Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs given in brackets.

The teacher told us that the plants (decline) __________at an alarming rate then.

Lunar New Year, also known as Tet is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar. Tet takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least the third day. There are some common things that people do during Tet such as visiting a person’s house on the first day of the new year (xông nhà), ancestral worship, wishing New Year’s greetings, lucky money to children and elderly people with the hope that it will bring fortune to them. Tet is also a special occasion for family reunions. During Tet, Vietnamese people visit their relatives. They also go to pagodas and temples to pray health and fortune. They consider Tet to be the first day of spring, and the festival is often called “Hội xuân” (spring festival). I like Tet holiday because of some reasons. Firstly, I don’t have to go to school. Secondly, I receive a lot of lucky money from adults. In addition, I wear new and beautiful clothes and visit my relatives during Tet. I also have a chance to make Chung cakes with my parents. It’s really interesting! Tet is so important to me and to all Vietnamese citizens. This is because we get more days off from work and study, and therefore we have more time to spend with our families and our loved ones. It is also a great time to think about what we have done in the previous year, and to make plans for the upcoming year.