在日本的傳統中，櫻花季節是春天的象征，研究發現，自1200年前開始有記錄以來，今年的日本櫻花盛花期來得是最早的。大阪大學收集的數據顯示，2021年京都市的櫻花季于3月26日迎來了盛花期。

In Japan, viewing cherry blossom is a pastime that’s been enjoyed for centuries. Outings are organised to eat and drink while sitting beneath the white and pink flowers. The blossom marks the arrival of spring and reflects the transient beauty of nature.

在日本，觀賞櫻花是數百年來廣受喜愛的消遣活動。人們會組織郊游，在粉白相間的花朵下邊吃邊喝。櫻花盛開標志著春天的到來，反映了大自然稍縱即逝的美麗。

Down the ages, records of when the trees bloom have been kept by monks, aristocrats and officials. The data is so detailed and goes back so far, it’s allowed scientists to reconstruct Japan’s climate in centuries past.

古往今來，僧侶、貴族和官員們都對櫻花樹的開花日期有所記載。這些數據非常詳細，而且可以追溯到很久以前，從而讓科學家們能夠重組幾個世紀前日本的氣候數據。

Following a warm spring, this year, the blossom has emerged in the city of Kyoto at its earliest date for 1,200 years. Peak blossom arrived on March 26th.

隨著一個暖春的來臨，今年京都市迎來了1200年來最早的花期。花朵于3月26日迎來盛花期。

The previous earliest date was way back in 1409, when the blossom came one day later. For the last 200 years, flowerings have generally come earlier and earlier caused, scientists think, by climate change.

上一次最早的盛花期要追溯到1409年，不過比今年晚一天。從整體上看來，過去200年間的開花時節來得越來越早，科學家們認為這是氣候變化造成的。

詞匯表

cherry blossom 櫻花
pastime 消遣、娛樂（活動）
arrival 到來，來臨
transient 轉瞬即逝的，短暫的
bloom 開花
detailed 詳細的，詳盡的
reconstruct 重建，重組
emerged 出現
flowerings 開花時節，花期

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. True or false? In Japan, cherry blossom marks the end of spring.

2. Who have kept records of when the trees bloom down the ages?

3. On what day did the season reach its peak in 1409?

4. According to scientists, what has caused the flowerings to come earlier and earlier in the past 200 years?

答案  

1. True or false? In Japan, cherry blossom marks the end of spring.
False. It marks the arrival of spring.

2. Who have kept records of when the trees bloom down the ages?
Records of when the trees bloom have been kept by monks, aristocrats and officials.

3. On what day did the season reach its peak in 1409?
The cherry blossom season reached its peak on March 27th, a day later than this year’s earliest date.

4. According to scientists, what has caused the flowerings to come earlier and earlier in the past 200 years?
Scientists think climate change has caused the flowerings to come earlier and earlier for the last 200 years.