第一篇：一個英文寫成的中國傳統神話故事

一個英文寫成的中國傳統神話故事，關于中國四條江的形成Long, long ago, rain stopped falling in China.The people prayed for rain to the Jade Emperor, for it was he who looked after everything in heaven, on the land and in the sea, but no matter how much they prayed, rain did not fall.在很久很久以前的中國，遇到了一次滴水不降的旱災。人們就向掌管天上、地下、海洋的玉皇大帝求拜，但無論他們怎么祈求，雨始終不落一滴。

Four dragons lived in the East China Sea in those days.They swam to shore to see what was happening, and saw people tearing grass from the caked ground, for the people had nothing else left to eat.當時，有四條龍住在中國的東海。他們游到岸邊去看怎么回事，看到人們在從結塊的土地上拔草吃，因為土地上實在沒有別的東西吃了。

“We must do something,” Long Dragon said, and Yellow Dragon nodded.“We must help them ourselves,” said Pearl Dragon, “for the Jade Emperor will never answer their prayers.”

“我們得做點什么，”長龍說道，黃龍點頭附和?！拔覀円欢ǖ脦蛶退麄?，”珠龍說，“因為玉帝是不會答應他們的祈求的。”

They suddenly thought of a way to help.They started swimming this way and that, scooping up water with their bodies.Then all four leapt into the sky.Black Dragon flew to the north, Long Dragon flew to the west, Pearl Dragon flew to the southernmost tip of China, and Yellow Dragon flew to the very center of the vast country.All at once, they let the water fall from their mouths, arms, legs, and even their tails.他們突然想到了一個辦法。他們在海里游，然后用他們的身體汲取水。然后他們四個分別騰飛天空。黑龍飛向了北面，長龍飛去了西面，珠龍飛去了中國的最南端，而黃龍則飛去了這個遼闊國度的最中心。突然，他們讓水從他們的嘴巴、手腳、尾巴流出來。

The people down below looked up, but they could not see the dragons.They could only see the rain falling from the sky--drops of rain more beautiful than any jewel.“Rain!” they cried joyfully, and all the people and animals ran out into the rain and started to dance.地面的人們看到了，但他們看不到龍。他們只能看到雨從天空降下來——雨滴比任何珠寶都來得美麗?！坝?！”人們歡呼雀躍，所有的人和動物都奔入雨中，歡呼起舞。

When the Jade Emperor saw the rain, he was furious.“Who dares to tamper with[干預] my world?” he shouted, and then saw the four dragons swooping around in the sky.“You will not escape!” he thundered, and summoning[招集] Mountain God, he ordered him to kill the dragons.當玉帝看到雨，他十分震怒。“是誰干的？”他咆哮道，然后他看到了飛在空中的四條龍。“你們跑不了的！”他大吼道，然后招集山神，他命令山神殺死四條龍

Mountain God sent four mountains tumbling after the dragons.The moment the creatures landed, the four mountains landed on top of them, crushing them.Then an odd thing happened.Suddenly four rivers formed, springing out from beneath the mountains and spreading across the whole country.山神派了四座山去壓倒四龍。當龍一到，四座上就壓倒他們，壓垮他們。奇怪的事情發生了，突然間形成了四條河，從山出，貫穿了整個國家。

This, people say, is how the four great rivers of China were created: the Yangtze, the Yellow, the Pearl and the Heilongjiang are all that remain of the four great dragons who once saved the people of China.人們說，這就是中國四條大江的由來，長江、黃河、珠江和黑龍江就是這四條龍的遺贈，他們曾經挽救過中國人們的生命。

第二篇：中國傳統神話故事的必要性

中國傳統神話故事的必要性 摘要： 摘要：中國傳統神話故事是中國傳統文化的重要組成部分，體現在歷史、文學藝 術、社會生活等方面，對于民族傳統文化的傳承、民族意識的增強具有重要意義。然而作為民族未來的青少年對中國傳統神話故事的了解現狀卻不盡人意。關鍵詞： 關鍵詞：青少年、中國傳統神話故事、必要性近年來，中國神話故事在逐漸被人們淡忘，大多數中國人心中只有幾個零散 的神話故事、神話人物，中國神話故事沒有在廣大中國人，特別是青少年心中形 成一個完整的神話故事體系。

一、傳統神話故事的優點及對青少年的影響 傳統神話故事的優點及對青少年的影響

（一）從歷史方面來看，神話是人類社會童年時期的產物，通過神話故事可以看 到古代勞動人民的思想觀念，這對于我們了解中華民族的民族心理、民族信仰等 民族性根源具有重要意義。

（二）從文學藝術方面看，神話故事作為歷史典故，廣泛流傳于文人學者的詩詞 歌賦之中，增強文學作品的藝術效果，不了解這些神話故事，就很難理解其文學 作品的意境，作者的思想感情，這對于傳統文化的傳承具有重要影響。

（三）從社會生活方面看，由傳統神話故事延伸出來的傳統節日及風俗習慣，如中秋節放鞭炮，端午節吃粽子，七夕乞巧等，已成為普通百姓生活的重要組成 部分；堯舜的仁義治天下，愚公移山的堅持不懈等精神文化以深刻融入到中華民 族的人生觀、價值觀之中，成為人們為人處事的準則，并指導國家的內政外交。

二、中國傳統神話故事在青少年群體中的普及困難的原因

（一）中國無神話集成專著且體系較混亂。我國古代神話故事廣泛散落于詩這 容易造成閱讀者特別是青少年思維上的混亂，打擊閱讀的積極性。

（二）傳統神話故事異化現象導致神話的演變和消亡。其異化現象包括歷史化、文學藻飾化、哲學化、宗教化。文人學者為表達自己的思想、抒發感情，會將神 話故事合意者增飾之，不合意者刪之。

（三）神話既有美妙偉大的思想，也有野蠻的思想。

（四）古代神話故事寄托的是對神靈、祖先的敬畏。對于中國傳統神話故事在青少年群體中普及的建議 第一，針對中國傳統神話故事內容分散，體系混亂，可將其進行專門整理 匯編出版。中國傳統神話故事內容廣泛，涉及領域較多，除將其匯 編成集大成著作外，還可將其按類別編輯。如創世說類、風俗習慣 類、帝王類、英雄人物類、勵志教育類等。這樣一來可使中國傳統 神話故事更有條理、細化，方便青少年閱讀； 二來可滿足不同需求、個人愛好的同時傳授知識

、塑造良好品格。第二，將神話故事中的迷信成分分離出來，取其精華去其糟粕，在青少年群 體中多宣揚正義、積極向上的內容，幫助青少年樹立正確的人生觀、價值觀。第二，學校作為青少年習得知識文化的主要場所，應當多開展關于傳統神 話故事的活動。第四，通過多種方式和途徑來普及傳統神話故事。除學校和書籍這一重要普 及途徑外，我覺得發展相關文化產業，既能達到普及傳統神話故事的目的，同時培育新的經濟增長點。在充分了解神話普及的現狀和利弊權衡之下，我們知道神話故事具有重要 的文化價值、歷史價值和人文價值，對于青少年傳統文化素質的培養，人生觀、價值觀的樹立，民族意識的增強具有重要意義，因此，在青少年群體中普及中國 傳統神話故事是十分必要的。參考文獻 【1】 《茅盾說神話》 【2】 《中國古代神話》 茅盾著 袁珂著 上海古籍出版社，1999.7 華夏出版社,2004

