年的故事

西安外国语大学 孟 洁

贴春联，挂灯笼，放爆竹……这些独特而古老的新年习俗被炎黄子孙代代相传。而关于这些习俗的起源的传说，更为中国新年增添了几分神奇的色彩。

There are many tales that are parts of the Chinese culture.Many of them illustrate （说明）moral lessons，not so different from Aesop（伊索）and its fables.One tale in particular is about Chinese New Year.

Long ago in the mountains，there lived a horrible beast named Nian.Every year，on the first day of the year，the beast would awaken anddescend uponthe vil

lage.He would eat all the grains and livestock （家畜）.And if there were any unfortunate children stuck outside，they would disappear.The villagers livedin fear ofthis beast andboarded uptheir houses on this night to protect their families.

One year， right before this event was to occur， an old man visited the village.He turned to the villagers and asked， “Why do you fear this beast?You are many and he is but one.Surely he could not swallow all of you.” But the villagers remained skeptical（怀疑的）and locked themselves up anyway.That night，Nian did not come.The old man himself had ridden it until dawn and the beast went back to its cave hungry.Thiswent onfor several nights until the old man revealed （透露），“I cannot protect you forever.” Heturned out to bea god and had to return to his duties elsewhere.The villagers were terrified that once the old man left， they would once again see Nian appear.So the old man informed them， “The beast is easily scared.He does not like red.He fears loud noises and strange creatures.So tonight， you canspreadredacrossthe village， hang red signs on every door， and make loud noises with drums， music， or fireworks.In order to protect your children， you should give them face masks and lanterns.”The villagers did as the old man instructed and Nian never returned again.

In Chinese，the expression for welcome the New Year is Guo Nian.According to the above tale， it literally means “passing over Nian” or “overcoming Nian”.That is exactly what the villagers did，which has become a tradition of Chinese New Year.

Reading Check

1.What should villagers do to frighten away the beast Nian? （no more than 15 words）

2.What does Guo Nian mean in the last paragraph?（no more than 6 words）

Using Language

Ⅰ.Important phrases in the text

1.descend upon突然袭击；突然大批来访

2.in fear of为……提心吊胆；害怕……

3.board up用木板围住……

4.go on持续

5.turn out to be原来是……；结果是……

6.spread across传遍；扩散到……

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the phrases given above.

1.If we teach children about life lessons on purpose，they will__________adults with confidence and maturity.

2.If you__________like this，everyone will leave you one day.

3.Two trucks loaded with cotton crashed into each other on the road.Now the smoke begins to____________the freeway like fog.

4.Trees along the road were destroyed because the snowstorm__________the place.

5.The villagers lived____________this beast and_________their houses on this night to protect their families.