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 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。

"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。

Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China start well in advance of the New Year's Day. The 24th of the twelfth month is set aside for the annual housecleaning. Every household will give a thorough cleaning to their houses, clothes, bedclothes and all utensils, to bid farewell to the old year and to usher in the new. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away bad luck and makes the house ready for good luck to enter. All brooms and dustpans are put away on New Year's Eve so good luck cannot be swept away.

在旧中国，元旦之后就开始提前准备过年的东西了。十二月二十四是留给年度大扫除的。家家户户都会彻彻底底的打扫他们的房子，衣服，被褥和所有的器具，来辞旧迎新。据说，打扫可以赶走坏运气，使房子有好运气。在除夕夜，所有的扫帚和簸箕都会被放在一边，免得好运被扫走了。

Spring couplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper, are put on the walls or on the sides of the doors. These couplets, short poems written in classical Chinese, are expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year. In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits are used to decorate the house. Animated door gods, scrolls of happiness, beautiful window flowers, colorful New Year paintings and flower-decorated red lanterns, all gives a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival.

春联，用黑墨水写在垂直滚动大红纸上，是贴在墙壁上或在门边。这些对联和短诗是用繁体字写的，都是表达了对家庭在新的一年里的良好祝愿。此外，象征性的鲜花和水果是用来装饰房子。生动的门神，充满幸福的卷轴，美丽的窗花，丰富多彩的年画和用花装饰的红灯笼，都展示出了一个喜庆和热闹的节日气氛。

Storeowners are busy as everybody goes purchasing for the New Year, from edible oil, rice, chicken, fish and meat, to fruit, candies and nuts, and to various decorations, new clothes and shoes for children as well as gifts for friends and relatives.

当每个人都去采购新年食品时，店主们都忙得不可开交，从食用油、大米、鸡肉、鱼和肉，到水果、糖果和坚果，再到各种装饰品、给孩子们的新衣服和鞋子，以及给亲朋好友的礼物。

Cheongsam is not only a symbol of traditional Chinese clothing, but also one of the classics of the world’s clothing culture.

旗袍不仅是中国传统服饰的象征，也是世界服饰文化的经典之一。

Cheongsam, a traditional costume of Chinese was popular in the Republic of China, and the government identified it as a national dress in 1929. After the 50s, cheongsam gradually became deserted in Chinese mainland. After the 80s, cheongsam was renewed. In May 23, 2011, the cheongsam handicraft production was listed among national intangible cultural heritage.

旗袍是中华民国流行的一种中国传统服装，政府于1929年将其确定为民族服装。50年代后，旗袍在中国大陆逐渐被遗弃。80年代后，旗袍被更新了。2011年5月23日，旗袍工艺品被列为国家级非物质文化遗产。

Cheongsam can be said that a representative of women's clothing or a symbol. It was designed on the basis of Manchu women's traditional flag clothing combined with Western culture. In the eyes of some Westerners, cheongsam has the symbolic meaning ofChinese women's clothing culture.

旗袍可以说是女性服饰的代表或象征。它是在满族妇女传统服饰的基础上结合西方文化设计的。在一些西方人看来，旗袍具有中国女性服饰文化的象征意义。

Cheongsam not only plays a special and significant role in the vast Chinese civilization, but has also been pursued by fashion people. National costumes will be integrated in to the spiritual characteristics of the nation, cheongsam is a good reflection of the Chinese moral values. Cheongsam has both fashion elements and national characteristics. Over the past century, according to the development of people’s taste, cheongsam has been slightly changed in the unpredictable trend of fashion. At present, Cheongsam remains in an irreplaceable position, enough for us to seethe Chinese people’s special feelings of the cheongsam.

