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。

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。

In recent years studying abroad has been popular in our country.

近年来，出国留学在我国很流行。

More and more middle school students would like to go abroad through mediators. Is it good or bad to study abroad? In my opinion on one hand it has some advantages. Studying abroad can provide better studying conditions. People can make rapid progress in their foreign language study and it can also help widen their field of vision. Meanwhile young students can learn advanced science and technology from foreign countries and spread cultures of different nations.

越来越多的中学生愿意通过调解员出国。出国留学是好是坏？在我看来，一方面它有一些优点。出国留学可以提供更好的学习条件。人们可以在外语学习上取得快速进步，这也有助于拓宽他们的视野。同时，年轻学生可以从外国学习先进的科学技术，传播不同国家的文化。

On the other hand it has disadvantages. For example because of the lack of living experience and poor capability to take care of themselves they may feel lonely and homesick. In addition high living expenses and tuition fees will become a heavy burden upon their parents.

另一方面，它也有缺点。例如，由于缺乏生活经验和生活自理能力差，他们可能会感到孤独和想家。此外，高昂的生活费和学费将成为他们父母的沉重负担。

So I think whether studying abroad or not should be decided according to oneself and one’s family. It is not right to follow others.

所以我认为是否出国留学应该根据自己和家人来决定。追随他人是不对的。

现在社会普遍对00后有一些误解，认为他们自私、无礼，所以不能很好地与人沟通，那么，作为一名00后学生，你又是怎么看待这个问题的呢？

请结合你自己和周围同学的表现，分别列举至少三条优点和两条不足之处进行描述。

As students born after 2000, we have so many advantages. We are usually kind and helpful. When someone is in trouble, we always give him or her a hand. We are also active. We like to do sports and go traveling. Most of us can work hard in class and play happily after school. Besides, we are imaginative and creative. We always try something new and do everything differently.

作为2000年后出生的学生，我们有很多优势。我们通常很友善，乐于助人。当某人有困难时，我们总是帮助他或她。我们也很积极。我们喜欢做运动和旅行。我们大多数人都能在课堂上努力学习，放学后快乐地玩耍。此外，我们富有想象力和创造力。我们总是尝试新的东西，做每件事都不同。

On the other hand, we also have some disadvantages. Sometimes we can't express our opinions in proper ways; sometimes we are a little over confident. And many students have no brothers or sisters, so they may do everything for themselves. These problems may make us seem impolite, even we can't communicate with others well. So it's the most important for us to learn how to get on well with others.

另一方面，我们也有一些缺点。有时我们不能用恰当的方式表达自己的意见；有时我们有点过于自信。许多学生没有兄弟姐妹，所以他们可以为自己做一切。这些问题可能会让我们显得不礼貌，甚至我们无法与他人很好地沟通。因此，我们最重要的是学会如何与他人和睦相处。

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。

2015年11月，全国中东部地区17省市持续雾霾，陷入大范围的重度和严重污染。造成这一现象的主要原因是工厂排出的废气和汽车尾气等。绿色低碳，保护环境，从我们身边小事做起。现请你根据以下三个方面的提示，以 "Let's Do Something to Save Our Environment" 为题写一篇80词左右的短文。

内容包括：

1.重要性：只有一个地球。

2.主要问题：污染、疾病、灾难。

3.措施：停止污染、保护大自然。

Let's Do Something to save Our Environment

让我们做点什么来拯救我们的环境

We all live on the earth. The earth is our home. We have only one earth. We must take care of it. It gives us the best environment. If we harm it, it will be angry. And then we will have a terrible end. There are three problems in our earth, they are pollution, disaster and illness.

我们都生活在地球上。地球是我们的家园。我们只有一个地球。我们必须照顾好它。它给了我们最好的环境。如果我们伤害它，它会生气。然后我们会有一个可怕的结局。地球上有三个问题，它们是污染、灾难和疾病。

It's our duty to protect our environment. So we must plant more trees, protect the flowers and the trees, save energy, reduce the pollution. We should ask our government to control the pollution from the factories.

保护环境是我们的责任。所以我们必须种植更多的树木，保护花草树木，节约能源，减少污染。我们应该要求政府控制工厂的污染。

Protecting the nature is very important. It's our duty to keep our environment clean and tidy.

保护自然非常重要。保持环境整洁是我们的责任。

If everyone makes a contribution to protecting the environment, the earth will become much more beautiful.

