Chinese New Year

Quiz 2014

Joanne Chen

IVC Chinese Instructor

1. A true fact about the 12 Zodiac is:

A. Animals in Chinese zodiac were also created for counting months

B.It is believed that the personality of the horse is patient

C.The Ox is listed No. 3 after the tigerD.Dragon is the only unreal animal

1a. A true fact about the 12 Zodiac is: Dragon is the only unreal animal

龍 龙lóng

2. Which of the following animals is not one of the 12 zodiac in Chinese calendar?

A. PigB. MonkeyC. SnakeD. Cat

2a. Which of the following animals is not one of the 12 zodiac in Chinese calendar?

Cat

3. What fruit, representing luck and prosperity, is traditionally the most popular to hand out for the Chinese New Year?

A. PineappleB. TangerinesC. Star FruitD. Papaya

3a. What fruit, representing luck and prosperity, is traditionally the most popular to hand out for the Chinese New Year?

Tangerines

4. 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.D.They are gifts from your ancestors.

4a. What's the legend behind using firecrackers to celebrate Chinese New Year?

The firecrakcers meant to scare away monsters and the evil spirit.

5. What color symbolizes fire, according to the legend, can drive away bad luck and evil spirits?

A. Red ( 红 hóng)B. Green ( 绿 lǜ) C. Yellow ( 黄 huáng)D. Gold ( 金 jīn)

5a. What color symbolizes fire, according to the legend, can drive away bad luck and evil spirits?

Red 红 (hóng)

6. Chinese New Year’s celebrations traditionally start at the beginning of the end on what day?

A.The 7th dayB.The 10th dayC.The 15th dayD.The 30th day

6a. Chinese New Year’s celebrations traditionally start at the beginning of the end on what day?

The 15th dayThe Lantern Festival

元宵节Yuán xiāo jié

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

A.Eat RiceB.Leave homeC.Sweep the houseD.Drink wine

7a. According to Chinese custom, on New Year's Day you shouldn't...

Sweep the house扫地 sǎo dì

8. Which one of the following terms is the Chinese New Year’s Greeting

A. Shēngrì kuàilèB. Yí lù shun fēngC. Gōng xǐ fā cái D. xiǎo xīn kāi chē

8a. Which one of the following terms is the Chinese New Year’s Greeting

1) Shēngrì kuàilè (happy birthday)2) Yí lù shun fēng (Have a nice journey)3) Gōng xǐ (Congratulation) 4) xiǎo xīn kāi chē (Drive carefully)

Gōng xǐ fā cái 恭喜發財

9. According to tradition, who do families visit on the second day of Chinese New Year?

A. Their mother’s or wife’s family members

B. Their co-worker’s family membersC. Their friends’ family membersD. Their teacher’s family members

9a. According to tradition, who do families visit on the second day of Chinese New Year?

Their mother’s or wife’s family members

10. The Chinese call their New Year as

A.Winter FestivalB.Spring Festival C.New FestivalD.Lucky Festival

10a. The Chinese call their New Year as

Spring Festival Chūnjié 春节

11. According to Chinese calendar, 2014 is the year of

A. OxB. DragonC. TigerD. Horse

11a. According to Chinese calendar, 2014 is the year of

Horse

Mǎ nián 马年馬 mǎ

12. What is the new year’s eve dinner called in Chinese?

A. 蛋炒饭 dàn chǎo fàn B. 恭喜饭 gōng xǐ fàn C. 年夜饭 nián yè fàn D. 排骨饭 pái gǔ fàn

12a. What is the new year’s eve dinner called in Chinese?

年夜饭 nián yè fàn

13. The meaning of serving the whole fish in the Chinese New Year’s dinner

13a. The meaning of serving the whole fish in the Chinese New Year’s dinner

Wealth, as the Chinese word for fish, ‘yu,’ sounds like the word for abundance.

年年有余Nián nián yǒu yú

魚鱼yú yú

14. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

A. 春联 Chūn lián B. 灯笼 Dēng lóngC. 红包 Hóng bāo D. 年糕 Nián gāo

14a. What is this? 这是什么？ Zhè shì shénme?

春联 Chūn lián

15. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

A. 春联 Chūn lián B.灯笼 Dēng longC.红包 Hóng bāo D.年糕 Nián gāo

15a. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

红包Hóng bāo

16. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

A. 春联 Chūn lián B.灯笼 Dēng longC.红包 Hóng bāo D.年糕 Nián gāo

16a. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

灯笼 Dēng lóng

A. 春联 Chūn lián B. 灯笼 Dēng longC. 红包 Hóng bāo D. 年糕 Nián gāo

17. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

年糕Nián gāo

17a. What is this? 这是什么？Zhè shì shénme?

18. The meaning behind serving “year cake”(nián gāo) is…

年糕 (nián gāo)

18a. The meaning behind serving “rice cake”(nián gāo)

年糕 (nián gāo) is made of glutinous rice flour, the rice cake is supposed to help the eater climb the social ladder as the Chinese word nian gao is a homonym for “higher year.”

19. The meaning behind serving dumplings ( 饺子 jiǎozi) is….

19a. The meaning behind serving dumplings ： The shape of the dumplings are said to

resemble old ingot-shaped coins or yuanbao. The dumplings are meant to bring eaters

prosperity and wealth. It’s tradition to eat them at midnight on New Year’s eve, and hide a clean coin inside one of the dumplings.

元宝 Yuán bǎo Jiǎozi 饺子

20. Dragon Dance / Lion Dance in Chinese is called:

20a. Dragon Dance/ Lion Dance is called

舞龙舞狮wǔ long wǔ shī