【3】 《神話與中國社會》 田兆元著 上海人民出版社,1998

第三篇：專家教你寫成地道的英文

本文的作者是早年在中國大陸從事英語教學，后移居加拿大，繼續從英語教學工作的一位經驗豐富的英文教學專家。她通過實踐總結出了一套極為有效的英文寫作學習方法和技巧。相信一定能夠給有志向學好英語并想出國深造的同學帶來極大的幫助。

一、怎樣寫出地道的英文句子

做為一名英文教師，我有著20多年的英文教學經驗，尤其是在海外多年的教學，讓我對英語學習有了更深的體會。在這里，我想就英文寫作中普遍存在的一些問題與大家共同探討分享感悟。

首先，我想通過一些實例對英文寫作中普遍存在的問題做些具體分析。對中國人來講，英文寫作要應付兩種考試：一種是ESL的各類英文考試：中國的高考、四級、六級、考研及全球認可的托福、雅思等等；另外一種是進入美國、加拿大一些大學的寫作考試，例如SAT(Scholastic Assessment Test)及LPI（Language Proficiency Index)。這是兩種程度完全不同的考試。簡單說，ESL寫作只要句子對，有基本寫作格式和一定的論據，考試過關就沒問題。而SAT及LPI這類考試是一種相當于中國高考語文作文的寫作考試，英語為母語的人都很難過關，更不用說母語不是英語的人了。這類寫作我會放在最后講。我先講的是ESL和SAT及 LPI 兩種不同程度的寫作考試的共性，也是寫作中最基本、最重要部分。

英文寫作是由兩方面的技能組成；一是Technic部分，包括文章的格式(format)、語法(grammar)、句子結構(sentence structure)；二是表達部分，包括詞的用法(word usage)、句子組合(sentence combination)、文體一致(style agreement)。對一個ESL學生來講，寫作的第一步是能把句子寫對。什么是對的句子?這是問題的關鍵。

正確的句子絕不是簡單的中文翻譯，更不是語法的簡單排列。正確的句子就是以英語為母語的人能讀懂你在寫什么為標準。秘訣就是簡單準確(Simple but correct)。如果只是簡單地把中文按字面意思翻成英文肯定會出錯。例如：“文學來源于生活，高于生活”。很多中國學生是這樣表述的：Literature comes from life but beyond life．加拿大老師無論怎樣都讀不懂。他們會這樣寫：Literature dramatizes life．

再比如，“要想提高英文得多同加拿大人接觸”。中國學生基本會直接翻譯過來：To improve English，we should keep contact with Canadian people more often．這是一個很令加拿大人費解的句子keep contact with的意思是與人保持聯系，一般指熟人，用在這里不妥，沒有表答出寫作者的真正意思，因為以英語為本族語的人讀不懂，你的同學甚至你的中國老師讀懂沒用，因為他們同你一樣也是用中譯英的方法。加拿大人會這樣寫：To improve English，we should expose ourselves more often to Canadian people.怎樣避免這樣的問題并不需要來加拿大留學，在中國學英文照樣能學得地道。關鍵是怎么學?從哪里下手?我在后面會具體講。

在寫作時，切記不要寫太深奧、難翻的句子，盡可能直截了當地表述。例如：“蘋果有營養?！比绻悴恢?“nutritious” 這個詞怎么辦?那就簡單意譯：Apples are good for health．千萬不要以為寫得簡單拿不到高分，可是寫一個錯句根本拿不到分。簡單句容易寫對。但是大多數中國學生就是陷在這個誤區出不來。這也難免，中國學生特別是具備高等學歷以上的成年學生這個問題最突出。這些人的中文水平和邏輯思維能力都已相當成熟，而英文的語言表達能力跟不上，又不肯“低就”寫簡單、準確的句子。簡單準確是所有語言寫作的基礎。中文也是如此，我們剛開始上小學時寫作是從組詞造句開始，并且句子很簡單?！八哪樇t得像蘋果。”一個一年級的小學生寫這樣的句子應該很正常，老師不會期盼這么小的孩子寫出“她的臉嫣紅”這樣的句子。因此，寫作是由簡單準確開始，然后逐步過渡到優秀，也就是與你的思維能力基本同步。

我接觸過許多來自大陸的學生，他們大多是在國內接受過考前強化培訓，甚至有為數不少的人還曾花幾十萬元在國內上過所謂的預科學校，有的托福成績非常高。，然而，就是這樣的學生寫出的作文竟也有許多讓人摸不著頭腦的地方。他們一個共同的特點就是特別喜歡寫長句，寫從句。例如：The barrier which is formidable is language．這是中國學生寫的十分典型的錯句。有很多學生不服氣，認為自己寫的句子有主語，有動詞，還有定語從句呢，多有水平。問題就出在這兒，真正的英文寫作一定要避免重復，每個詞都要有用。上面的句子用一個簡單句就可以表達清楚：The language barrier is formidable．

使用過多從句不但使讀者困惑，最主要是容易出錯。例如：Before going to the grocery，you should make a list if you make a habit of planning first，you will not buy unneeded items．這個句子看上去挺長、挺有水平的，但是個錯句。請讀者認真讀一下這個句子，用已學 的英文知識改正這個錯句。接下來就開始進入主題。先談談中國學生也是ESL學生甚至包括本族學生也存在的問題，四大類型的句子錯誤。很多知識點是當地中學生的英文寫作內容，是寫作基礎的基礎。上面句子的正確答案是接下來要主講的內容之一，請大家繼續關注。

二、英文寫作中常見的錯句

（一）粘連句

在這一部分，我談談中國學生最常犯但又幾乎意識不到的四種句子錯誤。因為，對這幾種錯誤，很多中國學生出國前根本沒把這些當成什么錯兒，但是，出來后卻發現，在國外的英文寫作中這些錯是非常嚴重的錯誤，很多學生6分的作文只能拿到2到3分，挫折感很大。這也許是國內外英文教學的側重點不同造成的吧?；谶@些同學的經歷，作為一名英文教師，我深感有必要把國外的英文教學介紹給中國的讀者，在未來的英文學習尤其是有一天來到國外學習深造時少走2 彎路。

我們都知道，寫作的基礎是句子。什么是句子?大部分人會想到主謂賓的結構，但這個概念并非十分嚴密。例如：Because l have a baby．盡管包含了主謂賓成分，但不是句子，至少不是一個完整的句子。Money talks．沒有賓語仍然是句子。簡單講，一個完整句子=subject+verb+complete idea.(主語+動詞+完整意思+句號)。句子的概念是看似簡單但卻是英文閱讀及寫作的靈魂。托?？荚囍姓Z法部分很大程度上都是在考這個最基本的句子概念：基于這個概念我們來看第一類常見錯誤：粘連句(run-on sentence)。

