Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct option to each of the following questions.
Hung Yen longan, often called the “king of longans”, is one of the most famous fruits in northern Vietnam. Grown in the rich land of the Red River Delta, it is loved for its delicate sweet taste, pleasant smell and soft white flesh. The scholar Le Quy Don once said that its flavor was so wonderful that it felt like a gift from heaven.
In Vietnamese, Hung Yen longan is often called “nhãn lồng”. There are different ideas about the meaning of the word “lồng” - cage. Some people believe it comes from the bamboo cages used to protect the fruit from birds and bats attracted by its strong smell. Others think the fruit was once sent to the King in special cages as a tribute to the King. Another explanation is that the fruit has many layers of flesh covering the seed.
An old longan tree in Hien pagoda is believed to be the first longan tree in the area. According to the legend, a mandarin once stopped there during longan season. After tasting the fruit, he realized how special it was and brought some to the King. The King loved it, and from then on, people offered Hung Yen longan to the King’s palace every year. That is why it was also called “tribute longan”.
Longan flowers bloom in spring, and fruits become ripe around the sixth and seventh lunar month. Besides being delicious, longan is also healthy because it has high calorie content, low fat and richness in vitamin C, which can improve our immune system. People can also dry the fruit to make dried longan, which is sweet, fragrant and edible for an extended period of time. It can also be used for other purposes.
(Adapted from https://vietnamheritage.com.vn/the-gift-of-heaven/)