Question

Do you have a lucky number? What is it? Many people have a special number that they hope will bring them good luck.

In Chinese culture, some numbers are believed to be lucky or unlucky based on the Chinese word that the number sounds similar to.

For example, the word for the number 8 sounds similar to the word for “making a fortune(发财)”. So, people consider it a very lucky number. Some people will even spend a lot of money to have 8s in their phone numbers or vehicle license plate (车牌照) numbers. The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics began at 8:08 p.m. on August 8, 2008.

The number 9 is also a lucky number because of its connection to the emperors of China. There were nine dragons on emperors’ robes (龙袍) and Chinese myth held that the dragon has nine children. The number 9 also stands for “long lasting”. That’s why a man always proposes to（向---求婚）a woman with 99 or 999 roses.?

So what’s a “bad luck” number in China? It might be 4. Many Chinese people see 4 as a “bad luck” number because it sounds similar to the character for “death”.

Because of this, many buildings skip(跨过) the fourth floor, and simply call it the fifth floor. In Hong Kong, some buildings even skip all floors numbered with 4, such as, 4, 14, 24, 34 and all 40-49 floors. Some buildings also skip the 13th floor, as this is considered an unlucky number in many Christian countries. As a result, a building whose highest floor is 50 may have only 35 physical floors.

1.What makes Chinese people believe a number is lucky or unlucky?

A. the shape of the number

B. the sound of the number in Chinese

C. the history of the numbers

D. the sound of the number in English

2.Chinese people regard the number 9 as______?

A. becoming beautiful B. living a long life

C. making a fortune D. living a happy life

3.From the passage, we know that_______.

A. Many Chinese people don’t like the number 4.

B. all people have the same lucky number

C. the number 9 is lucky because it means “wealth”

D. the number 8 is a lucky number for foreigners

4.What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. Meanings of different unlucky numbers.

B. Meaning of different lucky numbers.

C. Lucky or unlucky numbers in Western culture.

D. Lucky or unlucky numbers in Chinese culture.

Answer 1