在寫作時，一個句子寫它后最常用的標點是句號，以告訴讀者，意思到此結束。如果在兩個完整句之間點逗號(，)，就使前后兩句變成了粘連句。這種錯誤叫逗號粘連(comma slice)，因為逗號只是句子的暫停，意思沒有結束：如果在兩個完整句子間不加任何標點同樣使前后兩句粘連，這種稱為全粘連(fused sentence)，我們把這兩種錯誤統稱為粘連句(run-on sentence)。就是說一組S+V+complete idea沖入了另一組S+V+complete idea，中間沒有適當的分離，這種錯誤使讀者產生混亂，因此是英文寫作的第一大忌。中國學生易犯此種錯誤，一方面原因是中文寫作中標點符號的使用比較隨意，再者中文的標點與英文的用法上是有一定的不同；另一方面，國內的英文課堂講寫作的課時也不是很多，也就難怪學生會出現這樣那樣的錯了。

記得2002年下半年我們學院來了一位叫Frankie白的大陸學生。他是國內某大企業的高級管理人員，他的托福和 GMAT其他項分數很高，但寫作不理想。Frankie的第一篇文章，沒有分數，老師只給了四句批語1．run-on sentences；2．faulty parallelism(不平行結構)；3．sentence fragments(斷句)；4．dangling modifiers(懸空修飾)。Frankie拿著作文來找我，說：你們這個老師沒教什么，也沒有幫我改正什么，只寫了這幾條評語，而且他也不知道這些評語是什么意思。為什么老師不講?我對他說，他犯的這幾種句子錯誤，在母語為英語的國家從小學就開始介入，一直到中學，貫穿整個英文學習過程，是英文高考必考語法項目，更是老師批改學生作文的一大原則。Frankie的例子是非常普遍的。我真誠地希望讀者能從這些例子里吸取一些有益的東西，對一些國外寫作的常規逐步熟悉。我們來看下面的句子：

Canada is a beautiful country，many inter-national students like studying there．

這個句子很多大陸學生會認為是正確的句子，實際上是一個很典型的粘連句，是個錯句。如果你的寫作里充滿了這樣的句子，即便你用了許多漂亮的詞匯，文章寫得多么有趣兒，也一定會丟很多分。這個句子最簡單的改法是把逗號變成句號，也就是把一個錯句變成兩個正確的句子：

Canada is a beautiful country． Many international students like studying there．

另外一種常見寫法是除逗號外再加一個連接詞：

Canada is a beautiful country，and many international students like studying there．

最后還可以用分號代替逗號把兩個完整句連起來，換句話說，分號可以獨立連接兩個完整句而逗號不行：

Canada is a beautiful country;many inter-national students like studying there．

下面我們做一點小練習。

試從下面句子中找出粘連句(run-on sentences)：

1．Teaching is a hard job． Great efforts go into each lesson．

2．Teaching is a hard job great efforts go into each lesson．

3．Teaching is a hard job，great efforts go into each lesson．

上面練習1是兩個正確的句子，2是粘連句，3也是粘連句。你的答案和我一樣嗎?

上一部分我在最后給讀者留了一個錯句，不知改正得如何。看了上面這段講解應該知道如何下手了。原句：

Before going to the grocery, you should make list if you make a habit of planning first, you will not buy unneeded items．這是很典型的粘連句，完全粘連型。兩個完整句中間沒有任何連接詞，是錯的。最簡單的改法就是把兩個完整句用句號斷開，成為正確句。Before going to the grocery，you should make a list.If you make a habit of planning first, you will not buy unneeded items.錯句看起來簡單，具體應用在寫作上，就不容易了。為了說明鞏固本部分所講的內容，我們做幾個粘連句練習，答案在本期內找。

1．Since I never cook perhaps it would be wise not to try，it will make me bored.2．Without my mom's love,I would give up I did not．

3．A great number of Chinese students prefer to major in business, actually they do not have any interest in it．

4．Working hard，he passed the test，his parents are pleased and relieved.5．Although I was tired，I tried to finish the article, my husband helped me proofread it.6．If the claims by the manufacturer are true，I do not mind attempts to get me to buy a podcast，false claims tend to anger me though．

（二）斷句或不完整句

本部分要講的是在國外英文寫作中，ESL學生包括母語是英語的學生常犯的第二類大錯：斷句或不完整句(sentence fragments)。所謂句子，簡單地說就是：主語+動詞+完整意思。如果在寫作過程中，缺主語或缺動詞或意思不完整，就會產生斷句錯誤。斷句不但使句子艱澀難懂更會在寫作中失去很多分數。下面就談談幾種常見的情況。

第一種情況：缺主語。例句：

1．Many Chinese people are becoming rich is obvious．

2．Walk on Oak Street，Helen did not notice the bus loop．

例1中，動詞is沒有主語。一個完整的句子是不能作主語的。這是個很典型的缺主語的斷句。對剛剛出國不久語感還不強的中國學生來講，通常都是靠簡單的中譯英來寫句子和文章；因而，這樣的句子就頻頻出現，使寫作分數大打折扣?？筛臑椋篢hat many Chinese people are becoming rich is obvious．或者It is obvious that many Chinese people are becoming rich．

例2的情況比較復雜，動詞walk沒有主語，但簡單 加一個主語，句子仍然是錯的。She walked on Oak Street，Helen did not notice the bus loop．讀過上一部分就不難發現，這是一個非常明顯的粘連句。正確的寫法是：When Helen walked on Oak Street，she did not notice the bus loop．或 Walking on Oak Street, Helen did not notice the bus loop．比較而言，第二句要好很多，但第一句不是錯句，只是弱了些。

下面我們做幾個小練習，識別一下剛講過的缺主語的斷句。

1．There are a lot of Indian people live in Vancouver.2．My tutor is in the study，talking with my dad．

第一句是斷句，這是一句極為典型的中譯英錯句：有很多印度人住在溫哥華。這樣直接翻譯過來的句子，因live這個動詞沒有主語，造成錯句。正確寫法是：There are a lot of Indian people living in Vancouver．或A lot of Indian people live in Vancouver．改過后的前一句讀起來要地道很多。第二句是正確的句子。

第二種情況：缺動詞。例句：

1．The teacher helping me out of ESL class．

2．The issue debated．

3．She looks almost like her twin sister．The only difference being that she is a little taller．

例1中，主語teacher沒有動詞，改法就是給句子加上動詞，可改為：The teacher helping me out of ESL class is patient．這里沒有惟一答案，因為每個人要表達的意思不一樣，所用的動詞就不一樣，但主語必須有動詞，這是最重要的。

例2中，主語issue同樣也沒有動詞，主語一定要有動詞?？筛臑椋篢he issue debated is controversial．或The issue debated is critical.不管怎樣，主語issue有了自己的動詞，使要表達的句子完整，達到了交流的目的。

例3中，第一部分是正確句子，第二部分雖然有主語，有句號，但是主語difference沒有動詞，being是不能獨立作動詞的。最簡單的改法是：第一部分不動，She looks almost like her twin sister；第二部分把being改成is，形成一個完整的句子。The only difference is that she is a little taller．或許有的寫作水平高一些的同學會把第一部分的句號換成逗號，第二部分不動，只是將The only...變成the only...:She looks almost like her twin sister, the only difference being that she is a little taller.第二種寫法難度比較大，筆者認為，作為初學寫作的同學，不必急于嘗試寫這種句子，現階段只要能寫正確的句子就可以了。請大家再看幾個練習：

