1、精選優(yōu)質(zhì)文檔-傾情為你奉上1. Spring Festival春節(jié) 本文介紹了中國的傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日春節(jié)。文章詳盡說明了中國人是如何歡度春節(jié)的。閱讀此文，你可以學(xué)會如何用英語表達(dá)慶祝春節(jié)的習(xí)俗， 如貼對聯(lián)、包餃子、放鞭炮、吃團(tuán)圓飯、拜年等等。Spring Festival, the traditional Chinese New Years Day, is Chinas most important national holiday. The date of the new year is still determined by the lunar calendar even though the g

2、overnment of the Republic of China adopted the international Gregorian calendar in 1912. New Years Day typically occurs sometime in early spring (February).Almost everyone in Chinas cities enjoys at least three days off work to celebrate spring Festival, and the celebration lasts even longer in rura

3、l areas: from the eighth day of the last month of the lunar year to the fifteenth day of the first month of the following lunar years. Rural residents use this time, following a years hard work and prior to the spring planting, to rest and relax as the climate in northern China is still quite cold.T

4、he Han people (the majority ethnic group in China, accounting for more than 90 percent of the population) have a tradition of eating laba-rice porridge with beans, nuts and dried fruiton the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. This pastime symbolizes the peasants wishes for an abundant harvest an

5、d healthy animals.Starting on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month people clean their houses, decorate them with paper-cuts and streamers, shop for special Spring Festival foods and gifts, and begin preparing the New years banquet.On the day before New Years day, many families decorate th

6、eir front doors with a pair of couplets designating good fortune. These couplets are written in fine calligraphy on long strips of red paper. The text of the sentiments expressed are for happiness, good health, bumper harvest, family harmony and prosperity. Special pictures are placed in different r

7、ooms to dispel evil spirits and bring the family tranquility and happiness throughout the coming year.Children set off firecrackers, play games and carry colorful lanterns in hand as they visit friends. Parents keep busy preparing the New Years Eve dinner and making jiaozidumplings with meat and veg

8、etable fillings. Dumplings are an indispensable food for northerners during their New Years celebration.In olden times, jiaozi were thought to scare away evil spirits, misfortune and disease. Today this well-loved dish is as closely associated with Spring Festival as turkey is with Thanksgiving in t

9、he United States.Chinese have been making jiaozi for more than 1,600 years, but the preparation of this delicious food varies by region. One variety is made with fillings of meat, Chinese cabbage or other vegetables, peanut and sesames oils, with ginger, green onion and salt for flavoring. Another v

10、ariety is filled with eggs and dried shrimp along with Chinese cabbage, Chinese chives and other flavorings.On New Years Day people traditionally eat dumplings made with egg and shrimp fillings to encourage a year of peace. Families in some rural areas have a custom of wrapping a small piece of cand

11、y or a coin in one of the dumplings. The person who eats this dumpling is considered lucky and will have a happy and prosperous new year.Following dinner, most families watch special holiday variety shows on television, which last well into new Years Day. Many families stay up very late, some even s

12、tay up all night, playing cards, laughing, chatting, or telling stories to the children. At midnight a barrage of firecrackers breaks the silence and after the cocks crow, every family conducts a New Years ceremony. Everyone, old and young, dresses in their best before offering sacrifices to their g

13、ods and ancestors.The reunion meal in northern China consists of jiaozi. Old and young sit around the dinner table waiting to be served while the women boil the dumplings. If family members cannot join the reunion meal, a pair of chopsticks, a cup of wine and a bowl are laid out for them to symboliz

14、e the familys best wishes.On New Years Day the children receive gifts of money in red envelopes from their parents and grandparents. But, the most popular celebrating activity is young people expressing wishes of good fortune and health to the family elders. Other children enjoy visiting with friend

15、s, neighbors and relatives because they are treated to fruit, pastry and candy while their parents drink tea, wine or beer.The celebrating climax occurs on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month during the Lantern Festival. At night lantern shows or lion dances are performed, luring visitors to

16、the fun, whether its in the city or the countryside.(Excerpts from China Today January 1998)New Words and Expressions專心-專注-專業(yè)barrage n. 火網(wǎng)；傾瀉chive n. 細(xì)香蔥couplet n. 對聯(lián)；對句dispel vt. 驅(qū)趕；趕跑ginger n. 生姜Gregorian calendar 格里歷（即陽歷）onion n. 洋蔥paper-cut n. 剪紙pastry n. 糕點(diǎn)reunion meal 團(tuán)圓飯streamer n. 橫幅tranquil

