UNIT 2: CHINESE NEW YEAR

Dear students,
China is our neighbouring country (China borders Pakistan in the northeast). Its official name is PRC (People’s Republic of China.) It is the world's
most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion. Beijing is capital of China.
Our unit is about the traditional Chinese calendar and the Chinese festivals. Chinese New Year is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of
a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar or lunar calendar. It is also called Spring Festival which includes several celebrations like lion dances, dragon
dances, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives, giving red envelopes etc.
VOCABULARY

A. Give the meaning of each word as used in the lesson [copy work]
B. Form the nouns from the given words and use nouns in sentences [book work]
C. Translate the para into Urdu [copy work]
READING COMPREHENSION:

A. Choose the correct option [book work]

B. Answer the following questions [copy work]
GRAMMAR:
A. Fill in the blanks with correct collective nouns [book work]
B. Fill in the blanks with ‘must’ or ‘mustn’t’ [book work]
C. Make the present indefinite or present continuous tense [book work] [do by yourself]
D. Punctuation [book work] [do by yourself]
E. Use of hyphen

WRIING SKILLS:
i. Summarize the lesson by arranging the celebrations of ‘’Chinese new year’’ chronologically [copy work]
ii. Write an essay on ‘’Our Cultural Festivals’’ (220-250 words) [copy work]
VOCABULARY
A. Give the meaning of each word as used in the lesson

WORD MEANING
Gatherings The groups of people meeting together.
Customary Conventional.
Thoroughly To do some action very carefully and completely in all
aspects.
Commonplace (n) To be ordinary
Partake To participate in any activity.
Traits Particular features.
Reinvigorate To strengthen something

B. Form the nouns from the given words and use nouns in sentences: (try to make one sentence by yourself)

a. Gather-gathering: His success was declared in a big gathering.

b. Symbol-symbolic: The pigeon is a symbol of peace.
c. Prosper-prosperity: We should work hard for the prosperity of our country.
d. Decorate-decoration: He has spent much on decoration of his house.
e. Encourage-encouragement: I am thankful to you for this encouragement.
C. Translate the para into Urdu.

It is a traditional practice for adults to give children little red envelopes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . until the recipient has left the home of the giver.
Translation:
READING COMPREHENSION:
B. Answer the following questions.
1. When does Chinese New Year start?
The Chinese follow lunar calendar which is based on the phases of moon and has shorter cycle than sun. Therefore, Chinese New Year never starts on the
same date each year. It starts between January 21 st and February 20th.
Q: Why do Chinese families do thorough cleaning of their houses before New Year’s Day?
Ans: Prior to the first day of the New Year, it is customary for the Chinese families to thoroughly clean their houses as it is said that cleaning before New
Year’s Day removes the bad luck of the previous year and makes the house ready to accept the good luck of the New Year.

Q: Which colour is not allowed and which colour is encouraged on Chinese New Year? Why?
Ans: Wearing the black colour on Chinese New Year is not allowed as it is considered to be a symbol of death, however, wearing red colour is encouraged
as it turns away bad spirits.

Q: What do the decorations on doors and windows symbolize?

Ans: it is a tradition in Chinese families to hang up signs and posters on doors and windows with Chinese word fu (福 means fortune, blessing, good-luck,
happiness) written on them. These decorations on doors and windows symbolize luck and happiness.

Q: What is the significance of New Year’s Eve Dinner?

Ans: The significance of the New Year’s Eve Dinner is that it helps Chinese families to sit together and mend their bonds, to get prosperity and for their
long-lasting relation and affection with each other.
Q: What do the little red envelopes filled with money symbolize?
Ans: It is a conventional practice for adults to give children little red envelopes filled with money on a New Year. These envelopes symbolize wealth and
prosperity for the coming year.

Q: What is the importance of Chinese New Year for Chinese families?

Ans: Chinese New Year is very important for Chinese families as it brings them close together. They revive their relationships. They express their thanks for
the previous year and reinvigorate themselves for the New Year

QUESTIONS GIVEN WITHIN THE LESSON

Q: Why is Chinese New Year never on the same day each year?
Ans: The Chinese follow lunar calendar which is based on the phases of moon and has shorter cycle than sun. Lunar calendar has ten days shorter cycle
than the solar calendar. Therefore, Chinese New Year never starts on the same date each year.

Q: What is Chinese belief about cleaning houses before New Year day?
Ans: To clean the house before the starts of New Year is like to wipe away the bad luck of the previous year and makes the house ready to accept the good
luck of the New Year.

Q: Why does this dinner consist of eight or nine dishes?

Ans: The dinner consists of eight or nine dishes because in Chinese language, ‘eight’ means ‘prosperity’ and ‘nine’ means ‘long-lasting’.

Q: Is Chinese belief about people having character traits of animals a fact or an opinion?
Ans: It is Just an opinion because there is nothing in it to be called a fact.

GRAMMAR: [Book work]

COLLECTIVE NOUN: A collective noun denotes a group of people, animals, objects, concepts, or ideas as a single entity. Some examples are appended below.

