17、長江

長江，又名揚(yáng)子江(the Yangtze River)，全長6300多千米，是中國第一大河，世界第三大河。長江發(fā)源于青藏高原(the Qinghai-xizang Plateau),流經(jīng)多個省市。因富產(chǎn)糧食，長江中下游被稱為“中華文明的搖籃” (the cradle of Chinese civilization)。長江兩岸風(fēng)景優(yōu)美，有眾多的名勝古跡。千百年來，長江在農(nóng)業(yè)、工業(yè)、運(yùn)輸及戰(zhàn)爭中發(fā)揮著重要的作用。然而近年來，長江遭受了工業(yè)污染和湖泊流失，并由此引發(fā)了季節(jié)性洪水。

參考譯文：

The Changjiang River, or the Yangtze River, has a total length of more than 6,300 km. It is the longest river in China and the third-longest one in the world. It rises in the Qinghai-xizang Plateau and flows through many provinces and cities. The middle and lower reaches of the river have been called the cradle of Chinese civilization for their abundance of food produced. Along the two sides of the river is beautiful scenery with many scenic spots and historical sites. For thousands of years, the river has been playing an important role in agriculture，industry, transportation, and war. But in recent years, the river has suffered from industrial pollution and loss of lakes, which has brought seasonal floods.

18、紅樓夢

《紅樓夢》(A Dream of Red Mansions)寫成于18世紀(jì)，是中國著名的古典長篇小說。小說共計120回，前80回的作者是曹雪芹，后40回由高鶚完成。通過對賈氏封建大家族(feudal clan)生活的生動描述《紅樓夢》展示了清朝(the Qing Dynasty)封建社會的興衰。小說塑造了大量的人物，其中主要人物就將近40個。以該小說為題材的藝術(shù)作品很多，其中最成功的當(dāng)屬1987年由王扶林導(dǎo)演的電視連續(xù)劇《紅樓夢》。

參考譯文：

Written in the 18th century, A Dream of Red Mansions is a famous Chinese classical novel. In this 120-chapter novel, the first 80 chapters were written by Cao Xueqin and the left 40 by Gao E. With vivid descriptions of the life in the big feudal clan of Jia, the novel reveals the rise and fall of the feudal society in the Qing Dynasty. The novel shapes a large number of characters and nearly forty are considered major ones. A lot of artistic works have been produced based on the novel, among which the most successful is the TV series A Dream of Red Mansions directed by Wang Fulin in 1987.

19、本草綱目

《本草綱目》(The Compendium of Materia Medica)是明代（the Ming Dynasty）著名的醫(yī)學(xué)家李時珍所著。這部著作近乎200萬字，記載藥物(medical substance) 1892種。除了中草藥（Chinese herhal medicine)，該書也包含了動物和礦物質(zhì)作為藥物的記載?！侗静菥V目》堪稱中醫(yī)史上最完整的醫(yī)書，對各種藥物的名稱、氣味、形態(tài)等都做了詳盡的介紹。它被翻譯成20多種語言并在全世界廣為流傳。即便現(xiàn)在，人們還常常將它用作醫(yī)學(xué)參考書。

參考譯文：

The Compendium of Materia Medica is written by Li Shizhen, a famous medical scientist in the Ming Dynasty. With almost 2million Chinese characters, the book lists 1,892 kinds of medical substances. Besides Chinese herbal medicines, it includes animals and minerals used as medicinal substances. The Compendium of Materia Medica is regarded as the most complete medical book in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. Detailed introductions of all the medical substances are given in the book, including name, smell, appearance, etc. It has been translated into more than 20languages and spreads all over the world. Even now it is still often used as a reference book in medicine.

20、元青花瓷

元代(the Yuan Dynasty)是中國瓷器(porcelain)發(fā)展史上—個重要的時期?；谙惹俺臒萍夹g(shù)景德鎮(zhèn)成功地制作出青花瓷(the blue and white porcelain)。元青花瓷富麗雄渾，其風(fēng)格與傳統(tǒng)的瓷器大相徑庭。元青花瓷的出現(xiàn)也使景德鎮(zhèn)成為當(dāng)時世界制瓷業(yè)的中心。元青花瓷制作精美而且傳世極少，因此異常珍貴。青花瓷的制作在明清兩朝(the Ming and Qing Dynasties)得到進(jìn)一步發(fā)展，其中的精品是許多收藏家的終極目標(biāo)。

參考譯文：

The Yuan Dynasty is a key period in the development of Chinese porcelain industry. Based on the firing techniques of former dynasties, the blue and white porcelains had been successfully manufactured in Jingdezhen. The blue and white porcelains of the Yuan Dynasty are grand and splendid, whose styles are quite different from those of the traditional porcelains. The rising of blue and white porcelain in the YuanDynasty also made Jingdezhen the center of the porcelain industry in the world at that time. Finely made and rarely handed down, the blue and white porcelains of the Yuan Dynasty are extremely precious. The blue and white porcelains were further developed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Some fine works are the dream targets for collectors。

