Exercise 7. Read and choose the best answers.
Whether in ancient times or today, Tet is still the biggest (1)
holiday in
Viet Nam. Vietnamese people believe that Tet marks the beginning of a new year, a day
of hope and belief in new and good things and a farewell to the old. As life is getting
better, Tet food is not as important as it once was. Although "banh Chung" (a square
glutinous rice cake) is no longer a special Tet dish, many families still continue the
tradition of (2)
banh Chung to give Tet a better atmosphere. The act of being
the first person to enter a home on the first day of Tet is called "xông dát". It is believed
that the person who enters first will (3)
the life of the homeowner for the whole
year to come. The age of the person is also quite important. On the first days of the new
year, people visit family and friends. Adults give "lucky (4)
"to children and
the elderly, and wish for a prosperous and lucky year. People also practise the custom of
visiting pagodas to (5) for good fortune. Students often begin a new year writing
in the early spring, for a new year of study and successful exams. Each (6)
or country has its own (7)
group
and practices. Tet in Viet Nam is a significant and
for centuries. Through the ups
unique cultural event that has been passed (8)
and downs of history, many customs have more or less fallen into oblivion or been
significantly changed. But no matter where they are, Vietnamese people are always
aware of their roots and practise traditional customs.