1.I have two sisters, one living in China, and the other in Vancouver．

2．They looked at each other longingly.None of them speaking a word.第一句是正確的句子，但第二句是斷句，正確寫法：They looked at each other longingly None of them spoke a word．或 They looked at each other longingly , none of them speaking a word．

第三種情況：意思不完整。例句：

I enjoy the sunshine.Because it soothes my weary muscle．

很明顯，這是個錯句。第一部分是正確的，而第二部分根本就不是一個完整的句子，盡管有主語和動詞，但沒有完整意思，只是一個從句，所以不是完整句。正確寫法：I enjoy the sunshine because it soothes my weary muscle．這是一個主句加一個狀語從句?；蛘甙褟木渲械倪B接詞去掉，使之變成兩個完整的正確句子：I enjoy the sunshine．It soothes my weary muscle．這種情況的錯誤通常都是很多同學在用由when，before，after，since，until，every time，once，because，as，if, unless，although等引導的狀語從句時出現的。避免這種類型錯誤的簡單方法就是不要以狀語從句開始一句話，而是先寫主句再寫從句，等熟練以后確保不會犯斷句錯誤時，主句放前還是從句放前都沒關系，只要句子對。國外很多中學的英文老師為了防止學生犯這類錯誤，開始只是告訴學生永遠不要以 Because開始句子。我們做幾個練習。

1．At the airport when I met him.2．Angela did not give up.Though she knew she was on the wrong track．

這兩個句子都是斷句。

參考答案如下：

1．At the airport when I met him he hugged me．

2．Angela did not give up though she knew she was on the wrong track．

有關斷句錯誤我們就先到這里?？偨Y如下：在英文寫作時，每個句子都應該有三大要素：主語、動詞和完整意思；只要缺少一個要素，就犯了斷句錯誤。為鞏固這一部分的內容，希望大家能把下面的練習做一下，答案見本期。

1．The fall trees are lovely.Magnificent shades of golden red.2．Children grow up in Canada are happy and carefree.3.I am amazed at the new buildings.buildings，on both sides of the street and in the lot behind the old shopping mall．

4．The girl looks beautiful．Long hair blowing in the wind．

5．The favorite spectator sport for Americans is football．While Europeans get excited about soccer．

6．You should go．Whether it deserves or not．

Ｗarm up exericses :

1.She is pretty, smart and has a lot of money.2.The new material is both lightly and remarkably strong.（三）不平行結構

我們先來看看上一節中的warm-up exercises：1．She is pretty，smart and has a lot of money．2．The new material is both lightly and remarkably strong．這兩句尤其第一句對很多ESL學生來講完全是個正確的句子，如果加拿大的寫作老師說是錯的，很多同學會覺得老師是雞蛋里挑骨頭。第二句是一道托福真題，當然是錯的句子。這兩句到底錯在哪兒了?這正是我們要講的不平行結構(faulty parallelism)。

語句子中將兩個或兩個以上的相同句子成分用并列連詞連接起來稱為并列結構，也稱平行結構。組成平行結構的可以是詞、詞組，或者從句。英文寫作要求平行結構中各個部分必須采用相同的表達形式，否則就會犯失去平行的錯誤。常見的連接平行結構的連詞有：and，or，but，not，than；詞組有：not only...but also，either...or，neither...nor，both...and。這些詞和詞組看似簡單，卻不容易用對。但記住一條，很多錯誤就可避免，即在使用這些詞尤其詞組時，一定要保證這些連詞和詞組前后的句子成分一定平行。簡單講就是這些連詞或詞組前面的中心詞是什么詞性后面的中心詞就一定是相同詞性。比如前面是名詞那么后面也要名詞。例如：a girl and a boy．前面是形容詞后面一定是形容詞，例如：good but costly．前面是動名詞，動詞不定式，從句或句子，后面一定跟相同成分。例如：not only reading currents but also watching news on TV／either to dine out or to have a snack at home／The nanny does not know whether she has to quit the job or whether she has to stay just for money./Helen has much more money than does her boyfriend．

讀到這里，我們應該知道開頭練習的答案了。在第一句中，and前面是形容詞，可后面卻是一個句子，是非常典型的不平行結構，應改成：She is pretty，smart and rich．第二句就復雜一些，both后面是副詞，可and后面的中心詞是形容詞，顯然不平行，根據全句的意思，both和and后面都應該是形容詞，所以，正確答案是：The new material is both light and remarkably strong．

在整體平行結構中，and這個詞是最難辨認的，所以也是最難正確使用的。可以說，and對ESL學生來說是最簡單的單詞，但是真的用起來是非常難把握的。很多讀者會覺得，有那么嚴重嗎?不要危言聳聽吧。讓我們先來做幾個平行結構的練習再繼續討論。

1．Kurt started being on the rink at four years old，skating at six，and to play hockey at eight．

2．Jennifer's husband，Glen，is not only a romantic partner but quite resourceful as well．

3．Who can tell me how to do this efficiently and without any effort?

4．It is better to repeat a noun than making an ambiguous statement．

5．The style of the American poet Hilda Doolittle is characterized by a particular emphasis on the precise and object treatment of images.在這五個練習里不完全都是錯誤的句子，有一句是對的。是哪一句呢?我們逐句分析后，答案就出來了。

第一句里，and很明顯應該連接的是started后面的三個動名詞，而在錯句里and前面有兩個動名詞，being和skating,可后面就變成動詞不定式to play了，因此導致了句子不平行，造成錯句。應改成：Kurt started being on the rink at four years old，skating at six，and playing hockey at eight．

第二句里，not only...but also，或not only...but...as well，或not only...but這幾個詞組要求平行。簡單講，not only后面的中心詞是什么詞性或什么句子成分，but(but also)后面的中心詞也應該是一樣的。第二句中not only后面的中心詞是名詞partner，可是but后面的中心詞卻是形容詞resourceful，這是一個失去平行的錯句。

很多中國學生在剛上英文寫作課時，每次加拿大老師把作文發下來，只要用了上面這幾個詞組的同學，極少有人用對，多數人都有這樣的紅字批改：faulty parallelism。原因是他們確實不知道這是錯誤。這也是國內外英文寫作教學和學習側重點不同造成的。國內英文寫作比較看重漂亮詞匯和詞組的使用，而國外英文寫作重視詞或詞組用得是否恰當，即比較看重整體性。不僅如此，嚴重的是要為此失去很多分數。這就是為什么我們對剛到國外留學的學生反復強調盡量先寫簡單準確的句子，經過一段時間的海外英文學習，結合國內的知識就能寫出既漂亮又合乎國外英文寫作要求的句子或文章。真正有水準的高分英文寫作絕不是停留在簡單準確，更不是機械地堆積華麗詞語。用漂亮詞沒錯，關鍵是用對?；仡^再看第二句，雖然用了一個很好的詞組，可惜用錯了。正確用法：Jennifer's husband，Glen，is not only a romantic partner but is resourceful man as well．