17、ity n. 安寧 2. Lantern Festival元宵節(jié)本文介紹了中國傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日元宵節(jié)的起源及慶祝方式。閱讀此文可使你熟悉如何用英文表達(dá)掛燈籠、舞龍、踩高蹺、跳秧歌、包元宵等慶?；顒印he Lantern Festival occurs on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month according to the old Chinese calendar, when a full moon provides enough light for the various ceremonies and activities traditional

18、ly held throughout China. Customarily, family members reunite for a meal of Yuanxiao, round, sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour served in soup, which symbolize a wish for the familys happiness and good luck all year.Custom dictates that the holiday be enlivened with lanterns hung throughou

19、t the house, lantern shows, Yuanko (a popular rural folk dance), stilt walkers and dragon dances. The history of this merriment dates back 1,900 years to the Han Dynasty when Emperor Mingdi sat on the throne (5875). Mingdi ordered lanterns lit in every palace and monastery on the fifteenth day of th

20、e first lunar month in homage to Buddha. Since then various activities, such as lantern shows, fairs, and evening parties to guess riddles related to lanterns, have been organized in different parts of China.The lanterns usually are made of thin bamboo strips, straw, rattan, metal or animal horns an

21、d covered with red paper or gauze. They come in various shapes and sizes. Some are classified as palace lanterns while others are revolving lanterns that feature fables or pictures of animals. Now technology and electronics are being used in festival lanterns, and neon lights side by side with tradi

22、tional Chinese paper lanterns add more festivity to the holiday for both urban and rural dwellers.Dragon dances originated with ancient ceremonies for the Dragon King. At first these dances were a prayer for favorable weather. Today performers are more concerned with demonstrating their skills or un

23、ique techniques for simulating a dragon. Making a dragon for this dance using colorful paper or silk fabric requires special skills and craftsmanship.Stilt walking, a recreational activity in rural areas, combines dance, drama and physical agility. Chinese stilts are usually 20 to 90 centimeters hig

24、h. Using various props, performers play folk heroes or roles from popular dramas.Yuanko is a very common folk dance among Chinese in northern China. A yuanko can be performed by two or three people who recreate a simple story line, or by several dozen dancers who act out complicated dramas. A perfor

25、mers sense of humor, plus colorful props such as colored ribbons, paper fans, or handkerchiefs make a yuanko a unique cultural celebration, especially when combined with stilt walkers and dragon dances.Round sweet dumplings traditionally are eaten for happiness on the Lantern festival. Today these d

26、umplings also are a popular dessert in China, and come in two varieties: one is made of white and brown sugar, sweet-scented osmanthus, nuts and sesame seeds; the other has meat and vegetable fillings. Recently Chinese have begun adding chocolate for a truly unique flavor, even though traditional bo

27、iled dumplings, fried sweet dumplings are becoming popular.(Excerpts from China Today February 1998)New Words and Expressionsagility n. 敏捷enliven vt. 使有生氣；使活躍 gauze n. 薄紗glutinous rice 糯米homage n. 尊敬；敬意 ingredient n. 配料；成分 monastery n. 廟宇；寺廟neon n. 化氖；氖氣燈；霓虹燈rattan n. 藤；藤條ribbon n. 緞帶；絲帶stilt walkin

28、g 踩高蹺sweet-scented osmanthus 桂花yangko n. 秧歌 3. Qingming Festival清明節(jié)本文介紹了清明節(jié)的來歷和與之相關(guān)的掃墓、祭祖、郊游及放風(fēng)箏等等習(xí)俗。文章還介紹了風(fēng)箏的制作方法、風(fēng)箏的類型和中國的風(fēng)箏之都。Qingming (Pure Brightness) is a traditional festival highlighted by worship at ancestral graves. Usually it falls between April 46. The festival marks the fifth solar term

29、 of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, which divides the year into 24 such terms according to the position of the earth as it orbits the sun. The names of the terms are used as guideposts for agriculture and certain Chinese festivals in China. Qingming marks the start of spring plowing in China