21、京劇臉譜

京劇臉譜(the facial makeup of Beijing Opera)是具有民族特色的一種獨特的化妝方法。它最大的特點在于借助不同的色彩來展示人物的性格。臉譜的顏色使觀眾對人物的善惡美丑一目了然。通常紅色代表忠誠；黑色象征正直；紫色意味公正；黃色喻示殘暴(brutality)。此外，臉譜還常常帶有圖案(design)來表述某個故事，比如后羿臉譜上有九個太陽，表明他曾經(jīng)用箭射掉了九個太陽。

參考譯文：

The facial makeup of Beijing Opera is a unique makeup method with Chinese national characteristics. It has the best feature of showing the characters with various colorful facial paintings. The audience knows the good or evil character of a role directly based on the color of the face. Usually, red represents loyalty; black integrity; purple justice, and yellow brutality. In addition, the facial makeup often comes with designs to tell some story. For instance, Hou Yi has nine suns painted on his face, indicating that he has ever shot nine suns from the sky.

22、黃顏色

自古以來黃顏色就與中國傳統(tǒng)文化有著緊密聯(lián)系。中國的第一個皇帝稱為“黃帝”(Yellow Emperor)；中華民族的母親河為“黃河”；中國人的皮膚為“黃皮膚”。五行學(xué)說(the theory of five elements)認(rèn)為黃顏色位居五行的中央，居于諸色之上，最為貴，黃色也因此被定為皇帝服裝的顏色。明清兩朝(the Ming and Qing Dynasties)，黃色為皇家專用色彩，是權(quán)力的象征。直到現(xiàn)在，黃色仍然是中國人最喜愛的顏色之一。

參考譯文：

Since the ancient times, the color yellow has a close relationship with the Chinese traditional culture. The first emperor in China was called "Yellow Emperor"；the Mother River of the Chinese nation is the "Yellow River"；the Chinese people have "yellow skin". According to the theory of five elements, yellow was in the middle of the five elements, coming first of all colors. Therefore, it was viewed as the noblest color, a color for the clothing of emperors. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, yellow was the exclusive color for the Emperor families, which was a symbol of power. Until now, yellow is still one of the Chinese favorite colors.

23、移動支付

過去幾年里，移動支付市場在中國蓬勃發(fā)展，隨著移動互聯(lián)網(wǎng)的出現(xiàn)，手機(jī)購物逐漸成為一種趨勢。18到30歲的年輕人構(gòu)成了移動支付市場的最大群體。由于現(xiàn)在用手機(jī)付款極容易，許多消費者在購物時寧愿用手機(jī)付款，而不愿用現(xiàn)金或信用卡。為了鼓勵人們多消費，許多商店給使用移動支付的顧客打折。專家預(yù)測，中國移動支付市場未來仍有很大發(fā)展?jié)摿Α?/p>

參考譯文：

In the past few years, the mobile payment market has flourished in China. With the advent of the mobile Internet, mobile shopping has gradually become a trend. Young people aged between 18 and 30 constitute the largest group in the mobile payment market. (Young people between the ages of 18 and 30 make up the largest segment of the mobile payment market.) Since it is extremely easy to pay by mobile phone now, many consumers prefer to pay by mobile phone when shopping, rather than in cash or by credit cards. (Because it is so easy to pay by mobile now, many consumers would rather pay by mobile phone than in cash or by credit card when shopping.) To encourage people to spend more, many stores offer discounts to customers who use mobile payments. Experts predict that China's mobile payment market still has great potential for development in the future.

24、七夕

七夕節(jié)(Double Seventh Festival)是中國最具浪漫色彩的傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日。每年農(nóng)歷(lunar calendar)七月初七就是七夕節(jié)，亦稱“乞巧節(jié)”。七夕節(jié)起源于中國古代牛郎(Cowherd)和織女(Weaver Maid)的愛情神話，他們的故事感動了一代又一代的中國人。許多有情男女會在七夕的晚上祈禱自己的姻緣美滿，期望“有情人終成眷屬”。近年來，越來越多的都市青年男女把這個節(jié)日當(dāng)作“中國情人節(jié)”(Chinese Valentine's Day)。

參考譯文：

The Double Seventh Festival is the most romantic traditional Chinese festival. Also known as "Qiqiao Festival", it falls annually on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. The festival came from an ancient Chinese romantic fairy tale about the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid, which has deeply moved generations of Chinese people. Many men and women in love usually pray for a happy marriage on that night, hoping for "a happy ending for true love". In recent years, more and more youngsters in cities celebrate the Double Seventh Festival as Chinese Valentine's Day.