旗袍不仅在浩瀚的中华文明中扮演着特殊而重要的角色，也受到时尚人士的追捧。民族服饰将融入到民族的精神特征中，旗袍是中国人道德价值观的良好体现。旗袍既有时尚元素，又有民族特色。在过去的一个世纪里，根据人们体验的发展，旗袍在变幻莫测的时尚潮流中略有改变。目前，旗袍仍然处于不可替代的地位，足以让我们看到中国人对旗袍的特殊感受。

As a Chinese girl, I like cheongsam very much. I hope to protect the Chinese cultural heritage and march onto the world stage in cheongsam.

作为一个中国女孩，我非常喜欢旗袍。我希望保护中国文化遗产，穿旗袍登上世界舞台。

The youth of today will help to shape the future of his country tomorrow. As a good citizen, he should prepare himself in his every day life as well as in school for the contribution of his talent to his country. He should have an ability or a skill to work. He should keep well informed and help to inform others about what his country's problems are. He should try to find out and show what he can do for his country. Also he should be physically strong and mentally sound. As a responsible citizen, with his courage, enthusiasm, and love, he will help to make his country one of which all its citizens can be proud.

今天的年轻人将有助于塑造国家明天的未来。作为一个好公民，他应该在日常生活中以及在学校中时刻为国家贡献自己的才能做好准备。他应该有工作的能力或技能。他应该充分了解情况，并帮助他人了解本国的问题。他应该努力找出并展示他能为国家做些什么。此外，他应该身体强壮，精神健全。作为一个负责任的公民，凭借他的勇气、热情和爱心，他将帮助使他的国家成为所有公民都可以自豪的国家之一。

Dear Manager:

尊敬的经理：

Thanks for reading my resume. My name is Daniel, an undergraduate from Hunan Normal University. I apply for the position that offer in your company's website. My major is Chemistry. I chose it as my major because I think chemistry plays an important part in our daily life. Once I was a little boy, I liked using my head. I always keep this good habit wherever I go. Thus I always can think some effective ways to handle the difficult problems.

感谢您能查阅我的简历。我叫丹尼尔，是湖南师范大学的本科生。我申请贵公司网站上提供的职位。我的专业是化学。我选择它作为我的专业，因为我认为化学在我们的日常生活中扮演着重要的角色。当我还是个小男孩时，我喜欢用思考。无论我走到哪里，我总是保持这个好习惯。因此，我总能想出一些有效的方法来解决这些难题。

I studied hard at school, so I got the bachelor’s degree. During four years learning in university, I have not only learned a lot of useful knowledge, but also improved my comprehensive abilities. What’s more, I go in for English so much and work very hard on it. Because of my diligence, I have already passedCET-6. By the way, I also learned some computer skills in my free time, making mean expert on computer.

我在学校学习很努力，所以我获得了学士学位。在大学四年的学习中，我不仅学到了很多有用的知识，而且提高了我的综合能力。此外，我非常喜欢英语，而且非常努力。由于我的勤奋，我已经通过了英语六级考试。顺便说一下，我也在空闲时间学习了一些计算机技能，成为了计算机方面的专家。

At last, I’m eager for the chance that you are going to give me. Although I have just left school with little experience, I still have confidence in myself, sinceI’m a person with a great will. I enjoy challenging my life. I think I’m responsible and conscientious. Believe me, I’ll do everything to the best of my ability.

最后，我渴望得到这个机会。虽然我刚刚毕业没有什么经验，但我仍然对自己充满信心，因为我是一个意志坚定的人。我喜欢挑战生活。我认为我是有责任心的。相信我，我会竭尽所能把事情做到最好。

Sincerely yours, Daniel

亲爱的，丹尼尔

The Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the traditional festivals in China. On April 5th, people start to visit their ancestors' tombs. Generally speaking, people will bring the home-made food, some fake money and paper-made mansion to their ancestors. When they start to honour their ancestor, they will light up some candles and incense, put some flowers around the tombs. The most important thing is to put the home-made food in front of the tombs. The food, also known as sacrifices, is usually made up with a chicken, a fish and some pork. It's a symbol of the offspring's respect to the ancestors. People believe that the forbears will share the food with them. The children dedicate the food and money to their forbears in order to show their love and caring. The young offspring will go down on their knees and pray for their ancestors. They can say their wishes in front of the tombs and the ancestors will make their dreams come true.

