China Today Chinese Culture

Transcription

1 Non-fiction: China Today Chinese Culture China Today Chinese Culture Ancient China was once the world s most advanced civilization. China s art, food, and government influenced all the nearby cultures. Many things that we use today were invented in China. Some of these inventions are paper, silk, gunpowder, and the compass. 1 Writing The oldest dated book using woodblock printing was made in China in 868 A.D. Chinese writing is a very important part of Chinese culture. Chinese writing uses symbols instead of letters. There are thousands and thousands of Chinese symbols. Just to read the newspaper in China, you would need to know about 3,000 symbols! In China, writing these symbols can be an art form. For about 2,000 years, artists have used a paintbrush to draw Chinese characters. Artists paint the characters on silk or paper. This is called calligraphy. It is one of China s most famous art forms. Festivals China s most celebrated annual 2 holiday is the Chinese New Year. This holiday is also called the Spring Festival. The Chinese calendar is different from the calendar used in the United States. China s calendar is based on the movements of the sun and the moon. The Chinese New Year happens sometime in either January or February on our calendar. An animal, like a tiger, a dragon, or a dog, represents each New Year. People celebrate the New Year with parades, decorations, and gifts. Everyone visits family and friends. On New Year s Eve, the whole family gathers 1 compass- an instrument that shows directions 2 annual- yearly

2 Non-fiction: China Today Chinese Culture for a feast. After dinner, the family stays up playing games. They leave the lights on in the house all night. At midnight, firecrackers light up the sky. Then everyone knows that the New Year has come. The family opens all the windows and doors of the house. This tradition is a way to let out the old year and welcome in the new one. Everyone forgives old grudges. 3 They wish for peace and happiness. 3 grudges bad feelings that you hold against someone

3 Questions: China Today Chinese Culture Name: Date: 1. On our calendar, the Chinese New Year happens a. on January 1 st. b. in June or July. c. in January or February. d. three times per year. 2. Why does the author describe the Chinese writing system? a. It is an important part of Chinese culture. b. To understand Chinese culture, you must read Chinese writing. c. the English writing system is based on the Chinese system. d. It is how we have learned about Chinese New Year. 3. Based on this passage, what can be concluded about Chinese writing? a. It is not a very important part of Chinese culture. b. It has been a part of both art and technology for a long time. c. Most Chinese people do not know how to write down the language. d. Chinese people prefer writing to be painted rather than printed. 4. Read the following sentences: Ancient China was once the world s most advanced civilization. China s art, food, and government influenced all the nearby cultures. The word advanced means a. slower than others b. strange or unusual c. developed to a high level d. in an artistic way 5. This passage is mostly about a. important elements of Chinese culture b. how the Chinese language is written c. how Chinese culture has influenced other cultures d. the various holidays celebrated in China

4 Questions: China Today Chinese Culture 6. How do Chinese people celebrate the New Year? 7. Explain whether people in China today have much in common with people in China long ago. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Chinese people have been printing books 868 A.D. a. before b. during c. since d. while 9. Read the following sentence. In China, you have to learn around 3,000 symbols in order to read the newspaper. Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you. 1. Who? you 2. What do you have to do? 3. Why? 4. Where?

5 Questions: China Today Chinese Culture 10. Vocabulary Word: annual: once a year. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence:

6 Answers: China Today Chinese Culture Passage Reading Level: Lexile 670 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: Ancient China was the world s most advanced civilization. They invented many things we still use today, like paper, silk, the compass, and writing. China s biggest holiday is the Chinese New Year. 1. On our calendar, the Chinese New Year happens a. on January 1 st. b. in June or July. c. in January or February. d. three times per year. 2. Why does the author describe the Chinese writing system? a. It is an important part of Chinese culture. b. To understand Chinese culture, you must read Chinese writing. c. the English writing system is based on the Chinese system. d. It is how we have learned about Chinese New Year. 3. Based on this passage, what can be concluded about Chinese writing? a. It is not a very important part of Chinese culture. b. It has been a part of both art and technology for a long time. c. Most Chinese people do not know how to write down the language. d. Chinese people prefer writing to be painted rather than printed. 4. Read the following sentences: Ancient China was once the world s most advanced civilization. China s art, food, and government influenced all the nearby cultures. The word advanced means a. slower than others b. strange or unusual c. developed to a high level d. in an artistic way

7 Answers: China Today Chinese Culture 5. This passage is mostly about a. important elements of Chinese culture b. how the Chinese language is written c. how Chinese culture has influenced other cultures d. the various holidays celebrated in China 6. How do Chinese people celebrate the New Year? Suggested answer: Answers will vary. Chinese people celebrate the New Year with parades, decorations, and gifts. Families gather and have a feast, and shoot firecrackers at midnight. They open all the windows and doors overnight as a tradition of welcoming the new year. 7. Explain whether people in China today have much in common with people in China long ago. Suggested answer(s): Chinese people today have much in common with people in China long ago because their language and art forms have been around for thousands of years. People in China still celebrate Chinese New Year the way they have traditionally for a long time. Chinese people today do not necessarily have much in common with people in China long ago because many things have changed over thousands of years. They may have some traditions that have remained but many other things have changed. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Chinese people have been printing books 868 A.D. a. before b. during c. since d. while 9. Read the following sentence. In China, you have to learn around 3,000 symbols in order to read the newspaper.

8 Answers: China Today Chinese Culture Answer the questions below based on the information provided in the sentence you just read. One of the questions has already been answered for you. 1. Who? you 2. What do you have to do? learn around 3,000 symbols 3. Why? in order to read the newspaper 4. Where? in China 10. Vocabulary Word: annual: once a year. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.