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！

Halloween is on the last day of October, it is very popular in the western country. On that day, people will dress in the horrible style, especially for the kids, they will knock from door to door. If people don't give them the candy, the children will play tricks on them. But in China, more and more young people like to follow this trend, they will play the roles and find some fun. As for me, I'd like to join some activities on the Halloween. My friends always have some funny costumes, so I will borrow one from them. Then we dress together, when night comes, we will come to join the party. We sing and dance. It is such a fun night. Before the midnight, we will get together and take some drinks. We talk about the happy hour. I like these activities.

万圣节在10月的最后一天，它在西方国家很受欢迎。在那一天，人们会穿着恐怖风格的服装，尤其是孩子们，他们会挨家挨户敲门。如果人们不给他们糖果，孩子们就会捉弄他们。但在中国，越来越多的年轻人喜欢追随这个潮流，他们会扮演角色，找到乐趣。至于我，我喜欢在万圣节参加一些活动。我的朋友总是有一些有趣的服装，所以我会借一件。然后我们一起打扮，夜幕降临时，我们将会来参加聚会。我们唱歌跳舞。这是一个有趣的夜晚。在午夜之前，我们会聚在一起，喝饮料。我们谈论快乐的时光。我喜欢这些活动。

近年来我国的发展世人瞩目，中国的传统文化正越来越受到各国朋友的关注。请根据提示，以“The Spring Festival”为题写一篇短文，向外国朋友介绍我国的春节。

根据所给要点及参考词汇，可适当发挥。

① 春节是中国农历年(the lunar year)的第一天

② 春节前：一个月前开始准备(prepare)食物，打扫卫生，装饰(decorate)房子

③ 除夕(On Chinese New Year's Eve)：家人团圆(get together)，吃年夜饭(big dinner)，守夜(stay up till midnight)，放烟花鞭炮(play fireworks and crackers)

④ 大年初一(the first day)：穿新衣(put on new clothes)，向父母拜年(greet parents)，收压岁钱(get lucky money)

范文：

In China, the Spring festival is the first day of the lunar year. People usually start preparing for the festival one month before it comes. They prepare delicious food, clean and decorate their homes. On Chinese New Year's Eve, the family all get together for a big dinner. They stay up till midnight, and then play fireworks and crackers for good luck. On the first day of the lunar New Year, children put on their new clothes and greet their parents. They are very happy to get lucky money from them.

在中国，春节是农历一年的第一天。人们通常在节日到来前一个月开始为节日做准备。他们准备美味的食物，打扫和装饰他们的家。在中国除夕夜，一家人聚在一起吃大餐。他们熬夜到午夜，然后放烟花爆竹以求好运。在农历新年的第一天，孩子们穿上新衣服，向父母问好。他们很高兴从他们那里得到压岁钱。

Far and away the most important holiday in China is Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year. To the Chinese people it is as important as Christmas to people in the West. the dates for this annual celebration are determined by the lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, so the timing of the holiday varies from late January to early February.

中国最重要的节日是春节，也就是中国的新年。对中国人来说，这和圣诞节对西方人一样重要。这个一年一度的庆祝活动的日期是由阴历而不是公历决定的，因此节日的时间从1月下旬到2月上旬不等。

To the ordinary Chinese, the festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year's Day and ends on the fifth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. But the 15th of the first month, which normally is called the Lantern Festival, means the official end of the Spring Festival in many parts of the country.

对普通中国人来说，这个节日实际上从农历新年前夕开始，到农历正月初五结束。但正月十五（通常称为元宵节）意味着中国许多地区春节的正式结束。

This winter is freezing cold. I didn't have any desire to go out for play. I always stayed at home. Actually, most of the time I was in my bed. When I felt anxious for staying inside too long, I will go near the window to watch the children building snowman or throwing snowballs. It seemed very interesting. But I just didn't want to go out. Later my mother found that I was so lazy. Then she forced me to go out. Since my mother said, I have no excuse to reject. My mother is right. Though the outside was icy, it's fantastic. Everything smells fresh. Since then, I went outside everyday, and then did my homework and felt full of energy. The holiday ended very soon. It was a lazy holiday.