清明节是中国的传统节日之一。从每年的4月5日开始,人们就开始去祭拜自己的祖先。一般来说,人们会带一些自制的食品，冥币和祭品烧给他们的祖先。当人们开始拜祖的时候，就会点燃蜡烛和香火，在坟墓周围挂上鲜花。最重要的事情是把祭祀的食物摆在坟墓前。这些食物,又称之为祭品，通常由一只鸡、一条鱼、一些猪肉组成。这是后代对祖先所表示的一种尊重。人们认为老祖宗会和他们一同分享美食。后代们献上食物和钱财表示他们对先人的爱和关心。晚辈们则会跪在坟前，说出自己的心愿，向先人祷告，让祖宗保佑自己的愿望得以实现。

In some provinces of China, people use different activities to commemorate this day, for instance, spring-outing, swinging, tree planting and making special food. One special food is Ay Tsao rice balls. It looks like Tang-yuan, but its color is green. Mix the ay tsao juice with the rice powder, then make it into small balls. The Ay Tsao rice ball is done. People believe that eating ay tsao rice balls can get rid of the bad luck and everything will go smoothly. Other activities such as spring outing, tree planting are the other ways to commemorate the forbears. For one thing, it is a sign that people should look into the future and embrace the hope; for another thing, we do hope our ancestor rest in peace.

在中国的某些省份，人们通过举行不同的活动来纪念清明节。例如：春游、荡秋千、植树以及做特殊的食物。其中一种特别的小吃叫艾粑粑。艾粑粑看起来像汤圆，但它的颜色是绿色的。把艾草汁和糯米粉混合在一起，搓成小球，艾粑粑就做好了。人们认为吃艾粑粑能祛除邪气，让诸事顺利。其余的活动，例如春游、植树都是纪念先人的方式之一。一方面，这些活动告诉人们要展望未来，拥抱希望；另一方面，我们希望先人能安息。

I am a girl of 18. Just like all the youngsters of this age, I consider friends almost as the whole of my life. It seems that I am lucky to be born as an open and easy-going girl, so you can imagine how many friends I will have. As a matter of fact, I'm really fortunate to have a plenty of friends. We laugh together , weep together, like brothers and sisters. The feeling of that is comfortable and fantastic. I like to participate in sport games with the boys, such as playing basketball in the gym, kicking football in the playground, swimming in the pool and that really brings me a lot of pleasures. I usually communicate with the girls, talking about the latest teleplays or in which shop there are bargains on sale worth purchasing. With so many friends around me, I never feel lonely, and the happiness is growing all the time. Sometimes we may have a small conflict as well, but we never exaggerate it and will always forget it quickly. We all know the biggest ship is Titanic but it sank, so the best ship is still friendship. I love my friends just as to like my own eyes. They are a big treasure in my life which is worthy to cherish forever. May the flowers of the friendship boom in every four seasons!

我是一个18岁的女孩。就像这个年龄段的所有年轻人一样，我几乎把朋友视为我生命的全部。我似乎很幸运，生来就是一个开朗随和的女孩，所以你可以想象我会有多少朋友。事实上，我也确实有很多朋友。我们一起笑，一起哭，就像兄弟姐妹一样。那种感觉既舒适又美妙。我喜欢和男孩们一起参加体育比赛，比如在体育馆打篮球，在操场踢足球，在游泳池游泳，这真的给我带来了很多乐趣。我通常会和女孩们交流，谈论最新的电视剧或哪家商店有值得购买的特价商品。有这么多朋友在我身边，我从不感到孤独，幸福感与日俱增。有时我们可能也会有一个小冲突，但我们从不夸大它，总是会很快忘记它。我们都知道最大的船是泰坦尼克号，但它沉没了，所以最好的船还是友谊号。我爱我的朋友就像喜欢我自己的眼睛一样。它们是我生命中的一大财富，值得永远珍惜。愿友谊之花每年盛开！

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: Pollution: An Increasing Concern in China You should write at least 120 words following the outline below in Chinese.