30、s north and of spring sowing in the south. At this time people also customarily make offerings to family ancestors, go on outings and flying kites.Following tradition, people used to pay their respects to their ancestors by sweeping family graves clean of the winters debris. But today this festival

31、is also a memorial day for revolutionary martyrs. People from government offices, schools and other social organizations visit public cemeteries and express their esteem by placing a bouquet of freshly cut flowers, a bunch of budding willow branches or a wreath of cypress and pine on the tomb of a m

32、artyr.At this time of year the days grow longer and the sun warmer, bringing enchanting springtime scenery. Many people take advantage of the opportunity to escape the city and enjoy the beauty of nature, breathe in fresh air and renew their optimism.Swinging used to be a favorite pastime for women

33、and children. It evolved with Chinese ancestors, who used to search for food on trees and used rattan vines to swing out and reach the food they wanted. In ancient times, people believed that swinging from vines was good for building an agile and strong physique resistant to illness, and a good way

34、to relax as well. Today swinging is still thought to contribute to ones good health, to balance brain functions, and to cultivate courage. What a pity that this pastime, easily enjoyed by all, is no longer popular in China, except among children playing in the park or on the school playground.Kite m

35、anufacturing and flying, Kites are made in various styles by professional or amateur artists of different schools. Eulogized as Chinas kite capital, the city of Weifang in the northern province of Shandong hosts an International Kite Fair and kite-flying tournament every spring just before Qingming.

36、 The event attracts numerous contestants from all over the world and a growing number of tourists from home and abroad.In kite making extremely thin strips of bamboo or wood are used to construct a frame, which is then covered with paper or gauze. Painting and mounting are vitally important. The kit

37、es are made to resemble animals, figures and musical instrument. Some have rigid wings while others have movable ones. Some can even make sounds like an organ, a gong or a drum while flying. With the application of new technology to kite making, China has an ever-growing variety of these exquisitely

38、 shaped and patterned creations.This Chinese folk art was introduced to Southeast Asia and Trope between the eighth and sixteenth centuries. Now kite flying has become fashionable throughout the world, and the art of kite making has been cited in “Science and Civilization in China” by Joseph Needham

39、 as an important technical invention from China that has contributed to the dissemination of Chinese culture.(Excerpts from China Today April 1998)New Words and Expressionsbouquet n. 花束 cypress n. 柏樹contestant n. 競爭者；參加比賽者dissemination n. 播種;傳播epicenter n. 中心；集中點(diǎn)eulogize vt. 頌揚(yáng)；贊揚(yáng)exquisitely ad. 精巧地

40、；精致的gong n. 鑼; 銅鑼solar term 氣節(jié)wreath n.花圈；花環(huán)4. Dragon Boat Festival端午節(jié)本文介紹了端午節(jié)的來歷和偉大的愛國詩人屈原的一生。人們在端午節(jié)以包粽子、舉辦龍舟賽等形式來紀(jì)念愛國詩人屈原。The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is a traditional Chinese festival dedicated to the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan for his devotion to his native state. Qu Yuan lived in th

41、e state of Chu during the Warring States period (475221 B.C.). Chu was in condtant danger of being invaded by the state of Qin, the strongest among the seven states then existing in central china. As one of the dukes, Qu Yuan advocated that Chu should join forces with the neighboring state of Qi to

42、fight against Qins troops. However, his patriotism and dedication were betrayed by capitulators who slandered him. The king of Chu believed them and sent Qu Yuan into exile. He wrote many immortal masterpieces exposing the corrupt and incompetent feudal regime. In his autobiographic works he express

43、es his political position and his ambition of rejuvenating his state. When Qu Yuan heard that Qin troops had occupied the Chu capital, he threw himself into the Miluo River in despair on the fifth day the fifth lunar month.Local people honor the memory of Qu Yuan on this day by holding dragon-boat r

44、aces. It is said that the boat races were regarded as a symbol of the peoples attempt to rescue Qu Yuan. For a long time now they have been a popular sport. China has a long history of making big wooden boats sport. The prow is a carved dragons head, and the body is made in a dragon-like shape or fo

45、llowing the design of fish, birds or shrimp. It is painted red, yellow, black or white according to the taste of the oarsmen. Different sizes of boats hold different numbers of oarsmen, seated in pairs. Boat races are held in rivers going either up or downstream or from bank to bank, following the strict rules and regulations set by the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission. Winners are awarded trophies.