1． 人口老龄化
中国面临的最严峻的挑战之一就是人口老龄化(aging population)。专家称在未来四十年内，中国老年人口将接近5亿，占据人口总数的三分之一。这无疑给中国经济增长带来了巨大的压力，但这也意味着更多的商机。人口老龄化将为养老院(nursing home)行业的发展带来良好的前景。据粗略统计，5亿老年人每月至少能为养老院行业带来5000亿元的经济效益。
2. 西部大开发
西部大开发(western development campaign) 是中国政府的一项政策，于2000年开始运作。目的是提高西部地区的经济和社会发展水平。西部大开发的范围是中国西部的12个省和自治区(autonomous region)。西部地区自然资源丰富，市场潜力大，战略位置重要。但由于自然、历史、社会等原因，西部地区经济发展相对东部落后。这一政策的实施可以使西部地区得到更快、更深、更广的发展，实现共同富裕(common prosperity)。
3. 相声
相声(Xiangsheng)是中国最重要的表演艺术之一。共有三种不同形式的相声，分别由一人、两人和多人表演。其中由两人表演的对口相声(cross talk)最为流行，传播最为广泛。“相声”一词最初是指模仿别人的言谈举止。现代相声包含四种基本技能：说、学、逗(tease)、唱。由于相声的许多内容是笑话和有趣的故事，语言幽默而又讽刺(sarcastic)，因此深受人民群众的喜爱。
4. 大熊猫
大熊猫被称为“中国国宝(China’s national treasure)”，是中国特有的动物。大熊猫外边黑白相间，体型肥胖，是一种温顺可爱的动物。它们主要生活在中国西南地区，80%以上分布在四川省境内。它们习惯居住在温暖潮湿的环境中，喜欢吃竹类。由于生育率低，对生活环境的要求又相当高，它们的数量越来越少。中国政府早已意识到这一问题的严重性，所以做出了很多努力来保护这一濒临物种。
5. 低碳经济
低碳经济(low-carbon economy)是在保护环境的基础上实现可持续发展(sustainable development)的经济模式。目前，越来越多国家正向低碳经济转型。中国也不例外。中国过去的发展模式是由高能耗、低成本制造业拉动经济增长。近年来，在经济增长的同时也破坏了环境。为了实现可持续发展，政府已承诺将采取切实行动，发展低碳经济，保护自然环境
6. 中国美食
关于中国美食(cuisine)的电视节目数不胜数，但像《舌尖上的中国》(A Bite of China)这样受欢迎的不多。这部最新的七集纪录片，从地域、历史以及文化等方面深入探讨了中国人的饮食。中国美食有悠久的历史和富有特色的传统烹饪手法。这一节目试图呈现出更多有关食物的文化元素，如饮食习惯和饮食道德(ethic)。在展现中国饮食文化辉煌成就的同时，也反映出中国的社会变迁。
7. 丝绸之路
丝绸之路(the Silk Road)是中国古代一条重要的商业贸易路线。它起始于古都西安，连接亚非欧三大洲。最初的作用是运输中国古代出产的丝绸，因此被命名为“丝绸之路”。丝绸之路不仅促进了古代亚欧之间的商业贸易，还增进了亚欧各国和中国的友好往来和文化交流。中国历史上一些著名人物的故事都与这条路有关，如张骞、班超和玄奘。
8. 公务员热
公务员热(craze for civil servant jobs)是指越来越多的人参加政府机构招聘考试(recruitment examinations)的社会现象。据报道，近几年每年的报考人数都超过百万，平均每个岗位有50 ~ 60名竞争者，最热门的职位能达到5000:1. 报考公务员的主要是大学毕业生。他们认为公务员工作轻松稳定，收入较高，社会地位也高。另外，就业难问题也是促使他们做出该选择的另一个原因。
1.Translation for reference:
Aging population is one of the most severe challenges in China. According to the experts, within four decades, China will have nearly 500 million elderly people, which accounts for one third of the total population. Such a situation will undoubtedly put huge pressure on the economic growth of China, but it also means more business opportunities. The fast-growing numbers of elderly people will bring a very good prospect for the industry of nursing homes. Based on rough statistics, half a billion elderly people can at least bring the industry an economic benefit of f 500 billion every year.