如果每个人都为保护环境做出贡献，地球将变得更加美丽。

Spring is coming, birds are singing, trees are green, grass is stretching out countless little hands, and flowers on trees are beating bone blossoms. There is a flower tree in front of my house. When spring comes, it will beat the bone blossoms. Generally, there are many flowers and bone blossoms at the junction of thick branches and thin branches. Flower bud is very red, branches are reddish brown, flower bud feels very smooth. After a period of time, they all open. The pink flowers are full of trees. They are very hairy and beautiful. Every year when the flowers bloom, I take photos and leave them as memories of my childhood.

春天到了，鸟叫了，树绿了，小草伸出了无数只小手，树上的花儿正在敲打着骨朵。我家门前有一棵花树，春天刚来它就打骨朵，粗树枝和细树枝交接处的地方一般花骨朵都很多。花骨朵很红，树枝是红褐色的，花骨朵摸着很光滑。过一段时间就都开了，满树的粉色花朵，毛茸茸的非常漂亮。每年花开的时候我都要照相，留做童年的回忆。

I like spring very much!

我很喜欢春天！

Dear mother:

How's everything going at home? I miss you and dad very much.

I am pretty good in school, so you and dad do not have to worry about me. I am a senior student in high school so that I am busy with my study all the time. I work hard to prepare the college entrance examination and I think I do a great job now. Teachers' care much about me and when I have problems, I always ask them. They encourage me very often, considering that I can go to the university I dream of. Of course, I take good care of myself in life. I build good relationships with my friends and classmates, which makes me happy to be with them.

Please take good care of yourselves at home. I love you.

Truly yours,

Christina

亲爱的妈妈：

家里一切都好吗？我非常想念您和爸爸。

我在学校表现很好，所以您和爸爸不必担心我。我是高中学生，所以我一直忙于学习。我努力准备高考，我认为我现在做得很好。老师们很关心我，当我有问题时，我总是问他们。他们经常鼓励我，考虑到我可以上我梦想的大学。当然，我在生活中会照顾好自己。我和我的朋友和同学建立了良好的关系，这让我很高兴和他们在一起。

请在家里照顾好自己。我爱您们。

克里斯蒂娜敬上

Nov.1,2022（2022年11月1日）

Dear Pa and Ma:

Two months have passed quickly since I came back to school. I miss you very much, and I hope the letter will give you a little pleasure.

亲爱的爸爸妈妈：

自从我回到学校后，两个月很快就过去了。我非常想念您们，希望这封信能给您们带来一点快乐。

Do you still remember that I was rather poor in maths in Grade One? You were so disappointed that you always blamed me. Now with the help of my teachers and classmates, and also because of my hard work in the summer holidays, I've made rapid progress. A few days ago I did very well in a maths exam. How happy I was! Of course, I will not be proud of it and will study even harder. Please don't worry about me. I'm very well. You see, I've grown up. I'm sixteen years old now and no longer a new student. I can do well with anything that happens around me. After a year's study, I've been used to the life in the school. I get on well with all my classmates. I believe that you will see a new me.

你还记得我一年级时数学很差吗？您们太失望了，总是责备我。现在在老师和同学的帮助下，也因为我在暑假的努力，我进步很快。几天前，我数学考试考得很好。我真高兴！当然，我不会为此感到骄傲，会更加努力学习。请不要担心我，我很好。你看，我长大了。我现在16岁了，不再是一个小学生。我能很好地处理身边发生的一切。经过一年的学习，我已经习惯了学校的生活。我和所有同学都相处得很好。我相信您们会看到一个全新的我。

I hope you are both healthy!

我希望您们都健康！

Your loving daughter,

Jing Hua

您们亲爱的女儿，

京华

It was a very busy evening, I was doing my homework at my home. My father was writing a composition in the study room. My mother was interested in Shanghai opera. She was watching a Shanghai opera contest. the apartment was very quiet. Suddenly the light went out. It was a blackout, but I liked it very much. It came and I didn't have to do my homework. We went to the living room very slowly. After 5 minutes, we all sat in the sofa. It was a lucky, fortunate day. I said that let's held a concert. My parents aGREed with me. I took out some candles and lighted up. We were singing, laughing and talking. We had a really good time. But while I was singing, the light suddenly turned on. Oh, my God. My father went back to his room went on writing. My mother turned on the TV and said to me "Dear, do your homework!", I felt very frustrated. I sat at the desk and thought I hated light. I hoped there would be a blackout the next day. I thought I would enjoy myself more and more. I went into a dream……