说明：在这部分，你可以用30分钟的时间写一篇作文，题目是：污染：中国日益严重的问题。你应该按照以下提纲用中文写至少120个单词。

1.中国的污染的现状

2.造成污染的原因

3.解决的办法

Pollution: An Increasing Concern in China

污染：中国日益关注的问题

It is reported that ten big cities in China are being ranked among the top twenty cities with the highest pollution index in the world. This means it is high time we did something to bring the situation under control.

据报道，中国的十个大城市被列为世界上污染指数最高的前二十名城市。这意味着现在是我们采取措施控制局势的时候了。

Many factors are contributing to the deteriorating situation: industrial wastes pumped into the air, the lakes and rivers; a increasing number of automobiles crowding into the streets; the widespread use of plastic bags etc.

许多因素导致了局势的恶化：工业废物被排入空气、湖泊和河流；越来越多的汽车涌入街道；塑料袋的广泛使用等。

To my view, stiffer laws and regulations must be implemented to check pollution. Industries that release wastes without permission should be heavily fined. Cars should be equipped to minimize the exhaust they release into the air. And the use of plastic bags and disposable meal boxes should be banned. What's more, the media should play an important role in implanting a sense of environmental consciousness into people's mind.

在我看来，必须实施更严格的法律法规来控制污染。未经许可排放废物的行业应被处以重罚。汽车的装备应尽量减少排放到空气中的废气。此外，应禁止使用塑料袋和一次性餐盒。更重要的是，媒体应该在将环境意识植入人们的头脑中发挥重要作用。

If everybody works toward a common goal of making the environment better, we can create a cleaner and lovelier world for us and for the coming generation.

如果每个人都朝着改善环境的共同目标努力，我们就能为我们和下一代创造一个更清洁、更有爱的世界。

Dreaming of winter holiday for months, many students can't help to design their vacation journey while some of them have no plan but kill time at home. It is said that male student tend to spend all his time and money playing Internet games while the female students tend to watch episodes without worry and pressure.

许多学生梦想着几个月的寒假，忍不住设计他们的假期旅程，而其中一些人却没有计划，只能在家消磨时间。据说，男学生倾向于把所有的时间和金钱都花在玩网络游戏上，而女学生则倾向于毫无顾虑和压力地观看剧集。

Such cozy life might lead to post-holiday syndrome, a large number of students tend to overindulge themselves in eating, merrymaking and playing around during the holidays, which makes it difficult to adjust to their routine study schedule and life pace on the campus.

这种舒适的生活可能会导致节后综合症，大量学生在假期中会过度放纵自己的饮食、娱乐和玩耍，这使得他们很难适应日常的学习日程和校园生活节奏。

My suggestions to deal with this syndrome are as follows. First, make a specific to-do-list and stick to it. Without a clear purpose, one might easily waste crucial years neglecting one's studies. Second, join one or two volunteering activities and make some friends cause you don't know what surprise will wait for you when you do something new.

我对治疗这种综合征的建议如下。首先，制定一份具体的待办事项清单并坚持下去。如果没有明确的目标，一个人很容易浪费关键的几年时间而忽视自己的学业。第二，参加一两次志愿活动，交一些朋友，因为你不知道当你做一些新的事情时会有什么惊喜等着你。

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。

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。

Winter holiday is coming, many students are looking forward to a wonderful long vacation so that they are busy making a vacation plan. According to a survey, students who go traveling and do social practices during vacations increase greatly while those who stay at home decrease a lot.

