1.孔子
孔子(Confucius)是一位思想家、政治家，教育家，也是中国儒学(the Ru School)思想的创始人。儒学(Confucianism)，这个道德和 宗教哲学的大系统建立在孔圣人(Master Kung)的教学上。冯友兰，中国思想史上 20 世纪伟大的权威之一，把孔子在中国历史上的影响比作 西方的苏格拉底。
参考译文: Confucius was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought.Confucianism, the great system of moral and religious philosophy built upon the teachings of Master Kung.Fung You-lan, one of the great 20th century authorities on the history of Chinese thought, compares Confucius’s influence in Chinese history with that of Socrates in the West.
2.京剧
京剧(Beijing Opera)是中国的国粹。 作为一门古老的艺术，京剧的服装 （costume)、脸谱(facial mask)更易被人喜爱。不同的服装类型反映不同的人物身份特征。富贵者的服装缀满精美的刺绣;穷困者的服装则简单朴素，少有装饰(elemental)。 脸谱是京剧中塑造人物 形象的重要 手段，它是用不同的颜色在脸上勾画出来的。脸谱的颜色让人一看便知角色(portray)的善恶。比如白色代表奸诈(treachery)， 黑色代表正直不阿，黄色是骁勇，蓝、绿色多用于绿林 好汉(rebellious fighters)，金、银色多用于神佛(divinity and Buddhism)等。
参考译文: Beijing Opera is the cream of the Chinese culture.As a traditional art form, its costumes and facial mask are more popular with people.Different styles of costumes are used to reflect the status of different characters.There are more decorations in the costumes of nobles，while those of the poor tend to be simple and le elemental.Facial masks can reflect qualities of different characters.Facial masks using different colors are important ways to portray a character.People can tell a hero from a villain by the colors of the masks.In general，white usually represents treachery, black represents righteousne, yellow represents bravery, blue and green represent rebellious fighters，while gold and silver represent divinity and Buddhism.
3.茶马古道
茶马古道(Tea-horse Ancient Road)两边，生活着 20 多个少数 民族。不同的地方有着各自美丽而神奇的自然风景和传统文化，比 如:大理，丽江古城，香格里拉(Shangrila),雅鲁藏布江 大峡谷和布达拉宫(Potala Palace)。古道的两旁有庙宇、岩石壁画、骚站(post house),古桥和木板路，还有少数民族舞蹈和民族服装。时至今天，虽然这条古道的踪迹都消失了，但它的文化和历史价值仍然存在。
参考译文: Along the Tea-horse Ancient Road lived more than 20 minorities.Concentrations of beautiful and mysterious natural landscapes and traditional cultures developed in various sites，including Dali old city, Lijiang old city, Shangrila, Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, Potala Palace.The road features temples, rock paintings, post houses, ancient bridges and plank roads.It is also home to many national minorities and their dances and folk customs.Today, although the traces of the ancient road are fading away, its cultural and historic values remain.
4.八大菜系
中国一个幅员辽阔、资源丰富、历史悠久的多民族国家， 每个民族都有其独特的丰富菜肴。 地域菜系在地理环境、气候、文化传统、民族风俗和其他因素的影响下经过悠久历史的发 展已经成形。 最有影响力、最具代表性的是鲁、川、粤、闽、苏、浙、湘、徽菜系， 这八 种被人们称为“八大菜系” 。中国的“八大菜系”是以多种多样 的烹饪方法区分的，各有其长处。
参考译文: China is a time-honored multi-ethnics 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.
5.四合院
四合院是从明代的北京延续下来的古典建筑风格的住宅。四合 院之间的狭窄的街道被称为 “胡同” 。一个四合院有园林包围着四个房子，有高高的围墙保护。四合院与胡同都是人们 常见到的，有超 过 700 多年的历史，但是由于现在的城市改造和中国经济的发展，四合院 慢慢地从北京消失。
参考译文: Si He Yuan is a claical architecture style of residential housing of Beijing citizens dated from the Ming Dynasty.The narrow streets between the Si He Yuan are called “Hutong”.A single implementation of Si He Yuan comprises of garden surrounded by four houses and protected by high walls.Si He Yuan with Hutong which have been very familiar to people，having a history of more than 700 years now suffer from the urban renovation and economic development of China, and they are slowly disappearing from Beijing.
