The Qingming(Pure Brightness) Festival is one of the 24 seasonal division points in China, falling on April 4-6 each year. After the festival, the temperature will rise up and rainfall increases. It is the high time for spring plowing and sowing. But the Qingming Festival is not only a seasonal point to guide farm work, it is more a festival of commemoration.

清明节是中国24个节气之一，每年4月4-6日。节后，气温会升高，降雨量也会增加。现在是春耕播种的好时节。但清明节不仅是指导农活的季节性节日，更是一个纪念节日。

The Qingming Festival sees a combination of sadness and happiness.

清明节是悲伤和快乐的结合。

This is the most important day of sacrifice. Both the Han and minority ethnic groups at this time offer sacrifices to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the diseased. Also, they will not cook on this day and only cold food is served.

这是最重要的牺牲日。此时，汉族和少数民族都会祭祀祖先，并为患病者扫墓。此外，他们不会在这一天做饭，只供应冷食。

The Hanshi(Cold Food) Festival was usually one day before the Qingming Festival. As our ancestors often extended the day to the Qingming, they were later combined.

寒食节通常在清明节前一天。由于我们的祖先经常将这一天延长到清明，他们后来被结合在一起。

On each Qingming Festival, all cemeteries are crowded with people who came to sweep tombs and offer sacrifices. Traffic on the way to the cemeteries becomes extremely jammed. The customs have been greatly simplified today. After slightly sweeping the tombs, people offer food, flowers and favorites of the dead, then burn incense and paper money and bow before the memorial tablet.

每个清明节，所有的墓地都挤满了前来扫墓祭祀的人。前往墓地的路上交通变得异常拥挤。今天，海关大大简化了。在略微扫墓后，人们会献上食物、鲜花和死者的最爱，然后烧香、烧纸钱，在牌位前鞠躬。

In contrast to the sadness of the tomb sweepers, people also enjoy hope of Spring on this day. The Qingming Festival is a time when the sun shines brightly, the trees and grass become green and nature is again lively. Since ancient times, people have followed the custom of Spring outings. At this time tourists are everywhere.

与扫墓者的悲伤相反，人们在这一天也享受着春天的希望。清明节是一个阳光明媚、树木和草地变绿、大自然再次活跃的日子。自古以来，人们就有春游的习俗。这时到处都是游客。

People love to fly kites during the Qingming Festival. Kite flying is actually not limited to the Qingming Festival. Its uniqueness lies in that people fly kites not only during the day, but also at night. A string of little lanterns tied onto the kite or the thread look like shining stars, and therefore, are called "god's lanterns."

人们喜欢在清明节放风筝。放风筝其实并不局限于清明节。它的独特之处在于人们不仅在白天放风筝，而且在晚上也放风筝。绑在风筝或线上的一串小灯笼看起来像闪闪发光的星星，因此被称为“上帝的灯笼”。

The Qingming Festival is also a time to plant trees, for the survival rate of saplings is high and trees grow fast later. In the past, the Qingming Festival was called "Arbor Day". But since 1979, "Arbor Day" was settled as March 12 according to the Gregorian calendar.

清明节也是植树的时候，因为树苗的成活率很高，树木生长速度也很快。在过去，清明节被称为“植树节”。但自1979年以来，“植树节”被定为公历的3月12日。

Tomb Sweeping Day is popularly associated with Jie Zi Tui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.

清明节通常与介子推联系在一起，介子推于公元前600年生活在山西省。传说中，介子推用自己的一条腿救了饥饿的主人（晋文公）的命。当晋文公成功成为一个国家的统治者时，他邀请了他的忠实追随者加入他的行列。然而，介子推拒绝了他的邀请，宁愿和母亲在山里过隐士的生活。

Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "Cold food festival feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.

晋文公相信他可以通过火烧山把介子推赶出来，于是命令手下放火焚烧森林。令他惊愕的是，介子推选择留在原地，被烧死。为了纪念介子推，晋文公下令在介子推去世纪念日扑灭每家每户的火灾。于是开始了“冷食节”，这是一个因为不能生火而不能烹饪食物的日子。

The "Cold food festival" festival occurs on the eve of Tomb Sweeping Day and is often considered as part of the Tomb Sweeping Day festival. As time passes, the Tomb Sweeping Day festival replaced the "Cold food festival". Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Tomb Sweeping Day is to remember one's elders by making a special way to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Tui.