今年冬天是寒冷的。我没有要出去玩的欲望。我总是呆在家里。 实际上，大多数时候我是待在床上。由于在室内待的时间过长而感到烦躁时，我会走近窗户看看在外面堆雪人打雪仗的小孩子。看起来非常有趣。但我就是不想出去。后来我妈妈发现我的懒散了。然后她就强迫我出去。因为我妈妈已经开口了，所以我没有理由拒绝。我妈妈是对的。虽然外面是冰冷的，但是感觉非常棒。在外面的一切都是新鲜的。自那时起，我每天都会出去，之后回来做作业，我也觉得充满活力。很快假期就结束了。这是一个慵懒的假期。

How time flies, unconsciously the next winter vacation will soon come. In order to improve myself as well as enjoy a happy holiday, I made the winter vacation plan.

时间过得真快，不知不觉得下一个寒假就要到了，为了提高我自己同时快乐的度过假期，我制定了寒假计划。

Firstly I want to continue with my study, I think study is a life process, so no matter what the situation I am in, I will look for chances to continue it. I have bought several new books, including those books on my major and some novels, I will try to finish reading them in the holiday and write notes.

首先，我会继续学习，我认为学习是一种终身的过程，所以不管我处在哪种情况之下，我都会寻找机会学习。我已经买了一些新书，这些书有的跟我的专业有关，也包括一些小说。我将努力读完他们并写下读书笔记。

Secondly, since it is the holiday, I will share it with my family and friends. You know the spring festival will soon come, I believe I would chatting and play games with my friends and family. I think I will enjoy the vacation.

其次，既然是放假，我将和我的家人朋友一起度过，你知道春节就要来临了，届时我会和我的家人朋友一起聊天啊，玩游戏啊等等，我相信我定会度过一个快乐的假期。

Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. It's to celebrate the lunar calendar's new year. In the evening before the Spring Festival, families get together and have a big meal. In many places people like to set off firecrackers. Dumplings are the most traditional food. Children like the festival very much, because they can have delicious food and wear new clothes. They can also get some money from their parents. This money is given to children for good luck. People put New Year scrolls on the wall for good fortune.

春节是中国最重要的节日。这是为了庆祝农历新年。春节前的晚上，一家人聚在一起吃大餐。在许多地方，人们喜欢放鞭炮。饺子是最传统的食物。孩子们非常喜欢这个节日，因为他们可以吃美味的食物，穿新衣服。他们也可以从父母那里得到一些钱。这些钱是为了孩子们的好运而给的。人们把新年卷轴挂在墙上表示好运。

The Spring Festival lasts about 15 days long. People visit relatives and friends with the words "Have all your wishes". People enjoy the Spring Festival, during this time they can have a good rest.

春节大约持续15天。人们拜访亲戚和朋友时都会说“祝你一切顺利”。人们喜欢春节，这段时间他们可以好好休息。

My summer holiday begun on July 7th. I love summer holiday because I don't have to go to school and I can enjoy myself with my friends. I often spend the mornings doing my homework and I always watch TV in the afternoon at home because it's very hot outside. And in the evening, I go swimming with my family and then hang out with my friends. I love swimming very much.

我的暑假从7月7日开始。我喜欢暑假，因为我不用去学校，可以和朋友玩。我经常在上午做作业，下午在家看电视，因为外面很热。傍晚，我和家人去游泳、然后和朋友去逛街。我很喜欢游泳。

My plan for August is travelling. I travel with my family every summer holiday. I like travelling because I can go to different places and meet different people. Sometimes I make good friends during the journey. And it's very sad to say goodbye to them when the journey ends.

我八月份的计划是去旅游。我每个暑假都和家人去旅游。我喜欢旅游是因为我可以去不同的地方认识不同的人。有时候我在旅途中交到了好朋友。旅途结束和他们告别的时候我觉得很难过。