第三句比較而言會使剛接觸平行結構的讀者上當。這是個對的句子。為什么呢?這里就是上文所說的 and的難用之處。用and作簡單連接很容易，比如：Tom and Mary；smart and rich...但句子稍復雜一點，很多同學就暈了。可以毫不夸張地說，如果在閱讀尤其類似國外大學課本或托福閱讀材料時，能準確知道and到底連接的是什么，再難的文章也相對容易多了。在讀第三句時很多同學都覺得是錯的，因為and連接的是副詞efficiently而后面是介詞短語without any effort，表面看是錯了，實際上and連接的是兩個平行的語法成分(狀語)，所以是對的。

第四句里，要注意than的使用，這個詞所要連接的成分一定平行。在這句里，than后面是動名詞making而前面沒有動名詞，只有動詞不定式to repeat a noun，所以失去平行。要達到平行，或把動名詞改成動詞不定式：It is better to repeat a noun than to make an

ambiguous statement．或把動詞不定式改成動名詞：It is better repeating a noun than making an ambiguous statement．

第五句是一道托福真題。托福文法部分的考點都是非?；镜?，概括起來大約十大類考點，我這里講的四大句子錯誤就是其中的四點，尤其這里講的平行結構，不但必考無疑，而且占的比例非常大?？吹谖寰渲衋nd連接誰，這并不難，應該是兩個形容詞共同修飾名詞treatment，但現在and 前面是形容詞precise，可后面不是形容詞而是名詞object，為使句子達到平行，也就是使句子正確，必須把名詞。objiect變成形容詞形式 objective，應改為：The style of American poet Hilda Doolittle is characterized by a practical emphasis on the precise and objective treatment of 6 images．

下面簡單總結一下這部分內容。在英文寫作中，當使用連詞and，but，or，not還有than時一定要記住用平行結構，關鍵是連接什么；另外用詞組not only...but also，either...or,both...and，neither...nor時更要注意句子結構的平行，如果拿不準，建議最好不用，不用總比錯用要好得多。為鞏固這部分內容，我們做幾個練習：答案本期內找。

1．There is a great difference between learning knowledge and to apply．

2．Wanting to accomplish something and if you actually accomplish it may not be the same thing．

3．It is what you do，not saying it，that counts．

4．Peter enjoyed chatting with Elsa, listening to her complaints，and to give her suggestion．

5．A kiln(干燥爐)is a furnace used to dry，cure，hard，or melt many kinds of materials．

6．Summer has more friends than me．

7．He jogs to lose weight，stay healthy，and it is fun．

Warm-up exercises:

1.Meeting her only once, she enchanted him completely.2.To go to university in Canada, TOEFL has to be tested.（四）懸空修飾

讓我們來看看ＥＳＬ學生在英文寫作中最容易犯的最后一種錯誤(dangling modifier懸空修飾)。這種錯誤是非常普遍的，尤其是在寫英文作文時，習慣逐句把中文硬翻譯成英文后再下筆的同學更易犯這種錯誤。比如這樣一個句子，“要上美國和加拿大的公立大學得考托福”。這句話中文講得通，但用英文來表達時，問題就出來了，很多中國學生都會寫成To attend university in both America and Canada，TOEFL has to be tested．這個句子看上去似乎沒錯，實際上是個錯句。為什么呢?

在英文寫作中，一個完整的句子前面，有修飾成份是司空見慣的，但問題往往就出在修飾成份上。作為修飾成份它一定要有所修飾，換句話說就是要有自己的主語(完整的狀語從句)或邏輯主語(省略后的狀語從句)。如果省略后的狀語從句的邏輯主語不是主句的主語，就犯了懸空修飾的錯誤。我們來看剛才的這個例句，主句TOEFLl has to be tested前面的動詞不定式應該是修飾成份，但這個動詞不定式修飾誰呢?按現在的寫法是修飾TOEFL，可是邏輯上講不通，因為只有人才能上大學，才能發出attend這個動作，而 TOEFL不是人也根本發不出這個動作。簡單講就是attend的邏輯主語不可能是TOEFL，所以句子是錯的。正確的改法有兩個：1．把主句的主語變成人，任何人稱都可以，只要能發出attend這個動作就可以，比如，To attend university in both American and Canada，many international students have to take the TOEFL test． 2.把動詞不定式還原為狀語從句，使attend有自己的主語，從而使整個句子邏輯通順，If international students want to attend university in both America and Canada.TOEFL has to be taken．比較而言，第一句要比第二句自然地道很多，但第二句也是個正確的句子。

讀了上面的例句及解釋，我們上一節的warm-up練習2就有了答案。原句：To go to university in Canada，TOEFL has to be tested．應改為：To go to university in Canada，many foreign students have to take the TOEFL test．或If foreign students want to go to university in Canada，many of them have to take the TOEFL test．既然這種錯誤是稱為懸空修飾，很明顯，充當修飾語的那個部分很重要。一個主句的前面要是有修飾成份，除了完整的狀語從句外(完整狀語從句不會引發懸空修飾錯誤，這里講的主句修飾成份不包括完整狀語從句)還有什么樣的結構來充當修飾成份呢？

上文的例子里，修飾語是動詞不定式，除此之外比較常見的是現在分詞和過去分詞短語(doing/done)、介詞短語、形容詞或形容詞短語，最后是名詞短語。名詞短語放句首作修飾很不容易用對，也是托?？荚囍械目键c，如果不從懸空修飾的角度理解很難答對題目。下面分別舉例分析：

一、現在分詞短語作修飾語可能帶來的懸空修飾錯誤。Finishing dinner,the table was cleaned．這句顯然錯了，table不可能發出finishing這個動作，也就是說finishing的邏輯主語不是table，所以出現錯誤。應改為：1．Finishing dinner,mom cleaned the table.或 2．When we finished dinner，the table was cleaned．這個例句讀完，前一節的warm-up 練習就有了答案。原 句：Meeting her only once，she enchanted him completely．應改成：Meeting her only once，he was enchanted by her completely．

二、過去分詞短語作修飾語可能帶來的懸空修飾錯誤。Made in China，Rebecca bought a Beijing jeep．這個句子里，made是過去分詞，是被動態，修飾誰呢?好像是Rebecca，但根據句子的意思，Rebecca 不可能被 made，人只能說 born，這樣made就沒有什么可修飾的了；也就是說made的邏輯主語不是主句的主語Rebecca，這樣寫的結果就是修飾語沒有自己的邏輯主語，沒有什么可修飾的，懸空在那里，造成錯誤。應改成：Rebecca bought a Beinjing jeep made in China.三、介詞短語放在句首作修飾語可能帶來的懸空修飾錯誤。At the age of three，her mom sent her to the music school．很多中國學生在剛看此句時都覺得是對的，因為翻譯成中文也挺順口的：三歲時，媽媽就送她去音樂學校了。這個英文句子現在的寫法意思是：When her mom was three years old，her mom sent her to the music school．如果這樣寫笑話都出來了，哪里有三歲的媽媽?應改成1．At the age of three, she was sent to the music school by her mom．2．When she was at the age of three，her mom sent her to the music school．