寒假即将到来，许多学生都期待着一个美好的长假，因此他们正忙于制定假期计划。根据一项调查，在假期外出旅行和进行社交活动的学生人数大大增加，而呆在家里的学生人数则大大减少。

There are many reasons account for that. Firstly, with the fast development of economy, many people have become rich, which makes it possible for more students to go traveling. Also, modem transportation has made it easier for students to go out to travel. Secondly, the authorities of Chinese university have been encouraging their students to do social practices in the hope that college students would broaden their view to know more about the society and become more adaptable to the future work after they graduate.

原因有很多。首先，随着经济的快速发展，许多人变得富有，这使得更多的学生有可能去旅行。此外，现代交通使学生更容易外出旅行。其次，中国大学当局一直鼓励学生进行社会实践，希望大学生能够开阔视野，了解更多社会知识，并在毕业后更适应未来的工作。

In my opinion, it's good to let more students go out traveling or doing social practices during the vacations for they have become much mature to realize how to spend our vacations meaningfully and practically.

在我看来，让更多的学生在假期外出旅游或进行社交活动是很好的，因为他们已经非常成熟，能够意识到如何有意义地、切实地度过我们的假期。

In addition to the Spring Festival couplets, New Year pictures, ShouSui, lion dance, new year's Eve and other national customs, there are also some unique customs among the people of Jiangsu Province. Now the collection is for the readers.

春节的江苏民间，除了贴春联、挂年画、守岁、舞狮子、大拜年等和全国一样的习俗外，还有一些独特的习俗，现辑录数则以飨读者。

On the new year's eve of Suzhou people put cooked water chestnuts in their meals and dig them out when eating, which is called "digging Yuanbao". When friends and relatives come and go, they put in two green olives when making tea, which is called "drinking Yuanbao tea". Congratulations on getting rich.

苏州人除夕在饭内放进熟荸荠，吃时挖出来，谓之“掘元宝”，亲友来往，泡茶时要置入两只青橄榄，谓之喝“元宝茶”，恭喜发财。

On the morning of the first day of the new year of Wujin people, the portraits of ancestors were hung in the nave for tea and fruit and rice cakes. The whole family followed in turn with the new year's ceremony, which was called "worship shadow" They are not allowed to sweep the floor from home, for fear of sweeping out the "wealth" and "Ruyi". They can only sweep the floor from the outside.

武进人年初一早晨，将先祖画像悬挂中堂，供上茶果、年糕，一家老小依次行拜年礼，谓之“拜神影子。”他们扫地不许从家里往外扫，惟恐把“财气”、“如意”扫了出去，只能从外往里扫。

Jiangning people have the custom of "beating the spirit drum" during the Spring Festival, which is led by a big flag. Gongs and drummers beat the drum vigorously to boost their spirits. On the third day of the third year, they played the night drum, on the seventh day of the seventh year, and on the thirteenth to the fifteenth year, they played the shirtless drum. The atmosphere was warm.

江宁人有春节“打神鼓”之习俗，由大旗开路，锣鼓手浑身使劲地擂鼓助兴，初三“打夜鼓”、初七“上七鼓”，十三至十五打“赤膊鼓”，气氛热烈。

Nantong people have the custom of planting sesame stalks, Holly and cypress in front of their homes or halls. They choose to live a life of high flowering and green all the year round.

南通人有在家门口或堂前插芝麻秆、冬青、柏枝的习俗，取意生活开花节节高，长年青翠。

Huaiyin people also have the custom of "baking the head wind" for their children on the sixth day of the lunar new year. It's the night to take the child to the field to light a torch, dispel the pathogenic factors for the child, while baking and singing: "bake the head, wake up the brain, bake the feet, step by step, bake the belly without thinning, bake all over the body, never see the disease."

淮阴人还有初六给孩子“烤头风”之习俗。是夜带孩子到田头空地点燃火把，为孩子驱除病邪，边烤边唱：“烤烤头，醒醒脑，烤烤脚，步子矫，烤烤肚皮不拉稀，满身都烤遍，疾病永不见。”

On the eighth day of the beginning of the year, fishermen in Wuxi took a boat to the west mountain to worship the Yuwang temple, praying for the blessing of the God of water and offering sacrifices to the aodan Buddha, which was called "Shangyao". After the Yuwang temple was demolished, the custom gradually faded.