25、麗江古城

麗江古城有800多年的歷史，曾經(jīng)是茶馬古道(the old teahorse road)上的一個貿(mào)易集結(jié)點(confluence)。麗江因其有序的水道和橋梁系統(tǒng)而聞名。麗江古城在建筑、歷史及其原住民納西族(the Naxi people)的文化傳統(tǒng)方面不同于中國其他古城。古城沿山脈和河流而建，為我們提供了一個研究古代建筑的非常珍貴的樣本。獨特的地理位置、歷史背景以及多民族的居民，都使麗江成為最特別的古城之一。

參考譯文：

The old town of Lijiang has a history of more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. It is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture tradition of its local residents-the Naxi people. The town is built along mountains and rivers, providing us with a very precious sample of the research on the old-time architecture. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make it one of the most special old towns.

26、太極拳

太極拳（Tai Chi）是一系列緩慢的動作，旨在修煉身心。它就像是一種舞蹈，卻不需要你隨音樂起舞，而是需要你向內(nèi)看，聆聽內(nèi)心的節(jié)奏。它創(chuàng)自數(shù)千年前，原本是一種武術(shù)（martial art）——一種自衛(wèi)的技藝。然而，它的武術(shù)方面如今不太流行了。目前，全世界成千上萬人練習(xí)它，主要是由于它對于人類健康的神奇作用。它將身體動作與平靜、冥想的（meditative）心理狀態(tài)結(jié)合起來，所以也被稱作“冥想運(yùn)作（meditation motion）”。

參考譯文：

Tai Chi is a series of slow movements that are aimed at training us physically and mentally. It is just like a dance that requires you to look inside and dance to the internal rhythms instead of music. It was created thousands of years ago as a martial art and specifically as a defensive art. However, nowadays its martial aspect is not that popular. It is practiced by thousands of people around the world mostly because of its miraculous effects on human health. It is often called "meditation in motion" because it combines the body's movements with a calm and meditative state of mind.

27、黃山

黃山位于安徽省南部。它風(fēng)景獨特，尤以其日出和云海著稱。要欣賞大山的宏偉壯麗，通常得向上看。但要欣賞黃山美景，得向下看。黃山的濕潤氣候有利于茶樹生成，是中國主要產(chǎn)茶地之一。這里還有許多溫泉，其泉水有助于防治皮膚病。黃山是中國主要旅游目的地之一，也是攝影和傳統(tǒng)國畫最受歡迎的主題。

參考譯文：

Mount Huang is located in the south of Anhui province. Its landscape is unique, and it is especially famous for its sunrise and sea of clouds. In order to appreciate the magnificence of this great mountain, one has to look up, but to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mount Huang, one has to look down. Mount Huang’s humid climate is fit for the growth of tea tree, and it is one of the major tea tree growing areas of China. There are also many warm springs in Mount Huang, whose water is helpful for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases. Mount Huang is one of the major tourist destinations in China, and is also the most popular subject of photography and traditional Chinese paintings.

28、方言

中國幅員遼闊，人口眾多，很多地方人們都說自己的方言。方言在發(fā)音上差別最大，詞匯和語法差別較小。有些方言，特別是北方和南方的方言，差異很大，以至于說不同方言的人常常很難聽懂彼此的講話。方言被認(rèn)為是當(dāng)?shù)匚幕囊粋€組成部分，但近年來能說方言的人數(shù)不斷減少。為了鼓勵人們更多說本地方言，一些地方政府已經(jīng)采取措施，如在學(xué)校開設(shè)方言課，在廣播和電視上播放方言節(jié)目，以期保存本地的文化遺產(chǎn)。

參考譯文：

China is a vast country with a large population, and in many places people speak their own dialects. Dialects differ most in pronunciation, but less in vocabulary and grammar. Some dialects, especially those from the north and south, are so different that speakers of different dialects often have trouble understanding each other. Dialects are considered an integral part of local culture, but the number of people who can speak them has been decreasing in recent years. In order to encourage people to speak more local dialects, some local governments have adopted approaches, such as opening dialect classes in schools and broadcasting dialect programs on radio and television in order to preserve local cultural heritage.