6.少林功夫
少林功夫(Shaolin Kungfii)是河南登封少林寺信奉佛教文化的和尚们练习的一种武术(martial arts)。少林寺，建于北魏(the Northern Wei Dynasty)太和期(Taihe Period)十九年，是少林功夫发展的文化空间。少林功夫最初是佛教僧侣练习的，他们的职责是保护寺庙。 现在经过 1500 多年的发展，少林功夫已逐步发展成为一种完美技术和丰富含义相融合的艺术，在全世界享有声誉。
参考译文: Shaolin Kungfu is a kind of martial arts practiced by monks under the special Buddhist culture of the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng City, Henan Province.The Shaolin Temple, built in the Nineteenth year of Taihe Period during the Northern Wei Dynasty, is a cultural space for the development of the Shaolin Kungfu.The Shaolin Kungfii, which is originally practiced by the Buddhist monks whose duties were to protect the temple, has been gradually developed into an art of perfect technology, abundant meanings and high reputation in the whole world after more than 1500 years of development.
7.秧歌
秧歌是农历正月的主要的民族花市形式。 在这种活动中， 两人都盛装打扮， 轮流唱歌跳舞， 其他人作为唱歌和跳舞的搭档。锣(gong) 鼓按照节奏敲打;唢呐（suona)或其他传统的弦乐 器、木管乐器作为背景音乐。
参考译文: Yangge, which is one of the main forms of folk flower fair actions in the first month of the lunar year.In this activity, two people are dreed up, singing and dancing in antiphonal style, others act as singing and dancing partners.The gong and drum are beaten in rhythm; traditional stringed and woodwind instruments are dubbed in background music.
8.筷子
说到筷子(chopsticks)的起源，中国是世界上第一个使用筷子的 国家，用筷子吃饭已经有至 少 3000 年的历史了。筷子看起来很简单， 只有两根小细棒，但它有很多功能，比如挑选， 移动，夹，搅拌或 者挖。此外，它便于使用，价格便宜。而且筷子也是世界上独有的 餐具 (tableware)。使用筷子的人，无论是中国人还是外国人，都无不钦佩筷子的发明者。
As the origin of chopsticks, China is the first country in the world to use chopsticks and has a history of at least 3,000 years to have meals with chopsticks.Chopsticks seems quite simple with only two small and thin sticks, but it is in poeion of many functions, such as picking, moving, nipping, mixing and digging; moreover，it is convenient for use and cheap in price.Besides, chopsticks are also unique tableware in the world.Anyone using chopsticks， no matter Chinese or foreigners, would without exception admire the inventor of chopsticks.
9.扇子
中国扇子的历史可以追溯到 3000 多年前的商朝(the Shang Dynasty)。第一种扇子叫作 “扇汗” （Shanhan),是拴在马车上用来 挡住强烈的阳光，给乘客遮雨的。“扇汗”有点像现在的雨伞。后来 “扇汗”变成了由薄但是结实的丝绸或者鸟的羽毛做成的长柄扇，称为中山扇 （Zhangshan fan),它主要用于皇帝的仪仗(honour guard)装饰。
参考译文: The history of Chinese fan can be dated to over 3,000 years ago，around the Shang Dynasty.The first type of fan, known as Shanhan, was tied to a horse-drawn carriage to shut out the strong sunshine and shelter the paengers from the rainfall.The Shanhan was a bit like today’s umbrella.Later this Shanhan became a long-handled fan made of thin and tough silk or birds5 feathers, called a Zhangshan fan, which was mainly used by the emperor’s honour guard as decoration.
10.中国茶
中国是茶的故乡。 据说早在五六千年前， 中国就有了茶树(tea- shrub),而且有关茶树的人类 文明可以追溯到两千年前。来自中国的茶和丝绸、瓷器(porcelain)—样，在 1000 年前为世界所知，而且一直是中国重要的出口产品。目前世界上 40 多个国家种植茶，其中亚 洲国家的产量占世界总产量的 90%。其他国家的茶树都直接或间接地起源于中国。
参考译文: China is the homeland of tea.It is believed that China has tea- shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago，and human cultivation of tea pants can date back two thousand years.Tea from China，along with her silk and porcelain, began to be known the world over more than a thousand years ago and has since always been an important Chinese export.At present more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries producing 90% of the world’s total output.All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China.
11.丝绸之路
丝绸之路(the Silk Road)是历史上连接中国和地中海的一条重要 贸易路线。因为这条路上的 丝绸贸易占绝大部分，所以在 1877 年它 被德国的一位地理学家命名为“丝绸之路” 。这条 古道从长安开始， 经过河西走廊(the Hexi Corridor),到达敦煌后分成三条：南部路线， 中部 路线和北部路线。 这三条路遍布新疆维吾尔自治区(Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)， 然后扩展到巴基斯坦(Pakistan)，印度， 甚至罗马。
参考译文: The Silk Road is a historically important international trade route between China and the Mediterranean.Because silk comprised a large proportion of trade along this road, in 1877, it was named the Silk Road by an eminent German geographer.This ancient road begins at Chang’an, then by way of the Hexi Corridor，and it reaches Dunhuang, where it divides into three, the Southern Route，Central Route and Northern Route.The three routes spread all over the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and then they extend as far as Pakistan, India and even Rome.
