The Pingshi Sky Lantern Festival|来去平溪放天灯

by Marcus Maurice

Look in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a sky lantern!

瞧瞧天上！那是一只鸟！是飞机！不，是一盏天灯！

During the Sky Lantern Festival in Pingshi, the normally sleepy town becomes very hectic. The traffic is nearly at a standstill, and the trains are packed with people. However, as soon as visitors set foot on the main road in Pingshi, something magical happens. All of the frustrations with the stressful ride disappear, and all eyes stare into the night sky dotted with sky lanterns floating high above. It's an unforgettable sight, and many people return to Pingshi year after year to partake in the festivities.

According to legend, sky lanterns date back to the Three Kingdoms Period and were invented by Zhuge Liang, one of the greatest military strategists in Chinese history. Sky lanterns, also called Kongming lanterns because of Zhuge's nickname, were originally used to send military signals over long distances. Now, sky lanterns are no longer used for war. Instead, people write wishes of love and peace on them before letting them drift towards the heavens, hoping their dreams will come true.

People release sky lanterns all year round, and it doesn't even have to be at night. First, you buy a sky lantern and paint some words in red or black on its sides. Then, while holding the lantern by its top, you place some ghost money that has been dipped in oil under it, and light it. Soon the hot air rises and the lantern is inflated and ready to fly. Once released, the lantern hovers in the sky and everyone watches their wishes float high up into the heavens.

1.  According to the article, what happens when visitors arrive in Pingshi?

(A) They are harassed by people selling sky lanterns.

(B) They feel like resting because of the long ride.

(C) They forget about the worries they had and enjoy the sky lanterns.

(D) They become frustrated because of all the crowds.

2.  Sky lanterns were originally used _____.

(A) in every city in Taiwan

(B) as a way for soldiers to communicate with each other

(C) as hot air balloons to transport military weapons

(D) by Zhuge Liang to show his loyalty to the emperor

3.  After someone buys a sky lantern, what is the next thing they should do with it?

(A) Paint wishes on its sides.

(B) Glue ghost money to it.

(C) Wait until night to release it.

(D) Paint it either red or black.

　　平溪这个平时宁静的小镇，在天灯节期间交通变得十分繁忙，车辆几乎动弹不得，火车的车厢里也挤满了人。然而，等游客一踏上平溪的主要道路，神奇的事情就发生了。紧张车程引起的所有沮丧心情全部一扫而空，所有目光都盯着夜空上所点缀的天灯，飘浮在高空。这令人难忘的景象使许多人年复一年地回到平溪，参加这些庆祝活动。

　　根据传说，天灯源自于三国时代，为诸葛亮所发明，他是中国历史上最伟大的军事家之一。诸葛亮，字孔明，所以天灯又名『孔明灯』，原本是用来传递军情到远方。而今，天灯不再用于战争。相反地，人们施放天灯飘向天际之前，会在上头写下爱与和平的希望，冀望他们的梦想能够成真。

　　一年到头都有人放天灯，并且不一定得在夜晚进行。首先，购买天灯后，在灯的四面画上一些红字或黑字。然后抓住天灯的顶端，把浸过汽油的纸钱放在天灯底下，然后点燃纸钱。热空气很快上升，充满气的天灯就准备起飞了。天灯一旦被放开就会飘在空中，而每个人看着他们的希望越飞越高飘向了天际。

标准答案: 1. (C)　2. (B)　3. (A)

For Your Information

据平溪长者所述，天灯的施放传统始自道光年间，来自福建的安溪移民陆续到达文山地区的平溪开垦。那时有盗匪作乱，骚扰聚落，平溪人只好避难山中，待危机过后，才由留守村中的壮丁以天灯为信号，通知乡人返家。如今天灯的施放，已象征着大家祈福纳喜的活动，每年的元宵节当晚，吸引着数万人潮到平溪参与盛会。（数据源：http://www.5657.com.tw/taipei/index.htm）