清明节

王玉峰

◆Helper

division n.分開，分隔 plow

v.犁耕

sow v.播（种） minority n.少数，少数民族ethnic adj.少数民族的成员 decease n.<律>死亡 cemetery n.墓地，公墓simplify v.简化 incense n.杳 memorial tablet纪念碑 in contrast to相比之下uniqueness n.独特性 sapling n.幼树，树苗 arbor n.树木

Chinese Brief Introduction

清明节是农历二十四节气之一，在仲春与暮春之交，也就是冬至后的第108天，节气是按照阴历制定的。中国汉族传统的清明节大约始于周代，距今已有二干五百多年的历史。清明一到，气温升高，正是春耕春种的大好时节，也是植树的好时节。清明节是一个祭祀祖先的节日，传统活动为扫墓。

明清时期，清明扫墓更为盛行。古时扫墓，孩子们还常要放风筝。有的风筝上安有竹笛，经风一吹能发出响声，犹如筝的声音。踏青早在唐代就已开始，历代承袭成为习惯。踏青除了欣赏大自然的湖光山色、春光美景之外，还开展各种文娱活动，增添生活情趣。北宋时期清明踏青活动很是普遍，家喻户晓的张泽端的《清明上河图》描绘的就是北宋徽宗年间清明时节东京汴梁（开封）汴河两岸的人物风貌。从2008年开始，中国将清明节定为法定节假日。

◆Exercise

Ⅰ. Questions：

1. What is it that is proper for farmers to do during the Qingming Festival？

2. Why do we say the Qingming Festival combines sadness with happiness？

3. Why is there the custom of spring outings during the Qingming Festival？

4. When does the Chinese Arbor Day fall every year？

Ⅱ.written work

情景作文：假设你是红星中学高三（1）班的学生李华，为响应绿化祖国的号召，你班4月12日去郊区植树，请根据以下四幅图的先后顺序，介绍植树活动的全过程，给某英文杂志的“绿色行动”专栏写一篇以《Green Action in Our Class》为题的英文稿件。

注意：词数不少于80

提示词：郊区suburbs

内容要点：（1）骑车去植树（2）植树（3）安插提示牌（4）照相

说明：内容要点可用不同方式表达

Suggested answers：

Ⅰ.Questions：

1. It is proper for farmers to plow and sow.

2. Not only is this the most important day of sacrifice， when people offer sacrifices to their ancestors and sweep the tombs of the ancestors， but also they enjoy hope of spring on this day.

3. Because it is a time when the sun shines brightly， the trees and grass become green and nature is again lively. lt's proper to go out.

4. March 12 according to the Gregorian calendar.

Ⅱ. written work

Green Action in Our Class

April 12 is memorable because our class had a meaningful experience on that day. In the morning， we bicycled to the suburbs to plant trees， talking and laughing all the way. Upon arrival， we began to work immediately. Some were digging holes. Some were carrying and planting young trees. Others were watering them. After getting the work done， we put up a board reminding people to protect the trees. Before leaving we took some photos to record our green action. Seeing the lines of trees， we all had a sense of achievement. We feel it's our duty to protect and beautify our environment.