四、形容詞或形容詞短語作修飾語可能帶來的懸空修飾錯誤。Very expensive，my mom did not buy me the pants．很明顯，expensive不可能修飾my mom,按以上寫法，懸空修飾的錯誤就出來了。應改成：Very expensive，the pants were not bought by my mom.五、名詞在句首作修飾語可能帶來的懸空修飾錯誤。A beautiful city，many tourists favor Vancouver．這里名詞city應該是指Vancouver，可現在這樣寫，就變成city在修飾many people了，這顯然不合邏輯。因為city的邏輯主語不是也不可能是tourists，因為city不是人。如果不動前面的名詞，應改成：A beautiful city, Vancouver is favored by many tourists.總結一下上面的內容：1：任何一個主句前都經常會有修飾成份，不論修飾成分是動詞不定式或動詞不定式短語、現在分詞或過去分詞短語、介詞短語、形容詞或形容詞短語、名詞及名詞短語，不管修飾成份由什么充當(完整狀語從句除外)，這個修飾語一定要修飾主句的主語，必須要有邏輯關系，否則就會出現懸空修飾的錯誤。下面做幾個練習鞏固一下：

1．At home，the live show can be watched on TV．

2．If watered twice a week，grandma will grow a good garden．

3.Standing on the sundeck，the beautiful stars are twinkling．

4．While a child，my parents often took me to the beach.5．When ready，take the meat out of the oven immediately.6．To get good scores，more exercises have to be done．

上面的6句都是錯的，逐句分析一下：

1．介詞短語類?？筛某桑篈t home，the kids can watch the live show on TV

2．過去分詞類?？筛某桑篒f watered twice a week，a good garden will be grown by grandma．

3．現在分詞類?？筛某桑篠tanding on the sundeck，my daughter observed the beautiful tars twinkling．或When shewas standing on the sundeck，my daughter observed the beautiful stars twinkling．

4．名詞類?？筛某桑篧hile a child，I was often taken to the beach by my parents．或When I was a child，my parents often took me to the beach.5．形容詞類?？筛某桑篧hen ready，the meat has to be taken out of the oven immediately．或 When the meat is ready, take it out of the oven immediately.6．動詞不定式類?？筛某桑篢o get good scores，students have to do more exercises．或If students want to get good scores, more exercises have to be done.我們的練習是請大家用已經給出的修飾成份，寫一個基本主句使之與修飾部分呼應，避免懸空修飾。（答案見本期）

1.Having grown up in the 1960s，_______.2.To receive permission for a field trip，_________.3．If properly frozen, _________.4.By mowing the grass infrequently and cutting it high,__________.5.When riding on a train, _________.6.In the elevator, _________.7.To understand Shakespeare, _________.8.Before I graduate, _________.9.Upon entering the twelfth grade, _________.10.Tied securely to the tree, _________.三、英文寫作常見四大句子錯誤回顧

我們已經把國外英語學習與教學過程中最基本、最重要，也是很多中國大陸學生忽視或者根本沒有意識到的英文寫作四大句子錯誤講完了。為了加深印象，溫故而知新，讓我們一起來通過例句總體回顧一下這幾種錯誤句型：

一、Run-on Sentence(粘連句)：在英文寫作中，兩個完整的句子如果不是用并列連接詞連接就要依靠標點符號，要么句號要么分號，絕不能用逗號或者什么標點符號都不用，這樣就會造成粘連句。

例1 Vancouver is a beautiful city,I enjoy the life here．(逗號引起的粘連)

例2 The Hip-Hop recital is sensational everyone has a wonderful time.(兩個完整句中間沒有標點符號造成的粘連句)

二、Sentence Fragments(斷句或不完整句)：一個完整的句子最基本的要素就是主語+動詞+完整意思，其中缺少任何一個要素都會造成斷句或不完整句。

例1 They looked at each other.None of them speaking anything.(缺動詞造成的斷句)

例2 There are many Chinese people live in Vancouver．(缺主語造成的斷句，動詞live沒有自己的主語)

例3 Because his proposal is declined.(缺少完整意思的斷句)

三、Faulty Parallelism(不平行結構)：英語句子中將兩個或兩個以上的相同句子成分用并列連詞連起來稱為并列結構或平行結構。組成平行結構的可以是詞、詞組或從句。英文寫作中，要求平行結構中各個部分必須采用相同的表達形式，否則就會犯失去平行的錯誤。

例1 She is pretty，smart and has a lot of money.(這里and應該連接三個平行的形容詞，但這句子里and卻把兩個形容詞和一個動詞連接起來，造成不平行)

例2 There is a great difference between dining out and to have a snack at home．(動名詞短語dining out和動詞不定式短語to have a snack不平行)

四、Dangling Modifier(懸空修飾)：在英文寫作中，一個完整的句子前面，有修飾成分是常見的。作為修飾成分它一定要有所修飾。換句話說，就是要有自己的主語(完整的狀語從句的主語)或邏輯主語(省略后的狀語從句的邏輯主語)。如果省略后的狀語從句的邏輯主語不是主句的主語，就犯了懸空修飾的錯誤。

例1 Meeting her only once，she enchanted him completely．(Meeting的邏輯主語不是she，所以出現懸空)

例2 To meet the requirement，LPI(Linux認證考試)has to be tested.(To meet的邏輯主語不是LPI，形成懸空修飾)

我們簡單地回顧了四大基本寫作錯誤。下面來看國內一名普通的高中畢業生剛進入加拿大的學校學習時寫的一篇文章。文章中有四大錯誤的一種或幾種，讀一讀，看是否能把這些錯找出來。

1)There are some people think knowledge gained from experience.2)Other people refuse this opinion, said the source which gained from books is more important.I think both of them are important.Knowledge gained from experience is absolutely correct.When a baby is born, 3)does he/she learning something from book?The answer is no because he does not know alphabet, 4)he even cannot call his parents.5)How he to learn.Eating, speaking, smile, and so on.That is gained from their experience and not from book.Second, where does the book come from? That is from author.6)How the author to write the book.The answer is from his experience.Therefore, I think, if people do not have experiences, they will not create any knowledge, so experience is more important.Nevertheless, learning from books is a shortcut toward some people.Creating knowledge should take much time, so the knowledge which is discovered will be written in a book by author.When people want to learn the knowledge,they do not need spend too much time, and just find a book which is written.Anyway, 7)book is not neither good nor reason.Finally, I think that should not stop us from looking for quickiness along the way.Which way is correct? Nobody can give the exact answer.8)Such as nobody is same as somebody.9)Therefore, choosing a way which is suit to oneself is absolutely practical.參考答案

“粘連句”參考答案：

1.Since I never cook perhaps it would be wise not to try.It will make me bored./Since I never cook perhaps it would be wise not to try or it will make me bored.2.Without my mom's love, I would give up.I did not./ Without my mom's love, I would give up but I did not.3.A great number of Chinese students prefer to major in business.Actually they do not have any interest in it.4.Working hard, he passed the test.His parents are pleased and relieved./ Working hard, he passed the test, and his parents are pleased and relieved.5.Although I was tired, I tried to finish the article.My husband helped me proofread it.6.If the claims by the manufacturer are true, I do not mind attempts to get me to buy a product.False claims tend to anger me though./If the claims by the manufacture are true, I do not mind attempts to get me to buy a product, but false claims tend to anger me though.“斷句或不完整句”參考答案：