那是一个非常忙碌的晚上，我在家做作业。我父亲在书房写文章。我母亲对上海歌剧感兴趣。她在看上海歌剧比赛。房间里很安静。突然，灯熄灭了。那是一次停电，但我非常喜欢。它来了，我不必做作业。我们慢慢地走进客厅。5分钟后，我们都坐在沙发上。这是一个幸运的日子。我说让我们开一场音乐会。我的父母同意我的意见。我拿出一些蜡烛点了起来。我们边唱边笑边聊天。我们玩得很开心。但当我唱歌的时候，灯突然亮了。噢，我的天。我父亲回到他的房间继续写作。我妈妈打开电视对我说“亲爱的，做你的作业！”，我感到很沮丧。我坐在桌子旁，觉得我讨厌光线。我希望第二天会停电。我想我会越来越开心。我进入了一个梦……

During the winter holiday, I was very happy because of the Chinese new year and other reasons. During the holiday, my parents and I went back to my hometown in the countryside in Hebei Province. I had not come back for several years, so that I was so surprised to find that great changes had taken place in this small village in the past years. Almost every family in the village had color TV set and some of them had computers. Many families had their houses newly built or rebuilt. Previously, could be seen everywhere, but now they have taken on an entirely new look. Motorcycles or even private cars are not luxuries any more.

在寒假期间，由于中国新年和其他原因，我非常高兴。假期期间，我和父母回到了河北省农村的老家。我已经好几年没回来了，所以我很惊讶地发现，在过去的几年里，这个小村庄发生了巨大的变化。村里几乎每个家庭都有彩电，其中一些家庭有电脑。许多家庭的房子都是新建或重建的。以前，它们随处可见，但现在它们呈现出全新的面貌。摩托车甚至私家车不再是奢侈品。

One of the villagers proudly told me that he and some other villagers were going to join a tour and travel abroad. Previously, the villagers were busy in their farm work all the year round, but now they have much more time and money to relax or entertain. Traveling has become a new trend among villagers. Seeing these amazing changes, my father said that he would go back to my hometown as soon as he retired. As for me, I strongly supported his idea.

其中一位村民自豪地告诉我，他和其他一些村民将参加一次旅游并出国旅行。以前，村民们常年忙于农活，但现在他们有更多的时间和金钱来放松或娱乐。旅游在村民中已成为一种新趋势。看到这些惊人的变化，父亲说他一退休就回老家。至于我，我强烈支持他的想法。

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。

My winter holiday is very interesting. I can play a computer and watch a TV in the home. I still read some good books in the winter holiday. Because of the plan of value result of our school, let us time of few lesson remaining. Also opportunity to have no does the affair that likes to do. So, the winter holiday liked too to me. But again schooled begins quickly, its be over means a kind of another life of beginning, my in the mind have a little longing, also have a little fear. Imagining to what freshman live is more, long for enjoyment, long for liberty.

我的寒假很有趣。我可以在家里玩电脑和看电视。寒假里我仍然读了一些好书。因为我们学校的重视成绩的规划，让我们很少有课余的时间。也有机会没有做喜欢做的事情。所以，寒假对我来说也很喜欢。但再次开学很快，它的结束意味着另一种生活的开始，我心里有点渴望，也有点恐惧。想象新生的生活是更多的，渴望享受，渴望自由。

The Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important festival for all of us. All family members get together on New Year'Eve to have a big meal. At the same time, everyone celebrates to each other. At about 12 o'clock, some parents and children light crackers. The whole sky is lighted brightly. We may watch the fireworks excitedly. How busy it is!

春节，中国的新年是我们所有人最重要的节日。所有的家庭成员都在除夕夜聚在一起吃大餐。同时，每个人都互相庆祝。大约12点，一些家长和孩子点燃了鞭炮。整个天空都亮了起来。我们可以兴奋地观看烟花。多忙啊！

On the first early morning of one year, many senior citizen get up early and they stick the reversed Fu or hang some couplets on the front door. Some house's windows are sticked by red paper cuttings.

一年中的第一个清晨，许多老年人早早起床，在前门贴上颠倒的福或挂上对联。有些房子的窗户上贴着红色的剪纸。

The Chinese New Year lasts fifteen days. So during the fifteen days, we always visit our relatives from door to door. At that time, children are the happiest because they can get many red packets form their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and so on. The last day of the Chinese New Year is another festival. It names the Lantern Festival.

中国的新年持续十五天。所以在这十五天里，我们总是挨家挨户地拜访亲戚。在那个时候，孩子们是最快乐的，因为他们可以从父母、祖父母、叔叔、阿姨等那里得到很多红包。中国新年的最后一天是另一个节日。它命名为元宵节。

So the Chinese New Year comes to the end.