“寒食节”发生在清明节前夕，通常被认为是清明节的一部分。随着时间的推移，清明节取代了“寒食节”。无论遵守什么习俗，清明节的基本习俗都是通过特殊方式祭扫长辈的坟墓、骨灰或祖先牌位来缅怀长辈。为了使这次访问更有意义，应该花一些时间提醒年轻的家庭成员他们祖先的生活和贡献，以及介子推的故事。

Last Tomb Sweeping Day, I return home to worship my grandfather. Tomb Sweeping Day is a folk Festival. The day before Tomb Sweeping Day is called Cold Food Festival. But Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food. One theory is that since any number of ghosts roam around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.

去年清明节，我回家祭拜我的祖父。清明节是一个民间节日。在清明节前一天被称为寒食节。但是今天，中国人会去拜扫祖先的坟墓，清除长出的杂草，扫去灰尘，家人会摆出食物和纸钱作为供品。与在家中祭祀祖先的供品不同，坟墓中的供品通常是干巴巴的食物。有一个理论是，因为许多鬼魂在坟墓周围游荡，不太吸引人的食物会被祖先消耗掉，而不会被陌生人抢走。

With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.

随着时间的流逝，这个庆祝生命的日子成为纪念过去祖先的日子。遵循民间宗教，中国人相信先人的灵魂会照顾家庭。牺牲食物和精神财富可以让他们保持幸福，家庭将因丰收和更多的孩子而繁荣。

There is a small lake in my hometown, which is one of my favorite place. I always go to the lake with my friends. We swim and play a lot there. Sometimes we will go boating and enjoy the quiet moment. Now the lake is not that clean because of the pollution. I realize the importance of protecting the environment.

在家乡我的家乡有一个小湖，那是我最喜欢的地方之一。我总是和我的朋友一起去湖边，我们经常游泳、玩耍。有时我们会去划船，享受安静的时刻。现在的湖因为污染已经不那么干净了。我意识到保护环境的重要性。

Golden week means long vacation. I'm in favor of the existing of golden week. Every year, I'm looking forward to its coming. During the golden week, I can have a good rest at home or go for a travel if my parents would like to. It is very wonderful. A semester is very long, and I often feel tired after a semester. Thus, if I can have a little long vacation during the long time study would be great. After I have a good rest, I can study effectively. Having a good rest, everyone would be full of energy.

黄金周意味着长假。我赞成黄金周的存在。每年我都期待着黄金周的到来。在黄金周期间，如果我的父母愿意，我可以在家好好休息，或者去旅行。这是非常美妙的。一个学期很长，一个学期后我经常感到疲倦。因此，如果我能在长时间的学习中有一个小长假，那将是很好的。在我好好休息之后，我可以有效地学习了。好好休息，每个人都会精力充沛。

Today, when I go home after school, I find that I lose my key. I feel so worried and try to remember all the places I have been to. As I walk into the shop, an old man stops me and asks if I lose the key. I feel so excited and say yes. At last, I find my key and go home. Though I am lucky this time, I tell myself not to do it again.

今天放学回家后，我发现我弄丢了我的钥匙。我很担心，努力去回想所有我去过的地方。当我走进商店时，老人拦住了我，问我是不是弄丢钥匙了。我很激动，然后说是的。最后，我找到了我的钥匙回家了。虽然这一次我很幸运，但我也告诉我自己下次不要再犯了。

Today is Friday. It is my thirteenth birthday. I got up very early in the morning and put on my new clothes happily. My parents bought me the new clothes as my birthday presents. I went to school earlier than before. I invited many of my classmates to come to my birthday party in the evening.

今天是星期五。今天是我的十三岁生日。我早上起得很早，高兴地穿上了新衣服。我父母给我买了新衣服作为生日礼物。我比以前更早上学了。我邀请了很多同学来参加我晚上的生日聚会。

Evening came at last. Many of my classmate came to my home. They bought me lots of beautiful presents. They all said:"Happy birthday to you!" We sang birthday songs happily. Then my parents brought out a big birthday cake, saying:"We love you for ever. Happy birthday!"

晚上终于到了。我的许多同学来我家。他们给我买了很多漂亮的礼物。他们都说：“祝你生日快乐！”我们快乐地唱着生日歌。然后我父母拿出一个大生日蛋糕，说：“我们永远爱你。生日快乐！”

At the end of the party, we ate the birthday cake and some other delicious food. How happy I was!

晚会结束时，我们吃了生日蛋糕和其他一些美味的食物。我真高兴！

As the winter vacation comes, my school has activities for students, and we can choose to go to other cities to learn the historical knowledge. I want to join, but I also want to spend some time with my grandparents. At last, I make the tough choice. I decide to visit my grandparents, because I love them so much and I want to company them.

