B
There are twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac(生肖). Each year is named after one of these animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. These animals have different special meanings.
In 2025, it's the Year of the Snake. The snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese Zodiac. Years of the Snake include 2025, 2013, 2001 and so on. In Chinese culture, people think snakes are smart. People born in the Year of the Snake are often clever. They like to think a lot before they do things, and they make good plans. The Year of the Snake can teach us something useful. It tells us to be cautious in our lives. We should look at things closely and use our heads when we have problems.
The Chinese Zodiac is an important part of Chinese traditions. When the Spring Festival comes, people put up pictures and small things of the zodiac animal of that year in their homes. This makes the festival feel more fun. Whether you were born in the Year of the Snake or another year, the Chinese Zodiac can give you some good ideas.
()41. What is the zodiac animal of 2022?
A. B. C. D.
()42. Which is TRUE about people born in the Year of the Snake?
A. They never look at things closely.
B. They don't like to think before doing things.
C. They are often clever and make good plans.
D. They always ask for help when they have problems.
()43. What does the underlined word "cautious" mean in Chinese?
A. 粗心的 B. 谨慎的
C. 冲动的 D. 大方的
()44. We can learn from the last paragraph.
A. the Chinese Zodiac makes the Spring Festival a bit boring
B. the Chinese Zodiac is an important part of Chinese traditions
C. only people born in the Year of the Snake can get good ideas
D. people buy clothes with pictures of zodiac animals during the Spring Festival
()45. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. How to celebrate the Spring Festival.
B. The 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac.
C. The special meaning of the Year of the Snake.
D. The Chinese Zodiac and the Year of the Snake.
C

41. A 【解析】图文理解题。根据“In 2025, it's the Year of the Snake”可知，2025 年是蛇年，2022 年距离 2025 年差 3 年，蛇年往前推 3 年是虎年，故选 A。
42. C 【解析】细节理解题。根据“People born in the Year of the Snake are often clever. They like to think a lot before they do things, and they make good plans.”可知，蛇年出生的人通常聪明，喜欢在做事前思考，并制定好计划，故选 C。
43. B 【解析】词义猜测题。根据后文“We should look at things closely and use our heads when we have problems.”可知，“look at things closely and use our heads”体现的是“谨慎的”态度，蛇年教会我们在生活中要“谨慎”，因此 cautious 意为“谨慎的”，故选 B。
44. B 【解析】细节理解题。根据“The Chinese Zodiac is an important part of Chinese traditions.”可知，生肖是中国传统的重要组成部分，故选 B。
45. D 【解析】主旨大意题。文章先介绍了中国生肖有 12 种动物，然后重点讲了 2025 年蛇年，包括蛇年的时间、蛇年出生的人的特点、蛇年的寓意，以及生肖在中国传统中的重要性。结合选项可知，D 项“中国生肖和蛇年”涵盖了文章主要内容，故选 D。