their run they will take their oxen along, which indicates they regard the creature as human.
Because of the contribution of oxen in their lives, the Chinese people are very grateful to the animal. In addition, the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen help to develop various traditional customs, which becomes an important part of the folk culture of the Chinese nation.
1. The words “boats on land” underlined in Paragraph 2 refer to ______.
A. animals for taking goods
B. creatures for pulling plows
C. treasures of the folk culture
D. tools in the farming economy
2. From the third paragraph, we know that ______.
A. oxen are no more important today than in the past
B. ceremonies are held when people cook cattle bone soup
C. oxen are treated as human in some areas of China
D. people run with oxen to shake off diseases every month
3. Which of the following helps to develop traditional customs?
A. The special role of oxen in farming.
B. People’s respect and love for oxen.
C. The practical value of an ox’s body.
D. The contribution of oxen to the economy.
4. Why does the author write the text?
A. To stress the importance of oxen in farming.
B. To introduce the Chinese folk culture.
C. To describe how to celebrate the Year of Ox.
D. To explain how to develop agriculture with oxen.
representative n . 代表
economy n . 经济
major adj . 主要的
limit to 局限于……；把……限制在……
be full of 充满
generous adj . 大方的；高尚的，高贵的
play an important role in... 在……起到重要作用
spiritual adj . 精神上的
hold ceremony 举行仪式
represent v . 代表
indicate v . 暗示
regard...as... 把……当作……
contribution n . 贡献
be grateful to... 对……感激
1. For example, some people who live in southwest China will cook cattle bone soup and share it among family members when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13.
这句话的主语是some people，谓语是cook和share。who live in south west China是people的定语。when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13是时间状语从句，而其中又包含了一个定语从句 who reach 13。
（参考译文） 例如，在中国西南地区，在孩子13岁举行成年礼的时候，有些人会煮牛骨头汤和家族成员分享以示庆祝。
2. In addition, the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen help to develop various traditional customs, which becomes an important part of the folk culture of the Chinese nation.
这句话的谓语很短（help），但是主语很长（the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen），而且还包含了一个定语从句the thanks （that） people owe to oxen.如果把主语和谓语划分清楚了，这句话就很好理解了。
（参考译文） 另外，牛被用到各种仪式上以及人们对牛的谢意使得更多的传统习俗得以发展，这些习俗成为中国民俗文化重要的组成部分。