随着寒假的到来，学校组织了学生活动，我们可以选择去其他城市学习历史知识。我想加入，但我也想和我的祖父母一起度过一段时间。最后，我做出了艰难的选择。我决定去看望我的祖父母，因为我非常爱他们，我想陪伴他们。

Winter begins with December and lasts for three months. The weather is very cold. It's extremely cold in the late winter.

冬天从十二月开始，持续三个月。天气很冷。最后一个月是最冷的。

In winter, the roofs are usually covered with frost in the early morning. Brooks and rivers will be frozen and the ground will be frozen hard too during the coldest period. All the insects sleep under the ground without eating. Nothing looks as fine as in the spring time.

在冬天，屋顶通常在清晨被霜覆盖。在最冷的时候，小溪和河流会结冰，地面也会结冰。所有的昆虫都睡在地下不吃东西。没有什么比春天更美好了。

However, when snows fall, we can enjoy a wonderful white world. How beautifully it is falling all day long, all night long, on the mountains, on the meadows, on the roofs of the living, on the graves of the dead. All is white. Then children will stay outdoors to make snowmen.

然而，当下雪时，我们可以享受一个美妙的白色世界。它整日整夜地落在山上、草地上、活人的屋顶上、死人的坟墓上，多么美丽。一切都是白色的。然后孩子们会呆在户外堆雪人。

There is always a brilliant image living in my heart. That is my dear father. Seen through the eyes of many other people, father seems to be a very ordinary person. But he is quite extraordinary in my eyes, I have never lost my wonder at his good-personalities such as diligence, devotion, care, optimism ever since my childhood.

我心中总是有一个光辉的形象。那是我亲爱的父亲。从许多人的眼中，父亲似乎是一个很普通的人。但在我眼中，他非常非凡，我从小就对他的勤奋、敬业、细心、乐观等良好性格感到惊讶。

Being a farmer, father works very hard in the fields all the year round. He works from dawn till dusk every day and even till midnight when it is the harvest season. He seldom enjoys leisure with other farmers even if the farm work is not much. He chooses to live a busy life with reluctance to stop for a while.

作为一名农民，父亲一年四季都在田里辛勤工作。他每天从早到晚工作，直到收获季节的午夜。即使农活不多，他也很少和其他农民一起休闲。他选择了忙碌的生活，不愿意停下来。

Father devotes all himself to our family. As we are poor, he always tries his best to support our family and afford the tuitions for my brother and me. For the whole family, for brother and me, he never stops working laboriously in the fields throughout the year. Now he has got a wrinkled face and white hair because of excessive hard work, looking much older and weaker than any other person of his age. In spite of all this, father never complains to us. It is his full devotion that we're living a better life now. It is his full devotion that both my brother and I are able to study at college.

父亲全心全意地为我们的家庭服务。由于我们很穷，他总是尽力养家糊口，为我和弟弟支付学费。为了全家，为了弟弟和我，他一年四季都在田里辛勤劳作。现在，由于过度劳累，他长了一张皱巴巴的脸和一头白发，看起来比同年龄的任何人都要苍老和虚弱。尽管如此，父亲从不向我们抱怨。我们现在过着更好的生活，这是他的全部奉献。我和我弟弟都能在大学学习，这是他的全部奉献。

Father shows much care to us children and my mother as well. Whenever there is any delicious food on the table, he just leaves it to us while he takes the simple one himself. If my brother and I fall ill, he will not hesitate a moment to get some medicine for us or take us to see the doctor. My mother suffers a bad disease. Father looks after her very carefully. He never lets mother do any heavy work both at home and in the field. Mother appreciates him very much that she often praises him as a model husband before others.

父亲对我们的孩子和我的母亲都很关心。每当桌子上有好吃的食物时，他都会把它留给我们，而他自己拿着简单的。如果我和弟弟生病了，他会毫不犹豫地给我们买些药，或者带我们去看医生。我母亲患有重病。父亲非常细心地照顾她。他从不让母亲在家里和田间做任何繁重的工作。母亲非常欣赏他，她经常在别人面前称赞他是模范丈夫。

Father is a person full of optimism. He never complains about our poor life. He is never frustrated by trouble. He often tells us that everything will be all right if we have enough confidence in life. Due to his optimism, we are all confident to face our life and work.

父亲是一个非常乐观的人。他从不抱怨我们的贫穷生活。他从不因麻烦而沮丧。他经常告诉我们，如果我们对生活有足够的信心，一切都会好起来的。由于他的乐观，我们都有信心面对生活和工作。

We all think that father is not in the least an ordinary man. He plays an extraordinary role in my family. We can't have anything without him. Now I'm pursuing further studies at college far away from father. I miss him very much. And I often see him in my dreams. His great image is deeply carved in my mind.