Array of magazines Audience of football match Society of people Batch of DVDs

Bucket of water Bowl of cereal Box of chocolate Bevy of options
Board of Directors Bunch of flowers Galaxy of stars Cast of clowns
Choir of singers Class of students Committee of experts Company of dancers
Crowd of fans Cup of tea Department of Technology Herd of Bison
Faculty of English Family of trees Firm of lawyers Fleet of ships
Gang of bandits Group of fans Packet of salt committee of public safety
Deck of cards Pile of garbage Senate of the country
Staff of Bahria College Vault of money Tub of water
A. Fill in the blanks with correct collective nouns [do by yourself]

USE OF Must/Mustn’t
Must We use MUST when we want to say that it is necessary or very important that We must not be late.
something happens in the present or future. You must listen to the teacher.
Mustn’t We use mustn't particularly when the prohibition (to ban/ forbid) comes from the One mustn't bottle up one's emotions.
speaker. You mustn’t run in the school corridors.

B. Fill in the blanks with must or mustn’t. [Do by yourself]

C. Make the present indefinite or the present continuous sentences. [Do by yourself]

D. Punctuate the paragraph. [Do by yourself]

.
WRIING SKILLS:
A. Summarize the lesson by arranging the celebrations of ‘’Chinese new year’’ chronologically. [Not to be written on copy]

i. Chinese New Year is a holiday that is celebrated somewhere between ____________________.

ii. Prior to the first day of the new year, houses are _______________________________
iii. The houses are decorated with
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
iv. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, a large dinner is arranged for__________________________
v. Adults give children
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
vi. Every year is associated with one of the twelve _____________________________________________________
vii. Chinese New Year is a time when the family should come
together_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Write an essay on ‘’Our Cultural Festivals.’’

It is well said that the greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals and to represent a typical culture, festivals are great tools.

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people”

Thanks to its historical, geographical and ethnic diversity, Pakistan’s culture is a melting pot of Indian, Persian, Afghan, Central
Asian, South Asian and Western Asian influences. There are over 15 major ethnic groups in Pakistan, which differ in physical features,
historical bloodlines, customs, dress, food and music. Some of these include Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, Kashmiris, Hazaras,
Makranis and Baltis. So there is a diversity in Pakistani culture which makes her festivals more radiant, eccentric and vibrant. Some of
the prominent ones are discussed below.
The Spring Festival, Basant is celebrated with pomp and show on the arrival of spring season in the mid of February. The sport
originated in China about 5000 years ago. This festival is celebrated in all major cities of Pakistan. People traditionally fly kites on the
roofs of their buildings. It is commonly observed that rest houses, hotels and house of relatives of the participants are fully packed
with guests from all over the country. Form last few years government has banned this Cultural Festival due to security and its
dangerous and life threatening consequences.
 In Balochistan, Sibi festival is celebrated in last week of February for fostering their culture and encouraging their people to
flourish their values, work and handicrafts. This festival includes traditional sports, handicrafts exhibition, folk music and dances.
Mela Chiraghan (festival of lamps) a mega event for the people of Punjab and is celebrated with traditional fervour and
activities at the shrine of the renowned Sufi Shah Hussain. He was a 16th-century Punjabi Sufi poet who is regarded as a pioneer of
the ‘’Kafi’’ form of Punjabi poetry. This festival is held for one week outside the Shalimar Gardens, Lahore. The festival attracts a large
number of performing artists who mostly sing Shah Hussain's kafees and dance to the drums.
Traditional polo tournament between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit is being held on the highest polo ground of the world -
The Shandur Pass (Chitral district). Allied activities include fold music, folk dances and other competitions.
Festivals are a time to play the songs people know and are looking forward to hearing.
Another festival ‘’utchal’’ is celebrated usually on 15th and 16th of July by Kalash people in Kalash Valleys, Chitral. It is
celebrated to mark the harvest of wheat and barley. The celebration lasts for two days with dancing, singing, and feasting being its
main features.
The festival, ‘’Lok Mela’’ presents a unique opportunity to watch the culture and craft of the whole country at one place. This
Folk Festival is held for one week (the first week of October) at Islamabad. It includes Folk Music, songs, music contests, folk dances,
craftsmen at work, exhibition and sale of handicrafts.
National Horse and Cattle how is organised annually at Fortress Stadium, Lahore. Cattle races, cattle dances, tent-pegging,
tattoo show, folk music, dances, bands, cultural floats and folk games are the major attractions. The show has been described as an
eloquent expression of Pakistan's heritage and an authentic account of its agricultural and industrial achievements. It is held in
Lahore Fortress stadium at the end of February or at First week of March. The fortress stadium, the venue of the show is thronged by
active participants, foreign visitors and people who watch the festival with great enthusiasm, verve and aplomb.
Kent Jones truly said, ‘’There are as many festivals as there are mosquitoes after a rain.’’ There is a ‘’never-ending list’’ of the
cultural festivals celebrated in Pakistan and it will require a lot of time to write about all of the festivals, so some major ones are
highlighted in this paragraph; Sindh Horse & Cattle Show: (Last week of February) held at Jacobabad (Sindh), Jashan-e-Larkana: (Last
week of February) At Larkana (Sindh), Nauroze: (21-23 March) Celebrated only in Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Chitral. Polo, foot-ball,
volley-ball and hockey matches, folk dances and music, Joshi or Chilimjusht: (14-15 May) Kalash festival of welcoming spring, held in
Kalash Valleys near Chitral, Phool: (20 - 25 September) held in Kalash Valleys near Chitral and includes reaping grapes and walnuts,
dancing and singing.
 Festivals promote diversity, they bring neighbours into dialogue, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic
pride, and they improve our general psychological well-being. In short, they make cities better places to live. All these festivals in one
or the other way exhibit Pakistani Culture and its society values and norms which is presentable all over the Pakistan with pride.

NOTE: The highlighted questions are to be written on the copies