无锡渔民年初八有乘船去西山祭拜禹王庙之习，祈求水神保佑，祭鳌赕佛，称为“上尧”，禹王庙拆除后，此俗渐渐淡漠。

During the Spring Festival, there are many taboos in the old customs of Jiangsu, such as not using scissors at the beginning of the year to avoid the quarrel between mouth and tongue; not using kitchen knives to avoid the disaster of killing the body; not eating porridge, afraid of going out in the rain; not sweeping the floor, afraid of sweeping away the wealth and so on. With the popularization of scientific knowledge, many unscientific customs have been gradually forgotten; healthy and beneficial recreational activities have continued.

春节期间，江苏地区的旧习俗中还有许多禁忌，诸如年初一不动剪刀，免得口舌之争；不动菜刀，以免杀身之祸；不吃稀饭，怕出门遇雨；不扫地，怕把财运扫光等等。随着科学知识的普及，有很多不科学的习俗也逐渐被人淡忘；健康有益的娱乐休闲活动，却一直延续下来。

The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back, becoming the busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month from the Spring Festival. Airports, railway stations and long-distance bus stations are crowded with home returnees.

春节是中国人最重要的节日，是所有家庭成员聚在一起的时候，就像西方的圣诞节一样。所有住在外地的人都会回家，这将成为距离春节半个月左右交通系统最繁忙的时候。机场、火车站和长途汽车站挤满了返乡者。

The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.

春节在农历一月一日，通常比公历晚一个月。它起源于商朝（约公元前1600年至公元前1100年），起源于人们在旧年结束和新一年开始时对神灵和祖先的祭祀。

Strictly speaking, the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year. Of them, the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days. The Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year.

严格来说，每年的春节从农历十二月初开始，一直持续到次年的农历一月中旬。其中，最重要的日子是春节前夕和前三天。中国政府现在规定，中国农历新年有七天假期。

Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. Some are still followed today, but others have weakened.

春节有许多习俗。有些人今天仍在关注，但其他人已经减弱。

On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious kind of porridge made with glutinous rice, millet, seeds of Job's tears, jujube berries, lotus seeds, beans, longan and gingko.

在农历十二月初八，许多家庭都会做腊八粥，这是一种美味的粥，由糯米、小米、薏米籽、枣子、莲子、豆类、龙眼和银杏制成。

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve. At this time, people offer sacrifice to the kitchen god. Now however, most families make delicious food to enjoy themselves.

农历12月23日称为初夜。此时，人们向灶神献祭。然而，现在大多数家庭都制作美味的食物来享受。

After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. This is called "Seeing the New Year in".

初夜过后，人们开始为即将到来的新年做准备。这就是所谓的“新年快乐”。

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year. Materials not only include edible oil, rice, flour, chicken, duck, fish and meat, but also fruit, candies and kinds of nuts. What's more, various decorations, new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives, are all on the list of purchasing.

商店老板那时很忙，因为每个人都出去购买新年必需品。材料不仅包括食用油、大米、面粉、鸡、鸭、鱼和肉，还包括水果、糖果和各种坚果。此外，各种装饰品、给孩子的新衣服和鞋子，以及给老人、朋友和亲戚的礼物都在购买清单上。

Before the New Year comes, the people completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes, bedclothes and all their utensils.

在新年到来之前，人们会彻底清洁家里的室内外，以及衣服、床上用品和所有用具。

Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.

然后，人们开始装饰他们干净的房间，营造出欢乐和喜庆的气氛。所有的门板都将贴上春联，用红纸上的黑字突出中国书法。内容从房主对美好未来的祝愿到新年的好运都不尽相同。此外，门神和财神的照片将张贴在前门，以驱邪，迎接和平与富足。

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。