我们都认为父亲根本不是一个普通人，他在我的家庭中扮演着非凡的角色。没有他我们什么都得不到。现在我在远离父亲的大学继续深造。我非常想念他。我经常在梦中看到他。他的伟大形象深深刻在我的脑海里。

This is the second time for Mr Brown to visit Jinan. During his stay in shandong, he will visit several schools. Next week Mr Brown will visit some places. First, he will take a train to Taian to climb Mount Tai. Then he will go to Qufu by bus to visit the Confucian temple. After that, he will return to Jinan by bus. Then he will fly to Qingdao for a visit. There he will stay for some days and give a talk on America English. At last he will take a plane to go back to America from Qingdao.

这是布朗先生第二次访问济南。在山东期间，他将参观几所学校。下周布朗先生将参观一些地方。首先，他将乘火车去泰安爬泰山。然后他将乘车去曲阜参观孔庙。之后，他将乘车返回济南。然后他将飞往青岛访问。他将在那里呆几天，做一次关于英语的演讲。最后他将乘飞机从青岛返回美国。

My name is LiYiyi. I'm 12 years old and I am a student. My brother is 10 years old and he is little fat. He often plays basketball with his friends on weekend.

我叫李依依。我12岁，是一名学生。我弟弟10岁了，他有点胖。他经常在周末和朋友一起打篮球。

My father and my mother are worker. They are very harmonious. They are good to us. My father is thinner and he is very gentle. His favourite color is white. My mother is a little fat and she is a little serious. Her favourite color is blue. They are very nice.

我的父亲和母亲是工人。他们非常和谐。他们对我们很好。我父亲更瘦，他很温柔。他最喜欢的颜色是白色。我妈妈有点胖，她有点严肃。她最喜欢的颜色是蓝色。他们很好。

This is my lovely family.

这就是我可爱的家人。

Going to high school is my first time to leave home. I have to live in school from Monday to Friday. I like to stay away from my parents for some time, because I can make my own choice and be free to go anywhere. My friends and I like to spend the weekend in the countryside that near the city we live. It is the short travel that I can not only appreciate the beautiful scenery, but also learn to be independent. The things that nature teaches me a lot. I can see from the color of the cloud to predict the weather and the sound of of animals have different meanings. All of these are hard to know from the books. I have my own thinking from these trips, and the way to take care of myself helps me to grow up.

上高中是我第一次离家。我必须从周一到周五住在学校。我喜欢远离父母一段时间，因为我可以做出自己的选择，可以自由去任何地方。我和我的朋友喜欢在我们居住的城市附近的乡村度过周末。正是这种短暂的旅行，我不仅能欣赏美丽的风景，还能学会独立。大自然教给我的东西很多。我可以从云的颜色来预测天气、动物的声音有着不同的含义。所有这些都很难从书本上得知。从这些旅行中我有了自己的思考方式，也学会了照顾自己，帮助我成长。

Every year, on June 7th and 8th is the biggest day for Chinese high school students, because they need to take part in the College Entrance Exam, which will decide their future. High school students study three years to prepare for this exam, they try their best get the highest mark, so that they can enter the ideal university. The parents also feel very nervous, they want to create the best environment for their kids to study, so they do a lot of things for their kids, helping them to win more time to go over the lesson. Some parents are even tempted by the commercial ads to buy all kinds of nutritions. The most exaggerating situation is that the students studying while they are injected with some nutrition. All the parents and teachers want the students get the best results in this big test.

每年6月7日和8日是中国高中生最重要的一天，因为他们需要参加大学入学考试，这将决定他们的未来。高中学生学习三年是为了准备这次考试，他们尽最大努力去得到最高的分数，这样他们就可以进入理想的大学。父母也觉得非常紧张，他们想为他们的孩子创造最好的环境学习，所以他们为他们的孩子做很多事情，帮助他们赢得更多时间复习课本。一些父母甚至受到商业广告的诱惑去购买各种各样的营养。最夸张的情况是，学生一边学习一边注入一些营养品。所有的父母和老师都希望学生在这个大考验中得到最好的结果。

Time past quickly. My three years of high school life is coming to an end. In retrospect, I have a lot of memories of my English learning.

时间过得真快。我三年的高中生活即将结束。回想起来，我对我的英语学习有很多记忆。

When I entered middle school, I had a lot of difficulties in English. I can't understand the teacher in class, and I can't master words and phrases. There was a time when I wanted to give it up. Later, with the help of the teachers and classmates, I listened to the teacher carefully in class, insisted on reading English every day and said as much as possible. My English has made great progress step by step.