1.The fall trees are lovely with magnificent shades of golden red.2.Children growing up in Canada are happy and carefree.3.I am amazed at the new buildings on both sides of the street and in the lot behind the old shopping mall.4.The girl looks beautiful with long hair blowing in the wind.5.The favorite spectator sport for Americans is football while Europeans get excited about soccer.6.You should go whether it deserves or not.“不平行結構”參考答案：

1.There is a great difference between learning knowledge and applying it.或There is a great difference between to learn knowledge and to apply it.2.Wanting to accomplish something and actually having accomplished it may not be the same thing.3.It is what you do, not what you say, that counts.4.Peter enjoyed chatting with Elsa, listening to her complaints, and giving her suggestions.5.A kiln is a furnace used to dry, cure, harden or melt many kinds of materials.6.Summer has more friends than I do.或Summer has more friends than do I.7.He jogs to lose weight, stay healthy, and have fun.“懸空修飾”參考答案：

1.Having grown up in the 1960s, my sisters are familiar with the movie.2.To receive permission for a field trip, the teacher sent out the form.3.If properly frozen, strawberries can keep good for quite a while.4.By mowing the grass infrequently and cutting it high, the gardener does not come to the house very often.5.The little girl screamed when riding on a train.6.In the elevator, Cindy met Dr.Ben.7.To understand Shakespeare, read his plays.8.Before I graduate, TELUS(加拿大第二大電話公司)offers me a volunteer job in which I am quite interested.9.Upon entering the twelfth grade, Angela starts staying up late.10.Tied securely to the tree, the little pony looks hopeless.

第四篇：中國傳統葬禮的英文介紹

中國傳統葬禮的英文介紹(1)

來源： 張藤耀的日志

送終

老人生命垂危之時，子女等直系親屬守護在其身邊，聽取遺言，直到親人去世，這在習俗中 稱為“送終”。送終是一件大事，能為老人送終是表明子女盡了最后的孝心，未能為老人送 終常常成為人們一生中的一大憾事。有沒有子女送終，是不是所有子女都來送了終又是老人 是否有福的一個判別標準。在老人臨危之時，家人要將其從臥房移到正庭中臨時鋪設有板床上，板床在較窮的地方就用 臨時卸下的門板做成。因為民俗以為人若在床上死。靈魂就會被吊在床中，無法超度。有的 地方也把死老是否在板床上死看作是子女是否盡了孝道的標準，老人在床上咽的氣，子女往 往會受人非議。夭折的人，家人雖不會將其移入正庭，但也會將其移至床前地上。如果死者 之上還有長輩，死時，也不移入正庭。在許多地方，人死之后，家人都會燒紙錢，稱為“燒倒頭紙”，有的地方更明白，叫：“燒 落氣紙”。此外，還人鳴放鞭炮，一是表示死者歸西，二是向鄰居報喪。人死之后，家人要圍在死者身邊慟哭，未死時，則禁止哭泣。[編輯本段]報喪

死老咽氣后，家人應盡快向親友發出報喪貼，或登門通報死訊，對遠方的親友，要告訴其開 吊下葬的日期。報喪的孝子要穿孝服，戴孝帽，到了別人家，不能進門，有人來迎接時，無 論長幼，都要叩首。[編輯本段]入殮

死者入棺前，要為之整容，如剃頭、刮臉、換擦洗身、穿壽衣等，然后再以白綢(有的地方 也用紙錢)掩面。民俗以為，不能給死老穿皮衣皮褲，否則死者會轉世為獸；為死者穿衣時，不要將眼淚滴到死者身上，否則以后做夢就見不到死者。有的地方要求為死老配木梳一把，鏡子一面。在死者死后的二十四小時內，要由專人選擇好時刻，正式將尸體移入棺中，入棺時，死者一 般是頭朝里腳朝外。[編輯本段]守鋪

死老家人在老人死后到正式放入棺材期間，要晝夜輪流守護在死老鋪側，以示服孝，叫做“ 守鋪”。死者入棺之后，家人守護、睡臥在棺旁，叫“守靈”，也叫“困棺材”。[編輯本段]擱棺

因為要選擇吉日吉地安葬死者，因此，可能要停樞在家，稱為“擱棺”或“停棺”?！皵R棺 ”的風俗，在古代常見，一般要擱七天，有的甚至擱棺十幾天，幾個月，現今則不常見，即 使擱棺，時間也不長。[編輯本段]居喪

居喪是指死者家人后輩自死者斷氣時起服喪。男子不穿華麗的衣服，穿草鞋(現在已不常見)；婦女則要脫去身上的裝飾品，脫下彩色衣服。男女各依其與死者關系的遠近，穿孝服，戴 教帽。孝子在居喪期間(一般為一月或百日)不能理發，不能同房，不能會晤親友、參加宴會、進寺廟等。尤其是在安葬之前，這些習俗必須嚴守，否則不吉。see When the old man was dying, such as children in its directly-related members of one side to protect, and died in the family, until the custom of song zhong “called”.Put a great thing, that man can see all the children are finally failed to send a filial piety, old people often end in the life of a pity.Have children, are all the children are put to send end is blessed if old a discriminant criteria.The old man on the family will, from the bedroom is TingZhong temporarily moved on board, board is laid in poorer place with the door.It temporarily Because if people think folk in bed.The soul would be hanging in bed, cannot turn.Some places have died in the board if old children die as if the standard of filial piety, the old man on the bed, the gas to swallow their will into.Infant family, though not transferred to court, but also is the earth moved before bed.If the dead and elders, death, also don't move is atrium.In many places, people die, family will burn, called “paper”, some local received more understand, call: “burning gas paper” fall.In addition, people MingFang firecrackers, one is dead, two is that went to the neighbors indigoeyes.After death, the family to surround the deceased wail, death is forbidden to cry.[the] indigoeyes editor After death, the family should old died out as soon as possible to relatives and friends, or ascend indigoeyes reported to distant relatives, death, to tell the opening date of buried crane.The son to wear XiaoFu indigoeyes mourning, to others, hat, cannot take the door, someone to meet, his theory, KouShou.[editor this section RuLian] The former, the coffin of cosmetic, such as and when his body scrub, change clothes wear, etc, and then to BaiChou(some place also use money)face.Folk thought, not to die of old wear fur leather pants, otherwise the dead will reincarnate for beast, For the dress, don't be tears into dead, or later dream will not see the dead.Some local requirements for dead old MuShu with a mirror.In the dead died after 24 hours, should choose good moments from the body in the coffin, and then move when the head is like a, ChaoLi feet outwards.[editor this segment] keep shop The old man died LaoGuRen death to formally put coffin, day and night guard in tianjin and dead turn to serve, keep shop, called “filial piety”.The family after the coffin, protect, and lay in coffins, called “left”, also called “trapped coffin”.[editor this segment] put aside Because the ground should choose a buried the dead fudge, therefore, may be stopped at home, called “axis” or “stop” aside.“" ”Put the custom of“, in ancient times, to put seven days commonly, some even put coffins 10 days, months, now is not common, namely that aside, long ”.[editor this segment] mourning Blue is the family legacy to snuff out from the dead rise when in mourning.Men don't wear expensive clothes and sandals(now has no common), Women should undressed decorations, take off color clothes.Men and women with the relationship between the various according to the distance, wear XiaoFu, wear teach cap.During the mourning son in January or(100)for her hair, can not meet friends, not to attend the banquet, into the temple, etc.Especially in the burial customs, these must be strictly before, or not.

