A
(清华附中模拟考试)
Teachers' Day dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC—220 AD). According to the record, during the Han and Jin dynasties, on August 27 each year, the birthday of Confucius, the emperor would go to the Confucius' temple and pay tribute (敬意) to the ancient philosopher followed by court officials, and would also invite royal teachers to the imperial court for a banquet. On this day, teachers around the nation enjoyed a day's vacation and were given dried meat as gifts.
The capital, all states and counties would also hold ceremonies to worship Confucius. Excellent performing teachers would be chosen from academies and learning institutions nationwide, reporting to the royal court and given 500 liang (两) silver coins as awards.
Until the Qing Dynasty, the ceremony, on August 27, was of a larger scale. The teachers' salaries in schools and academies around the nation were raised, and wellperforming teachers would be awarded official titles or promoted to higher positions.
Normally, an ancient teacher's income included salary, accommodation and festival gifts. There was no fixed tuition fee. Generally the parents paid teachers according to their household income. Both money and basic foodstuff could be paid in exchange for tuition.
In private schools, teachers always received money or gifts from the host family at certain festivals or at the beginning and end of each semester.
The festivals in which teachers received gifts varied from region to region, while the most valued ones were the Duanwu, MidAutumn and Chinese New Year festivals, as well as Confucius' birthday and the private tutor's birthday.
Among all the giftgiving festivals, the first meeting gift was a must. When students met their private tutors for the first time, they had to kneel down to Confucius' spirit tablet and then to their private tutors, before presenting a “gift”．
本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍的是中国教师节的历史，包括其由来，最初孔子诞辰就是教师节。
1．The passage mainly talks about ________.
A．the teachers in ancient China
B．the Teachers' Day in ancient China
C．the teachers' high positions in ancient China
D．the teachers' salaries in ancient China
答案：B
解析：主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍的是中国教师节的历史，包括其由来等。故选B。
2．How long has the Teachers' Day been in China?
A．1,500—2,500 years. B．2,000—3,000 years.
C．3,000—4,000 years. D．4,000—5,000 years.
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据第一段第一句“Teachers' Day dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC—220 AD)”可推断出答案为A。
3．What is the special gift for the teachers on the Teachers' Day during the Han and Jin dynasties?
A．A higher position. B．A day free.
C．500 liang silver coins. D．Days' vacation.
答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句“On this day, teachers around the nation enjoyed a day's vacation and were given dried meat as gifts”可知，在教师节这一天，全国的教师都可以休假一天，并且得到肉干作为礼物。
4．What's the main idea of the last four paragraphs?
A．Where teachers could get gifts in ancient China.
B．Why teachers got gifts in ancient China.
C．How teachers were presented with gifts in ancient China.
D．When teachers received gifts in ancient China.
答案：C
解析：段落大意题。文章后四段主要介绍了在中国古代教师在哪些时间和场合接收礼物的情况。故选C。
