第一篇文房四宝（the Four Treasures of the Study）是中国古代书画用具的总称，指纸、墨、毛笔与砚台（ink stone）。

文房四宝的质量对绘画和书法起着决定性的作用。

因此进行中国传统绘画和书法的文人都很注重这些用具的选择。

唐宋时期（the Tang and Song Dynasties）的文房四宝因其质量优良与制作精美，为后世学者高度称颂。

在某种程度上来说，“文房四宝”是促进中国传统文化发展的一个重要因素。

—词汇难点：①书画用具 tools for painting and writing②是…的总称 a general term for…③毛笔 brush pen④书法 calligraphy⑤起着决定性的作用play a decisive/vital role in…⑥文人 scholar⑦很注重 attach great/much importance to⑧为…高度称颂 b e highly praised by…⑨在某种程度上 to some extent⑩促进…发展promote the development of…The Four Treasures of the Study is a general term for a set of tools for painting and writing in ancient China, namely paper, ink, brush pen and ink stone. The quality of the Four Treasures of the Study plays a vital role in one’s painting and calligraphy. Therefore, scholars engaging in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy attached much importance to the choice of the tools. The products of “the Four Treasu res of the Study” elaborately made during the Tang and Song Dynasties are highly praised by later scholars for their superior quality. To some extent, the Four Treasures of the Study is an important factor which has promoted the development of traditional Chinese culture.“中国梦”是一个新名词，于2012年由习近平主席首次提出。

“中国梦”实质上指要实现中华民族的复兴（rejuvenation）,这是最伟大的梦想。

具体来说，“中国梦”就是要让国人有更好的教育，更高的收入，更完善的医疗保健和良好的环境。

为此，习近平主席呼吁年轻人敢于追求，努力去实现梦想。

“中国梦”的提出增强了民族自豪感和民族自信心。

—词汇难点：①提出 put forward; raise②实质上 in essence③中华民族伟大复兴 the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation④具体来说 To be specific; Specifically⑤医疗保健 medical and health care⑥呼吁年轻人 call upon young people; appeal to the youth⑦敢于追求 dare to pursue⑧实现梦想 fulfill//realize the dream⑨增强民族自豪感 enhance the sense of national pride⑩民族自信心 national confidence⑪使有资格；给予…的权利entitle sb to…Chinese Dream is a new term first put forward by President Xi Jinping in 2012. Chinese Dream in essence is to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, which is the biggest dream. Specifically, Chinese Dream is to entitle people to better education, higher incomes, better medical and health care, and better environment. To this end, President Xi Jinping called upon the youth to dare to pursue and work hard to fulfill their dreams. The introduction of Chinese Dream has enhanced the sense of national pride as well as national confidence.眼下，“土豪”当属中国最热门词汇（buzzword）之一，用来指称那些受教育不多且品味差的富人们。

这是中国网友运用聪明才智和创造力为老词汇注入新生命的又一个例子。

“土豪”曾指那些有钱有势、剥削农民的地主们。

几年前，当中国魔兽（World of Warcraft）玩家用它来指代那些为强大的虚拟武器一掷千金的有钱玩家时，它的意思就彻底变了。

如今，“土豪”这个词已被引入日常语言中。

•词汇难点品味差 poor taste网友 internet user创造力 creativity有权有势 rich and powerful剥削 exploit地主 landlord虚拟武器 virtual weapon一掷千金 spend big money/a considerable amount of money引入 introduce日常语言 daily conversation•One of the hottest buzzwords in China right now is “tuhao”, a term referring to rich people of little education and poor taste. This is another example of Chinese Internet users applying their wisdom and creativity to an aged phrase to give it a new life. The term used to mean rich and powerful landlords who exploited peasants. But a few years ago when Chinese players of the computer game “World of Warcraft” adapted this term to refer to rich players who spend big money on powerful virtual weapons, its meaning changed significantly. Now, this term has been introduced into daily conversation.清明节（Tomb Sweeping Day）是中国最重要的传统节日之一。

它起源于周朝，有2500多年的历史。

清明节是中国人扫墓祭祖的重要日子。

扫墓时，人们携带酒食果品和纸钱到墓地，将食物供祭在亲人墓前，为坟墓添加新土、焚烧纸钱、行礼祭拜、最后吃掉酒食回家。

除了扫墓，人们还参与包括荡秋千、放风筝等各种活动。

•词汇难点起源于 originate from扫墓 sweep the tombs是…的重要日子an important occasion for…祭祖 offer sacrifices to ancestors纸钱 paper money新土 fresh soil行礼祭拜 kneel down in prayer and worship the ancestors荡秋千 play on a swing放风筝 fly kites各种活动 a variety of activities•The Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the most important traditional festivals in China. It originated from the Zhou Dynasty with a history of more than 2, 500 years. The Tomb Sweeping Day is an important occasion for people to sweep the tombs and offer sacrifices to their ancestors. When visiting tombs, people carry wine, food, fruits and paper money. They put the food in front of the tombs, add some fresh soil to the tombs, burn paper money, kneel down in prayer and worship their ancestors, and finally eat up the food and drink the wine before going back home. Apart from sweeping the tombs, people also take part in a variety of activities, such as playing on a swing, flying kites, etc.为了让人们更好的记住年份，我们的祖先用12只动物来代表年份，即“十二生肖”（Chinese Zodiac）。

每一年由一只动物代表，每隔12年进行一个循环，从鼠开始，以猪为结尾。