Culture Study Unit 4: Chinese holidays Multiple Choice Questions 1. Many Asian countries celebrate the lunar New Year along with China. What country's holiday is called Tet? a. Korea b. Vietnam c. Japan d. Thailand 2. What's the legend behind using firecrackers to celebrate Chinese New Year?

a. They're meant to scare away monsters. b. They wake up the gods in time for the celebration. c. They provide light for the dark winter night.

3. According to Chinese custom, on New Year's Day you shouldn't...

a. Eat anything b. Leave home c. Sweep the house 4. What color should you wear for New Year's celebrations?

a. Red b. White c. Brown d. Black 5. According to tradition, who do families visit on the first day of Chinese New Year?

a. Youngest family members b. Extended family member c. Oldest family members d. Friends

6. What fruit, representing luck and prosperity, is traditionally the most popular to hand out

for the Chinese New Year? a. Pineapple b. Tangerines c. Star fruit d. Papaya

7. Chinese New Year's celebrations traditionally start at the beginning of the month and end

on what day? a. 15th b. 8th c. 25th d. 12th

8. During Chinese New Year celebrations, what do Chinese people often paint with birds,

animals, flowers, zodiac signs, hang in temples, and carry to an evening parade under the light of the full moon?

a. Bamboo sticks b. Bowls c. Masks d. Lanterns 9. What is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo, and is the highlight of the traditional

lantern festival? a. Floats b. Lanterns c. A dragon d. Fans

10. Which of these animals is not one of the twelve in the Chinese calendar?

a. Snake b. Cat c. Monkey d. Pig

11. What determines the start of the Chinese New Year? a. the new moon on the first day of the new year

b. January 1st of the lunar calendar c. the fourth Thursday in January d. a Chinese monk who chooses the day according to tradition

12. There is a grand celebration that takes place about fifteen days after the day of the Chinese New Year. What is it called?

a. Lunar Celebration b. Lantern Festival c. The Son of Heaven d. Day of the Dragon 13. How many years of the cycle are the years of the zodiac animals?

a.10 b.4 c.6 d.12 14. Which of the following is not an animal on the Chinese zodiac?

a. Pig b. Dragon c. Rat d. Hawk

15. Which year of the zodiac was it in 2016? a. Year of the Dog b. Year of the Horse c. Year of the Rooster d. Year of the Monkey

16. Which of the following is most widely accepted legend pertaining to the order of the Chinese zodiac?

a. the animals are in order of the gods’ favorite to least favorite b. the animals go in order of creation, first created to last created c. the largest animal was first, the smallest last d. the animals would race across a river, the first to win headed the cycle

17. Why would a person in China most likely ask another person what their zodiac animal is? a. to see what type of pets they might own

b. to buy them gifts for their year c. to find their exact age d. to see who should receive respect because they are older 18. Which of these is most widely celebrated at the time of the Chinese New Year?

a. Family ties b. The nation’s people c. Chinese heroes 19. What of these acts is not for preparing for the Chinese New Year?

a. Wearing loose-fitting garments for folk dancing b. Cooking a traditional Chinese meal c. Cleaning every part of the house d. Hanging Chinese decorations on the outside of the house

20. This Chinese festival falls on the seventh month of the Chinese almanac, when the gates of hell are believed to be opened. The main rituals of this major occult festival are held on the 15th, and it lasts a whole month. Which festival is this?

a. Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao) b. Hungry Ghosts Festival (Zhong Yuan Jie) c. Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie) d. Ancestor Worshipping Day (Qing Ming)

21. For the Chinese, this color is associated with death, considered extremely unlucky during

the New Year celebrations, and should be rigorously avoided. What color is this? a. Black b. White c. Red d. Blue 22. During New Year, the Chinese will traditionally wrap a gift of money in a packet which is

given by adults to their children and children of relatives. What color is this money packet? a. Black b. White c. Red d. Yellow

23. What does the color red mean to the Chinese? a. Evil b. Purity c. Anger d. Luck 24. Which activity do the Chinese NOT do on Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu)? a. Dig graves to prepare for future deaths. b. Eating zongzi c. Drinking realgar wine d. Racing dragon boat 25. Which of the following activities is NOT related to the Moon Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie)? a. Having family meal b. eating moon cakes c. Reading moon lady story d. Riding boat 26. Which food is involved in the Dragon Boat Festival?

a. God cookies b. Zongzi c. Moon Cake d. Rice cake 27. When does the Moon festival take place? (Lunar calendar)

a. January 15 b. March 15 c. May 15 d. August 15 28. Which one of the following acts is NOT appropriate in Chinese New Year when you visit your family?

a. Wearing black sweater b. Giving red pockets c. Bring candy as gift d. Drinking tea 29. What is the symbol of EATING FISH in Chinese New Year?

a. Surplus b. Birth c. Evil d. Past 30. What is the Chinese New Year’ Eve dinner called?

a. Pai Gu Fan b. Xin Nian Fan c. Ping An Fan d. Nian Ye Fan

Short paragraph questions

1. Compare the Chinese New Year customs and your own culture’s New Year activities. Are there any similarities or differences?

2. Briefly describe what will a Chinese family need to prepare before celebrating Chinese New Year?

3. Compare a festival in your culture to Chinese Dragon Boat festival. What is the history behind? What are the activities people do? What types of food are eaten?