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这是一个修改版本。适用于雅思考试学习者。
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Year of the Earth Dog
狗年
By Modern Asian | 24 January, 2018
01
On Thursday 15 February, the year of the Chicken ends.
2月15日星期四，鸡年结束。
02
The next day begins the year of the Dog, which will end on February 4, 2019.
第二天就是狗年第一天，狗年在2019年2月4日结束。
03
The Year of the Dog is the eleventh year of the Asian 12-year cycle.
狗年是12年循环当中的第11年。
04
The last Dog year was 2006 and the next will be 2030.
上一个狗年是2006年，下一个狗年是2030年。
05
Many famous musicians were born in the Dog Year, including Michael Jackson, former US President Bill Clinton, and current US President Donald Trump.
许多名人都是在狗年出生的，包括迈克尔杰克逊，前美国总统克林顿，和现任美国总统唐纳德特朗普。
06
The New Year will mainly be celebrated by Chinese people, although many Australians outside these communities enjoy taking part.
新年主要是中国人在庆祝，尽管在这些社区之外的许多澳大利亚人都喜欢参加。
07
In China, Lunar New Year is a festival as big as Christmas, lasting from three to five days.
在中国，农历新年是一个和圣诞节一样大的节日，持续时间从3天到5天。
Feasting and fun
宴会和乐趣
08
Food is common to all New Year activities.
食物在所有的新年活动中都很常见。
09
On Chu Xi (New Year's Eve), Chinese people gather around the table together to wrap “jiaozi” (or “shuijiao”), small savoury meatballs wrapped in thin pastry and boiled.
在除夕（新年前夜），中国人聚在一起包“饺子”（或“水饺”），用薄的面皮包住美味的小肉丸，再煮熟。
10
It is also traditional to have a fish, but you should only eat a little of it.
吃鱼也是一种传统，但你只应该吃一点点。
11
The Chinese word for “fish” sounds the same as the word for “more”, so by leaving some “fish” you are also leaving “more” for the New Year.
汉语中“鱼”的发音与“剩余”的发音相同，因此，如果你留下一些“鱼”，你也会在新的一年里有所“结余”。
Customs
习俗
12
Gathering with family, cleaning the house, and wearing good clothes are common New Year practices.
与家人相聚，打扫房间，穿好的衣服，都是常见的新年习俗。
13
The family gathering includes showing respect to the ancestors, or at least the senior members of the family.
家庭聚会包括对祖先的敬重，或者至少是对家庭的年长成员的敬重。
14
It's a common custom to give children small red envelopes containing money.
给孩子们一个装着钱的小红包是一种常见的习俗。
15
Chinese say not to sweep on New Year's Day, as you might sweep away your luck.
中国人说不要在新年的时候扫地，因为你可能会扫掉你的运气。
16
The house should be cleaned before the New Year.
房子是要在新年之前就打扫干净。
17
Also, you should settle any debts or arguments before the New Year.
另外，你应该在新年之前解决任何债务或争端。
18
In Chinese communities, the “Spring Festival” (Chun Jie) finishes with the Lantern Festival.
在中国的社区里，“春节”结束于元宵节。
19
Held on the first full moon night after the New Year, people display colourful lanterns and drink warm rice wine.
新年后的第一个月圆之夜，人们展示着五颜六色的灯笼，喝着温酒。