当我进入中学时，我的英语有很多困难。我在课堂上听不懂老师的课，也不能掌握单词和短语。有一段时间我想放弃它。后来在老师和同学的帮助下，上课认真听老师讲课，每天坚持读英语，尽量多说。我的英语一步一步取得了很大的进步。

In short, only by cultivating interest in learning English can we learn English well.

总之，只有培养学习英语的兴趣，才能学好英语。

This summer, I move to a new city with my parents, and I transfer to a new school. I used to live in the countryside, so my new life is so different from before. The school is a little far from my home, so I go to school by bus. After school, I have many activities in school. Classmates are friendly to me. I learn English now. It's so interesting that I like it very much. Besides, life in city is different. There are many interesting places to go. At weekends, my parents take me outside. We go to the park, the zoo or go shopping. But we are not so familiar with our neighbors. I think we should build good relationship with them.

今年夏天，我和父母搬到了一个新的城市，我转到了一所新学校。我以前住在农村，所以我的新生活与以前大不相同。学校离我家有点远，所以我坐公共汽车上学。放学后，我在学校有很多活动。同学们对我很友好。我现在学英语。它太有趣了，我非常喜欢它。此外，城市生活也不同。有很多有趣的地方可以去。周末，我父母带我出去。我们去公园、动物园或购物。但我们对邻居并不那么熟悉。我认为我们应该与他们建立良好的关系。

When I walk on the street, I found most people don't obey the traffic rules, they just ignore the rules, when there are a lot of people go across the street, they just follow them. It is so dangerous, the accident is very easy to happen, the car will hit the people any time. For the safety, we should obey the traffic rules.

当我走在街上的时候，我发现很多人不遵守交通规则，他们忽视规则，当很多人过马路的时候，他们跟着人群。这是很危险的，很容易发生意外，车子会随时撞到人。出于安全问题，我们应该遵守交通规则。

"You quit again? What's your new job?" Job-hopping has become a hot topic among people, especially the young, and has caused many heated debates.

“你又辞职了？你的新工作是什么？”跳槽已经成为人们，尤其是年轻人的热门话题，并引发了许多激烈的争论。

Many people like to do one job in their lifetime. In their opinion, people who change their job frequently are superficial. They believe that the only way to success is to stick to one job. Constant practice in a professional field helps make an expert.

许多人一生都喜欢做一份工作。在他们看来，频繁更换工作的人是肤浅的。他们认为，成功的唯一途径是坚持一份工作。在专业领域不断钻研有助于成为专家。

But there are many people who don't agree. They argue that change makes progress.

但有很多人不同意。他们认为改变会带来进步。

If you are not satisfied with your present job, of course you have the right to replace it with a more challenging and better paid one, Every change is a step toward further success.

如果你对现在的工作不满意，你当然有权换一份更具挑战性、薪水更高的工作，每一次改变都是迈向成功的一步。

For my part, I think it reasonable to change your job if you have a better opportunity, but once you have found a position where you can fully display your ability, you should settle down and put your whole heart into it. Only in this way can you get the true joy of achieving your goals.

就我而言，我认为如果你有更好的机会，换工作是合理的，但一旦你找到了一个可以充分发挥自己能力的职位，你就应该静下心来，全身心投入其中。只有这样，你才能获得实现目标的真正快乐。

We are hosts today. We are learning all kinds of knowledges at school. We are the masters of the knowledges. Our life in the future will be more wonderful. We will make many robots. We will have more tall buildings. There will be less pollution. People will have more leisure time. I am going to be a doctor when I grow up. I want to help patients. I will work and live in Beijing. I will work hard to treat the patients. I will try my best to save people's lives. I will travel a lot when I am free. I will go to the beach on vacation.

我们今天是主人。我们在学校学习各种知识。我们是知识的主人。我们未来的生活将更加精彩。我们将制造许多机器人。我们将有更多的高楼。污染将减少。人们将有更多的闲暇时间。我长大后将成为一名医生。我想帮助病人。我将在北京工作和生活。我将努力治疗病人。我会尽力挽救人们的生命。我有空时会经常旅行。我会去海滩度假。

Many students are going spring outing. Some students are boating and some students are having a picnic. The others are playing games. There is a girl siting on a chair reading a book. The sky is blue. The trees are green. The flowers are red. It's a very beautiful park. They have a good time!

许多学生要去春游。一些学生在划船，一些学生在野餐。其他人在玩游戏。有一个女孩坐在椅子上看书。天空是蓝色的。树是绿色的。花是红色的。这是一个非常美丽的公园。他们玩得很开心！