29、中國菜系

中國一個幅員遼闊、資源豐富、歷史悠久的多民族國家，每個民族都有其獨特的豐富菜肴。地域菜系在地理環(huán)境、氣候、文化傳統(tǒng)、民族風(fēng)俗和其他因素的影響下經(jīng)過悠久歷史的發(fā)展已經(jīng)成形。最有影響力、最具代表性的是魯、川、粵、閩、蘇、浙、湘、徽菜系，這八種被人們稱為“八大菜系”。中國的“八大菜系”是以多種多樣的烹飪方法區(qū)分的，各有其長處。

參考譯文：

China is a time-honored multi-ethnic nation with a vast territory and abundant resources, and every ethnic group has its unique abundant dishes. Regional cuisines have taken shape after long-history evolution under the influence of geographical environment, climate, cultural tradition, folk customs and other factors. The most influential and representative ones are Lu, Chuan，Yue, Min, Su，Zhe, Xiang and Hui Cuisines, which are commonly known as “Eight Major Cuisines”. Dishes in the “Eight Major Cuisines”in China are characterized by diversified cooking skills, with each having its strong points.

30、追星

“追星（star chasing）”是指人們對某個明星特別崇拜（worship），想要了解關(guān)于他/她的一切，這種行為多發(fā)生在青少年中。“追星”也是“雙刃劍（double-edged sword）”，盲目地“追星”會分散精力，影響到青少年的學(xué)習(xí)。但若理性對待，它也有積極的一面。因為它可以讓人擁有敬慕的對象，以他們?yōu)榘駱樱ψ非髮儆谧约旱某晒ξ磥??？傊?，“追星”有利也有弊，?yīng)該取其精華，棄其糟粕，從而樹立健康的生活態(tài)度和價值觀。

參考譯文：

Star chasing refers to one's worship for a celebrity and the strong feeling to know everything about him or her. It mainly occurs among adolescents. Star chasing is also a double-edged sword. Blindly chasing after stars will distract the attention of the youth from their study. However, if treated rationally, it also has a positive side. With someone to respect, admire and emulate, the adolescent will strive for a successful future. In short, there are both advantages and disadvantages in star chasing. Its essence should be taken and the dross discarded so as to foster healthy life, attitudes and values.

31、節(jié)日美食

我國食品種類繁多，節(jié)日食俗也豐富多彩。春節(jié)(the Spring Festival)是我國的傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日，人們通常從它的前夜—除夕就開始張羅了。除夕那天，家家戶戶都要吃很豐盛的年夜飯。因為“魚”和“有余”的“余”讀者相同，為了預(yù)示新年節(jié)慶有余，有些民族初一有吃魚的習(xí)俗。端午節(jié)(the Dragon Boat Festival)的重要食俗就是吃粽子(rice dumpling)。粽子越做越好，品種也越做越多。在中國，吃月餅是中秋節(jié)(the Mid-Autumn Festival)最具典型意義的食俗了。農(nóng)歷八月十五這一 天，人們都喜歡合家團(tuán)聚，邊飲酒賞月，邊吃月餅。中秋吃月餅的習(xí)俗已有悠久的歷史。

參考譯文：

China has a wide variety of food, and eating customs on festivals are also colorful. The Spring Festival is a traditional festival in China, and people usually begin to bustle on New Year's Eve, the evening before the Spring Festival. On that day, every family will have a hearty reunion dinner. In order to predict a surplus for the coming year, some ethnic groups have adopted the custom of eating fish on the first day of lunar January, because the sound of Chinese character for “fish” is the same with that of “surplus”. Besides, the important custom of the Dragon boat festival is eating rice dumplings, so rice dumplings are turning better and better and the variety of them is becoming more and more diverse. In China, eating moon cakes is the most typical custom on the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the15th day of lunar August, people like to get together and have a family reunion, drinking, appreciating the full moon and eating moon cakes which is a tradition of a long history.

32、餃子

每逢新春佳節(jié)，吃餃子(dumplings)已經(jīng)成為中國的習(xí)俗。究其原因，首先是因為餃子形如金元寶(gold ingot)，人們在春節(jié)吃餃子取“招財進(jìn)寶"之意；二是餃子有餡，便于人們把各種吉祥的東西包到餡里，以寄托人們對新的一年的祈望。人們常常將花生、棗和栗子等包進(jìn)餡里。吃到花生的人將健康長壽，吃到棗和栗子的人將早生貴子。餃子因所包的餡和制作方法不同而種類繁多。即使是同一種水餃，亦有不同的吃法。

參考譯文：

It's a Chinese custom to eat dumplings during the Spring Festival. The first reason for it is that dumplings are shaped like gold ingots. People eat dumplings during the Spring Festival, wishing to bring in wealth and treasures. The second reason is that dumplings are stuffed with fillings, allowing people to put a variety of auspicious things into it, and in this way people pin their hopes for the next year. People often put peanuts, Chinese Dates, and chestnuts inside the dumplings. Those who eat peanuts will be healthy and live a long life; those who eat Chinese dates and chestnuts will have a baby soon. There are a wide variety of dumplings due to their diverse fillings inside and different methods of making. Even dumplings of the same kind have different ways of eating.