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！

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。

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。

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。

In China, a lot of students are complaining about the difficulty to master English. They know how important English is, but they just feel hard to learn it. However for many foreingers, when they start to learn Chinese, some even speak it very well. To conquer Chinese has been the popular slogan for them. As Chinese economy develops so fast, the foreigners have realized the trend, so mastering Chinese is the best way to seek for cooperation. Even though it has been admitted that Chinese is the most difficulty language to learn, still a lot of foreigners make up their minds and learn it well. As the saying that there is will, there is a way. So when we are complaining about the difficulty to learn second language, just thinking about the foreigners how to learn Chinese.

在中国，很多学生抱怨掌握英语很难，他们也知道英语是多么的重要，但就是觉得很难学。然而对于很多外国人来说，他们开始学习中文，有些人却能够说得很好。征服汉语一直是流行的口号。随着中国经济的快速发展，外国人已经意识到这一趋势，所以掌握好汉语是寻求合作的最好方法。就算大家都说汉语是最难学的语言，仍然还有很多的外国人下定决心去学好它。俗话说有志者，事竟成。所以当我们抱怨学习第二语言困难的时候，想想外国人是如何学习汉语的。

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。

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。

Many Chinese students who have studied English for more than ten years are still unable to speak English fluently when they meet foreigners. They seem to have mastered the basic language structure, but talking in English will make them feel uneasy. They are afraid that others will find out their mistakes.

许多学习了十多年英语的中国学生在遇到外国人时仍然无法流利地说英语。他们似乎已经掌握了基本的语言结构，但用英语交谈会让他们感到不安。他们害怕别人会发现他们的错误。

Many students who can't speak English well can write English well, which proves that they can't organize their ideas in English. The problem is that they lack practice and confidence.

许多英语说不好的学生可以很好地写英语，这证明他们不能用英语组织自己的想法。问题是他们缺乏实践和信心。

Why are you afraid? Are you afraid of foreigners who talk to you? Don't be shy. They won't laugh at you because you make a small mistake. The best way to get rid of this trouble is to speak more and learn to speak. I believe that constant practice will help you succeed.

你为什么害怕？你害怕和你说话的外国人吗？不要害羞。他们不会因为你犯了一个小错误而嘲笑你。摆脱这种麻烦的最好方法是多说话，学会说话。我相信不断的练习会帮助你成功。

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。