Answers
Text 1: BCADB DABCB ADBAD CABCB BADCA B Fast reading: CABDB DBBDD DCCBD Home reading: BDADB DAC
--汤文Some sayings and habits about “four” and “five”. The 5th section:People in China are fond of “six” and “eight” . The last section:Any number can be explained as to make it fit.
To appeal for good luck. To chew people out. Numbers are intimately related to the daily life of Chinese.
ONE
Marking the beginning. The meaning of “independent” or “alone”.
Unit 7 Numbers and Omens
--吴洲
汤文飞 陈聪聪
•According to the passage, numbers play an important role in Chinese culture. •The use of numbers is related to omens.
The 1st section: Origins of some omens and numbers in Books of Changes. nd rd The 2 and 3 sections:Why Chinese people don’t like odd numbers but even numbers.
Some slangs about numbers and omens.
“If the moon has a halo, it will be windy, and a damp plinth foretells rain”. “Fortune comes in pairs”.
“Gold
bracelets becoming a pair”. “May the five fortunes approach your doors”. “If you want to succeed, don’t stray from eight”.
Customs about numbers
At weddings, when chinese people give “red envelopes” with gifts of cash, they only send even amounts. If you give odd amounts, people will not be grateful and even criticize you behind your back for failing to understanding basic manners.
TWO
The meaning of pairs. One plus one,living together.
THREE
• Standing for “many”. • Playing a critical role.
FOUR
A mysterious number. A symbol for the great earth. Not auspicious in Chinese culture.
S
SIX
The largest number on a die(骰子). “66 everything goes smoothly”.
Seven
Not many people take seven to be a lucky number. “Doing the sevens” （做七）.
FIVE
Chinese sign little good or bad significance to “five”. Five fortunes: long life, wealth, health, an ethical life, and a peaceful death. Five elements:metal, wood, water, fire and earth.
Believe it or not, it's up to you
Finding a lucky number is just like burning incense to the gods, it can not determine whether you will succeed or not .Number 8 and 6 can not help you with anything. If you want to be successful, you should work hard. You can believe in lucky numbers, but you can not be too serious.
Eight
In Cantonese(广东人), eight and “success” are similar in sound. In Hong Kong, businessmen are especially fond of eight. Lucky in the number of hotel rooms and phone numbers.
Nine
Generally referring to a great majority or a large number. Inauspicious to run across nine.
Book of changes(易经）
One: tai-ji or great supreme Two: two rituals Three:three powers Four:four directions Five:five pathways Six :six realms Seven :seven rules of government Eight:eight trigrams Nine:nine chains Ten:ten depictions