Reading comprehension: (Please write your answers in English)

Question

1. How is a child’s age traditionally calculated in Chinese culture?
2. What are the two types of food traditionally served at Chinese
birthday celebrations, and what do they symbolize?
3. What are two popular gift choices for Chinese birthdays?
4. Why might a Chinese person refuse a gift at first?
5. Why are belated birthday celebrations considered taboo in
Chinese culture?
6. Why do Chinese women avoid celebrating their 33rd birthday,
and what ritual do they perform to neutralize bad luck?
7. What gift items should you avoid giving at a Chinese birthday
celebration, and why?
8. Why are shoes considered an unlucky gift in Chinese culture?
9. What is the significance of red when wrapping birthday gifts in
China?
10. What is the Chinese term for "Happy Birthday"?

Answer 1

1. In Chinese culture, a child's age is traditionally calculated by starting at one year old at birth, and adding a year with each passing Lunar New Year, which can make children appear one or two years older than they actually are.

2. The two types of food traditionally served at Chinese birthday celebrations are noodles and steamed buns. Noodles symbolize long life, while steamed buns represent wealth and prosperity.

3. Two popular gift choices for Chinese birthdays are money in red envelopes (hongbao) and gifts that are considered practical or useful, such as clothing or personal items.

4. A Chinese person might refuse a gift at first as a sign of modesty or humility. It is customary to initially decline a gift three times before accepting it graciously.

5. Belated birthday celebrations are considered taboo in Chinese culture because they are thought to bring bad luck and imply that the person has lived past their designated time.

6. Chinese women often avoid celebrating their 33rd birthday, as it is considered a bad luck year. To neutralize this bad luck, they may perform a ritual involving wearing a special outfit or performing certain traditional customs.

7. You should avoid giving the gift of sharp objects, such as knives or scissors, as they are believed to cut off the relationship. Additionally, gifts that are white or black may be avoided, as these colors are associated with mourning.

8. Shoes are considered an unlucky gift in Chinese culture because the word for 'shoe' (鞋, "xie") sounds like the word for 'evil' (邪, "xie"), which is associated with misfortune.

9. The significance of red when wrapping birthday gifts in China is that red is a color of good luck and happiness. It is thought to bring joy and positive energy to the recipient.

10. The Chinese term for "Happy Birthday" is "生日快乐" (shēngrì kuàilè).