12.经济水平多样化的中国
中国是一个文化、语言、风俗和经济水平都很多样化的地方。 经济格局尤其多样化。大城市如北京，广州和上海是现代的，相对富裕的。然而，约 50%的中国人仍然生活在农村地区，尽管中国只有 10%的土地是可耕地(arable land)。数百万农村居民仍然依靠体力劳动或役畜(draft animal)耕作。两三百万农民迁到城镇寻找工作。 一般来说，南部和东部沿海地区比内陆地区更富有，西部和北部，以及西南部是非常不发达的地区。 参考译文: China is a very diverse place with large variations in culture, language, customs and economic levels.The economic landscape is particularly diverse.The major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai are moden and comparatively wealthy.However, about 50% of Chinese still live in rural areas even though only 10% of China ’s land is arable.Hundreds of millions of rural residents still farm with manual labour or draft animals.Some 200 to 300 million former peasants migrated to townships and cities in search of work.Generally the southern and eastern coastal regions are wealthier while inland areas, the far west and north, and the southwest are much le developed.
13.中国对外贸易
对于世界上很多国家来说，中国正迅速成为他们最重要的双边 (bilateral)贸易伙伴。然而， 中国和世界其他国家之间贸易不平衡的问题已经引发了关注。尤其是美国对中国的贸易赤字是最大的， 达到了 3150 亿美元，这个数字是十年前的三倍还多。贸易纠纷(trade dispute) 也越来越多，主要是关于倾销(dumping)、知识产权和人民币的估价。
参考译文: For many countries around the world, China is rapidly becoming their most important bilateral trade partner.However，there have been concerns over large trade imbalances between China and the rest of the world.The US in particular has the largest trade deficit in the world with China at $315 billion, more than three times what it was a decade ago.There have also been a growing number of trade disputes brought against, mainly for dumping, intellectual property and the valuation of the yuan.
14.中国的假日
中国人民依法享受超过 115 天的假期，其中包括 104 天的周末和 11 天的节假日。中国一 年中有 7个法定假日，包括元旦(New Year’s Day),春节（Spring Festival),清明节（Qingming Festival), 五一劳动节(May Day)，端午节(Dragon Boat Festival),中秋节(Mid- Autumn Day)和国庆节(National Day)。员工有 5 至 15 天的带薪年假。学生和老师有大约三个月的寒暑假。在中国，暑假一般约在 7 月 1 日开始，8 月 31 日左右结束，寒假是根据春节的日期，通常是在 1 月或 2 月
参考译文: Chinese people legally enjoy over 115 days off including 104 days of weekends and 11 days of festivals.China has seven legal holidays in a year，including New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Day and National Day.Employees have 5 to 15 days of paid annual leave.Students and teachers have summer and winter vacations for about three months.The summer vacation in China generally starts around July 1st and ends around August 31st，and the winter vacation usually falls on January or February according to the date of the Spring Festival.
15.信用卡
信用卡(credit card)是银行所创造出来的最便捷同时也是最危险 的信用工具。通过信用卡， 人们可以先用银行付账的方式购买那些 负担不起的物品， 同时， 银行也将对此征收比 一般贷款要高的利率 (interest rate)。遗憾的是，信用卡现巳成为资本主义体制(capitalist system)的重要组成部分，而该体制就得依赖消费(consumption)的持续增长。
Credit cards are one of the most convenient devices ever created by the banking system but, at the same time, one of the most dangerous.They allow people to buy things they，otherwise, couldn’t afford， with money created by the banks and, charged out at much higher interest rates than normal loans.Unfortunately, credit cards have become an eential part of the capitalist system which only survives on the continued growth in consumption.
参考译文: 16.老龄化
根据全国老龄工作委员会(the China National Committee On Aging)的数据来看，到 2053 年， 中国 60 岁及以上的老人数量预计 会从目前的 1.85 亿一跃变为 4.87 亿，或者说是占总人口 的 35%。扩张的比例是由于寿命的增加和计划生育政策(family planning policies) 限制大部分城市家庭只生一个孩子。快速老龄化对社会和经济稳定 造成了严重威胁。
参考译文:The number of people aged 60 and above in China is expected to jump from the current 185 million to 487 million, or 35 percent of the population, by 2053，according to figures from the China National Committee On Aging.The expanding ratio is due both an increase in life expectancy and by family planning policies that limit most urban families to a single child.Rapid aging poses serious threats to the country’s social and economic stability.
