The Hidden Beauty Of Pingfeng

The Chinese Pingfeng （folding screen）is an ancient invention and traditional Chinese furniture（家具）. Its earliest common use dates from the Han Dynasty.The term Pingfeng means protection from wind， showing its purpose at the very beginning.

As time passes by，it has been made into different sizes with colourful paintings.On screens usually appears a dragon.It stands for nobility（高贵）and power.The crane（仙 鹤），a beautiful bird，can be seen on screens，too.It's a symbol of everlasting（长生的） life. Beautiful flowers，which mean wealth and good luck，are also chosen as a popular design of the Pingfeng. All the designs carry people's beautiful wishes.

Behind Pingfeng lies a beautiful story.In the past， the unmarried daughter of a rich family was not supposed to see or be seen by men except her father， brothers or very close male cousins.When an admirer paid a visit， however，she might take a secret look at him from a screen behind which she would be completely hidden.Her father would discuss poems with the young man and ask him to create one. If the daughter and her father gratified the young man’s poem and his looks，she might agree to take him as a husband.

Today Pingfeng is back in fashion forits beautyand its practical（实际的）use as furniture.Acting as a moving wall or divider，it can be the perfect match（相配）for modern sofas and walls，which adds style to them.Pingfeng is more than beautiful furniture.

1. What was Pingfeng used for at the very beginning？

A.Protecting people fromwind.

B. Dividing a room.

C.Making a room beautiful.

D. Hiding a person.

2.How does the writer develop his idea in Paragraph 2？

A. By telling a story.

B. By raising questions.

C. By giving examples.

D.By explaining the result.

3.Theunderlined word“gratified”inParagraph3refers to

A.wereexcitedabout B.weresatisfied with C.wereworriedabout D.were nervousabout

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage？

A. The Chinese Pingfeng can date from the Song Dynasty.

B.The crane is a symbol of wealth and good luck.

C.Inthe past， the unmarried daughter shouldn'tbe seen by men.

D.The Chinese Pingfeng can match the modern sofas and walls.

【导语】本文是一篇说明文。（剩余1071字）