所以中国的新年就要结束了。

Christmas arouses increasing attention year by year in China. Christmas cards become popular with students. People hold Christmas parties and exchange Christmas girts. A lot or TV and radio programs about Christmas are on. Meanwhile the Spring Festival is less appealing to youngsters. Thus some people wonder whether Christmas will replace the Spring Festival.

圣诞节在中国引起了越来越多的关注。圣诞卡受到学生的欢迎。人们举行圣诞派对，交换圣诞礼物。很多关于圣诞节的电视和广播节目都在播放。与此同时，春节对年轻人的吸引力降低了。因此，一些人怀疑圣诞节是否会取代春节。

This worry is fairly unnecessary. Why? One reason lies that Christmas only affects Christians, college students and joint-venture workers. Another reason is that Christmas is mostly celebrated in cities. Few people in countryside show extreme interest in this exotic festival. By contrast, the Spring Festival is the most influential traditional festival in every family.

这种担心完全没有必要。为什么？原因之一是圣诞节只影响基督徒、大学生和合资企业工人。另一个原因是圣诞节大多在城市庆祝。农村里很少有人对这个异国情调的节日表现出极大的兴趣。相比之下，春节是每个家庭中最具影响力的传统节日。

I think, it is natural that with increasing exchanges with the West, a lot of Western holidays have been gradually introduced into China. For us Chinese we should never neglect or even discard our own traditional festivals. For centuries Chinese have observed this traditional holiday to welcome the beginning of a new year. And we will treasure the Spring Festival forever.

我认为，随着与西方交流的增加，很多西方节日逐渐被引入中国，这是很自然的。对我们中国人来说，我们不应该忽视甚至抛弃自己的传统节日。几个世纪以来，中国人一直在庆祝这个传统节日，以迎接新的一年开始。我们将永远珍惜春节。

The Chinese New Year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the begining of Spring (the first of the twenty-four terms in coordination with the changes of Nature). Its origin is too old to be traced. Several explanations are hanging around. All agree however that the word Nian which in modern Chinese solely means "year" was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year.

中国的新年现在被普遍称为春节，因为它从春天开始（二十四个节气中的第一个，与自然的变化相协调）。它的起源太古老了，无法追溯。有几种解释流传着。然而，所有人都同意，“年”这个词在现代汉语中仅表示“年”，最初是一种怪兽的名字，它在新年开始的前一天晚上开始捕食人们。

One legend goes that the beast Nian had a very big mouth that would swallow a great many people with one bite. People were very scared. One day an old man came to their rescue offering to subdue Nian. To Nian he said "I hear say that you are very capable but can you swallow the other beasts of prey on earth instead of people who are by no means of your worthy opponents?" So it did swallow many of the beasts of prey on earth that also harassed people and their domestic animals from time to time.

一个传说是，年兽有一张很大的嘴，一口就能吞下很多人。人们非常害怕。一天，一位老人来到他们的救援现场，准备制服年。他对念说：“我听说你很有能力，但你能吞下地球上的其他猛兽，而不是那些根本不是你的对手的人吗？”因此，它确实吞下了地球上的许多猛兽，这些猛兽也不时骚扰人们及其家畜。

After that the old man disappeared riding the beast Nian. He turned out to be an immortal god. Now that Nian is gone and other beasts of prey are also scared into forests people begin to enjoy their peaceful life. Before the old man left he had told people to put up red paper decorations on their windows and doors at each year's end to scare away Nian in case it sneaked back again because red is the color the beast feared the most.

之后，老人骑着年兽消失了。他原来是一位不朽的神。现在，年已经走了，其他猛兽也被吓进了森林，人们开始享受他们平静的生活。在老人离开之前，他曾告诉人们每年年底都要在门窗上贴上红色的纸装饰物，以防年兽再次溜回来，因为红色是野兽最害怕的颜色。

From then on the tradition of observing the conquest of Nian is carried on from generation to generation. The term "Guo Nian" which may mean "Survive the Nian" becomes today "Celebrate the (New) Year" as the word "guo" in Chinese having both the meaning of "pass-over" and "observe". The custom of putting up red paper and firing fire-crackers to scare away Nian should it have a chance to run loose is still around. However people today have long forgotten why they are doing all this except that they feel the color and the sound add to the excitement of the celebration.

从那时起，观察年征服的传统代代相传。“过年”一词可能意味着“熬过年”，今天变成了“庆祝（新年）”，因为汉语中的“过”一词既有“过去”的意思，也有“观察”的意思。如果年岁有机会逃跑，人们会用红纸和鞭炮来吓跑年岁的习俗仍然存在。然而，今天的人们早就忘记了他们为什么要这么做，除了他们觉得颜色和声音增加了庆祝活动的兴奋。