Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestotranslateapassagefromChineseintoEnglish.YoushouldwriteyouransweronAnswerSheet2.
剪纸(papercutting)是中国最为流行的传统民间艺术形式之一。中国剪纸有一千五百多年的历史，在明朝和清朝时期(theMingandQingDynasties)特别流行。人们常用剪纸美化居家环境。特别是在春节和婚庆期间，剪纸被用来装饰门窗和房间，以增加喜庆的气氛。剪纸最常用的颜色是红色，象征健康和兴旺。中国剪纸在世界各地很受欢迎，经常被用作馈赠外国友人的礼物。
PapercuttingisoneofChina’smostpopulartraditionalfolkarts.Chinesepapercuttinghasahistoryofmorethan1,500years.ItwaswidespreadparticularlyduringtheMingandQingDynasties.Peopleoftenbeautifytheirhomeswithpapercuttings.DuringtheSpringFestivalandweddingcelebrations,inparticular,papercuttingsareusedtodecoratedoors,windowsandroomsinordertoenhancethejoyousatmosphere.Thecolormostfrequentlyusedinpapercuttingisred,whichsymbolizeshealthandprosperity.Chinesepapercuttingisverypopulararoundtheworldanditisoftengivenasapresenttoforeignfriends.
中国新年是中国最重要的传统节日，在中国也被称为春节。新年的庆祝活动从除夕开始一直延续到元宵节(theLanternFestival)，即从农历(lunarcalendar)最后一个月的最后一天至新年第一个月的第十五天。各地欢度春节的习俗和传统有很大差异，但通常每个家庭都会在除夕夜团聚,一起吃年夜饭。为驱厄运、迎好运，家家户户都会进行大扫除。人们还会在门上粘贴红色的对联(couplets)，对联的主题为健康、发财和好运。其他的活动还有放鞭炮、发红包和探亲访友等。
ChineseNewYearisthemostimportanttraditionalChineseholiday.InChina,itisalsoknownastheSpringFestival.NewYearcelebrationsrunfromChineseNewYear’sEve,thelastdayofthelastmonthofthelunarcalendar,totheLanternFestivalonthe15thdayofthefirstmonth.CustomsandtraditionsconcerningthecelebrationoftheChineseNewYearvarywidelyfromplacetoplace.However,NewYear’sEveisusuallyanoccasionforChinesefamiliestogatherfortheannualreuniondinner.Itisalsotraditionalforeveryfamilytothoroughlycleanthehouseinordertosweepawayillfortuneandtobringingoodluck.Anddoorswillbedecoratedwithredcoupletswiththemesofhealth,wealthandgoodluck.Otheractivitiesincludelightingfirecrackers,givingmoneyinredenvelopes,andvisitingrelativesandfriends.