第五篇：Chinese festival中國傳統佳節英文介紹（本站推薦）

Chinese Valentine's Day（七巧節）

Raise your head on August 19 and gaze at the stars, you will find something romantic going on in the sky.VALENTINE'S Day in China, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, falls on August 19 this year.That is, on Sunday evening, Niu Lang and Zhi Nu will meet on a bridge of magpies（鵲橋）across the Milky Way（銀河）.Chinese grannies will remind children that they would not be able to see any magpies on that evening because all the magpies have left to form a bridge in the heavens with their wings.Chinese ceremonies

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the only Chinese festival devoted to love in the Lunar calendar.Unlike St.Valentine's Day in Western countries there is not so much emphasis on giving chocolates, flowers and kisses.Instead, Chinese girls prepare fruits, melons and incense（熏香）as offerings to Zhi Nu, the weaving maiden, praying to acquire high skills in needlecraft（裁縫）, as well as hoping to find satisfactory husbands.In the evening, people sit outdoors to observe the stars.Chinese grannies would say that, if you stand under a grapevine, you can probably overhear what Zhi Nu and Niu Lang are talking about.Hungry Ghost Festival（中元節）The 14th and 15th of the seventh lunar month Unlike other celebrations of the dead in Eastern cultures that seek to honor dead ancestors, the Hungry Ghost Festival seeks to pacify the hungry ghosts, the ghosts of strangers and the un-cared-for dead.These are the ghosts of those who died by their own hands, by accidents, by drowning or hanging who have been denied entry into heaven.Angry because they are forced to dwell in hell without food or comfort, when released, they search for souls to take their place in misery.The most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts.On the 14th, a great feast would be held to honor family ancestors.Prayers and offerings would be made at family altars.On the following night, the 15th, they would feast for the hungry ghosts.Held outside under the full moon, these feasts feed the evil spirits so that they will leave the living alone and bribe（賄賂）the ancestors for luck with money and the harvest.Chong Yang Festival重陽節

The 9th day of September in the lunar calendar is “the Chinese Chong Yang Festival” and a happy occasion in autumn.According to the traditional theory of “Yin” and “Yang”, both the 9th month and the 9th day of the month belong to “Yang”, which means positive and masculine, and “Chong” means double, thus it is called “Chong Yang”.People often gather for a party, appreciate chrysanthemums, pin the leaves of Cornus on clothes.And the custom of climbing mountains and eating a special cake also features the day.In the golden September, chrysanthemum blooms, reminding people of the folktale.And later a special cake with dates, chestnuts and meat was made to add more festivity to the special day.Winter solstice（冬至）

Winter solstice is a very important solar term in Chinese Lunar calendar.Being a traditional holiday as well, it is still now celebrated quite often in many regions.Early during the Spring and Autumn period, 2500 odd years from now, Winter solsticewas first determined as the Chinese traditional solar term among the total 24 terms.In Gregorian calendar, it is around Dec 22nd or 23rd.Ancient china did pay great attention to this holiday, regarding it as a big event.There was the saying that “Winter solstice holiday is greater than the spring festival”.Nowadays, many regions still celebrate it as a big holiday.Northerners may have dumplings and raviolis that day while southerners may have dumplings made by rice and long noodles.Some places even have the tradition to offer sacrifices to the heaven and earth.Spring Festival（春節）

The New Moon on the first day of the new year--the full moon 15 days later Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon（新月）on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon（滿月）15 days later.The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival（元宵節）, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.The Origin of Chinese New Year The Chinese New Year is now popularly known as the Spring Festival because it starts from the Begining of Spring(the first of the twenty-four terms in coodination with the changes of Nature).Its origin is too old to be traced.Several explanations are hanging around.All agree, however, that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means “year”, was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year.Traditional New Year Foods Probably more food is consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other time of the year.Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and friends, as well as those close to us who have died.On New Year's Day, the Chinese family will eat a vegetarian dish called jai.Although the various ingredients in jai are root vegetables or fibrous vegetables, many people attribute various superstitious aspects to them.Other foods include a whole fish, to represent togetherness and abundance, and a chicken for prosperity.The chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness.Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.In south China, the favorite and most typical dishes were nian gao, sweet steamed glutinous rice（糯米）pudding and zong zi(glutinous rice wrapped up in reed（蘆葦）leaves), another popular delicacy.In the north, steamed-wheat bread(man tou)and small meat dumplings were the preferred food.The tremendous amount of food prepared at this time was meant to symbolize abundance and wealth for the household.Lantern Festival元宵

The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Chinese Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao.The 15th day is the first night to see a full moon.So the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China.According to the Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate.At this time, people will try to solve the puzzles on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao(glutinous rice ball)and get all their families united in the joyful atmosphere.Besides entertainment and beautiful lanterns, another important part of the Lantern Festival,or Yuanxiao Festival is eating small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour.We call these balls Yuanxiao or Tangyuan.Obviously, they get the name from the festival itself.It is said that the custom of eating Yuanxiao originated during the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the fourth centuty, then became popular during the Tang and Song periods.The fillings inside the dumplings or Yuansiao are either sweet or salty.Sweet fillings are made of sugar, Walnuts（胡桃）, sesame, osmanthus flowers（桂花）, rose petals, sweetened tangerine peel, bean paste, or jujube paste（棗泥）.A single ingredient or any combination can be used as the filling.The salty variety is filled with minced meat, vegetables or a mixture.The way to make Yuanxiao also varies between northern and southern China.The usual method followed in southern provinces is to shape the dough of rice flour into balls, make a hole, insert the filling, then close the hole and smooth out the dumpling by rolling it between your hands.In North China, sweet or nonmeat stuffing is the usual ingredient.The fillings are pressed into hardened cores, dipped lightly in water and rolled in a flat basket containing dry glutinous rice flour.A layer of the flour sticks to the filling, which is then again dipped in water and rolled a second time in the rice flour.And so it goes, like rolling a snowball, until the dumpling is the desired size.The custom of eating Yuanxiao dumplings remains.This tradition encourages both old and new stores to promote their Yuanxiao products.They all try their best to improve the taste and quality of the dumplings to attract more customers.Qing Ming（Tomb Sweeping Day）

Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox, Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the solar calendar--typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6.Its Chinese name “Qing Ming” literally means “Clear Brightness,” hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring.Similar to the spring festivals of other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.The Tomb Sweeping Day as Celebrated Today With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors.Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family.Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children.Today, Chinese visit their family graves to tend to any underbrush that has grown.Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money.Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food.One theory is that since any number of ghosts rome around a grave area, the less appealing food will be consumed by the ancestors, and not be plundered by strangers.Duan Wu Festival The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the Chinese people.The day is called Duan Wu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated everywhere in China.The customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui(a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses.People have Dragon Boat Races, eat Zong Zi(dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves)and carry a spice bag around with them.Dragon Boat Race The main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race.These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships.The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums.The Culture of Zongzi Qu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC.Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day.Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet.This later on turned into the custom of eating Zong Zi.Realgar Wine It is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival.This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year.