17.中国经济
自从 1978 年经济改革以来，中国已经完成了从中央计划经济 (centrally planned economy)向 市场经济(market based economy)的转变。超过 6 亿人已经脱离了贫困，但是仍然有超过 1.7 亿人生活在 国际贫困线以下，每天少于 1.25 美元。2012 年，中国的人均 GDP 为 12405.67 美 元，这是 30 年前的 37 倍。到 2018 年，中国的人均 GDP 将从世界第 90 位上升到第 75 位。 然而，这仍然是低于预计的世界平均水平。
参考译文: Since initiating market reforms in 1978，China has shifted from a centrally planned to a market based economy.More than 600 million citizens have been lifted out of poverty, but over 170 million people still live below the $1.25-a-day international poverty line.In 2012, China’s GDP (PPP) per capita was $12,405.67.This is 37 times higher than what it was just 30 years ago.By 2018， China’ s GDP per capita will climb from the 90th to 75th highest in the world.This however will still be below the forecasted world average.
18.中国的保健食品
中国的保健食品（health food)市场首次出现于 20 世纪 80 年代。 保健食品是指具有特定保 健功能或补充维生素或矿物质的食品。保 健食品适用于特定人群消费，具有调节人体功能 的效果， 但不用于治疗疾病的目的。 保健食品有两种。 一种是具有特定保健功能的食品， 另外一种是营养补充剂。
China’s health food market first emerged in the 1980s.Health food refers to food products which claim to have specific health functions or supplement one’s vitamins or minerals.Health food is suitable for the consumption by specific groups of people and has the effect of regulating human body functions, but is not used for the purpose of treating diseases.There are two kinds of health food.One is food with specific health functions, the other is nutritional supplements.
19.成年子女必须探望父母的法律
这周颁布的一项新法律要求子女必须经常探望年龄超过 60 岁的 父母， 并确保他们经济和精 神上的需求得到满足。星期二，新华社 报导了_条新闻，来自江苏市无锡市的一位 77 岁的老太太起诉她的女儿忽略她。这是新法律生效后的第一起案件， 当地法院规定她的女儿至少每月探望母亲两次，并提供财力支持。但是这项法律引发了争议。有人说这给了那些因为工作、学习或者其他原因搬离家乡的人更多压力。 参考译文: A new national law introduced this week requires the offspring of parents older than 60 to visit their parents “frequently” and make sure their financial and spiritual needs are met.On Tuesday, Xinhua reported a news that a 77-year-old woman from Jiangsu city of Wuxi sued her daughter for neglecting her.In the first case after the new law came into effect, the local court ruled that her daughter must visit her at least twice a month and provide financial support.But the law’s introduction has proved controversial.Some say it puts too much preure on those who move away from home for work, study or other opportunities.
20.中国游客出境游
联合国下属机构世界旅游组织(World Tourism Organization)公布的数据显示，中国游客对全 球旅游业的贡献最大。中国人去年花 在出境游上的支出膨胀至 1020 亿美元，同 2011 年相 比增长了 40%。 联合国世界旅游组织在其网站上发布的一份声明中说，这一增幅令 中国 迅速超越德国和美国。后两者在之前是出境游支出最高的两个 国家。2012 年德美两国出境 旅游支出均同比增长 6%,约 840 亿美元。 参考译文: The figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization show that Chinese travelers are making the most contributions to the global tourism industry.Chinese travelers spent a record $102 billion on outbound tourism last year, a 40% rise from 2011.That surge sent China screaming past Germany and the U.S.— the former No.1 and No.2 spenders, respectively 一 which both saw tourist outlays increase 6% year- on-year to around $84 billion in 2012, the UNWTO said in a statement on its website.
21.大学生就业问题
2008 全球经济衰退导致中国的新毕业生的就业市场显著下降。 2009 年毕业的学生将加入到 2008 年毕业仍在找工作的 300 万学生之中。毕业生过剩(glut)也可以归因于大学入学率的提高和教育机构的增加。 虽然大学的学生人数增加了， 但是他们的质量并没有明显地提高。 在大多数情况下， 毕业生无法在 2008 年找到合适的就业机 会是因为他们没有行业所需的技能。
The 2008 global receion resulted in a significant drop in the job market for China’s new graduates.Students graduating in 2009 will join around three million students who graduated in 2008 and are still seeking job opportunities.The graduate glut can also be attributed to a rise in the number of college enrollments and educational institutions.Although the number of college students has increased, there has not been any significant improvement in their quality.In most cases, graduates were unable to find suitable employment in 2008 because they did not have the skills required by the industry.