2.Translation for reference:
Western development campaign is a policy made by Chinese government and operated from 2000. Its goal is to improve the economic and social development level of the western areas. There are twelve provinces and autonomous regions covered in this campaign. The western areas have abundant natural resources with huge potential market and important strategic location. But because of natural, historical and social factors, the economic development in those areas lags behind that of the eastern areas. The implementation of the policy can bring a faster, deeper and broader development in the western areas, which will help realize common prosperity.
3.Translation for reference:
Xiangsheng is one of China’s most important / significant performing arts, including three different forms, performed respectively by one person, two persons, and three or more persons. Of the three forms, cross talk, performed by two persons, is the most popular and widespread. The term “Xiangsheng” originally referred to the act of imitating someone’s speech and behavior. Modern Xiangsheng is composed of four basic skills: speaking, imitating, teasing and singing. Due to its contents which are mainly jokes and interesting stories and its humorous and sarcastic language, Xiangsheng has become very popular among people.
4.Translation for reference:
Referred to as “China’s national treasure”, panda is an animal unique to China. With a black and white coat as well as a fat body, it is a gentle and lovely animal. Pandas live mainly in the southwest part of China, over 80% of them living in Sichuan Province. They are accustomed to living in warm and wet environment. Bamboo is their favorite food. Because of low birth rate and high requirement for living environment, the number of pandas is declining. Having realized the seriousness of the problem, Chinese government has made a lot of / a great deal of efforts to protect the endangered species.
。
5.Translation for reference:
Low-carbon economy is a kind of economic mode of realizing sustainable development on the basis of environment protection. At present, an increasing number of countries are making the transition towards low-carbon economy. China is no exception. In the past, China’s economic growth was mainly driven by high-energy and low-cost manufacturing. In recent years, the economic growth has also destroyed the environment / the environment has been destroyed along with the economic growth. To achieve the sustainable development, the government has promised to take concrete actions to develop low-carbon economy and protect the natural environment.
6.Translation for reference:
There are numerous TV programs on Chinese cuisine, but few are as popular as A Bite of China. The latest seven-episode documentary offers insights into / probes into / go deeply into the geographical, historical and cultural aspects of Chinese diets / Chinese diets from geographical, historical and cultural aspects. Chinese cuisine has a long history and distinctive traditional cooking techniques. The program tries to present more cultural elements related to food, such as eating habits and ethics. While it expresses the glory of Chinese food culture, it also reflects China’s social transformations.
7.Translation for reference:
The Silk Road is an important trade rote in ancient China. It started in the ancient capital Xi’an and connected the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. Because it was built / its primary function was to transport silk produced in ancient China, it was named “the Silk Road”. It not only promoted trade between ancient Asia and Europe, but (also) enhanced friendship and cultural communication between China and other countries in Asia and Europe. In Chinese history, the stories of some famous characters are related to the route, such as Zhang Qian, Ban Chao and Xuan Zang.
8.Translation for reference:
The Craze for civil servant jobs refers to the social phenomenon that an increasing number of Chinese take part in recruitment examination of government institutes. It is reported that the number of registered applicants each year is over one million, with 50 ~ 60 candidates competing for one vacancy on average. The ratio of the hottest position can arrive at 5000:1. The registered applicants are mainly university graduates. They think that the civil servant jobs are rather easy and stable with high income and social status. In addition, another reason for their choice is the difficulty in finding jobs.
Additional ones: 【以下几篇供大家参考，有时间也可以给学生做做，但不会拿来考试】
9. 科学和自然界
科学和自然界中一切存在的事物和发生的现象的特点和过程有关。科学包括整个自然界，它精辟地阐述了人类关于各种自然现象是如何彼此联系并如何构成我们所说的宇宙的种种概念的。科学有许多特性，要了解科学是什么，就得详细地考察一下这些性能和特点。有一些作者断言说科学实际上只是一种方法---科学的方法。这样的定义是过于简单化了。但是科学方法在决定科学知识的性质方面肯定起着重要的作用。
10. 公司简介
福建福信一珍生物工程有限公司是由福建省洪山企业集团公司与香港福信投资有限公
司合资兴办的高科技企业，注册资本两千万元人民币。公司拥有雄厚的技术力量，大中专学历以上的技术管理人才占员工总数的百分之三十以上，并与国内多家科研机构建立了紧密型的合作关系。公司以“唯公有福，唯诚有信”的福信企业精神和“团结，拼搏，务实，创新，奉献”的洪山集团企业精神为动力，锐意进取，蒸蒸日上。
11. 年度总结
总结一年来的工作，我们清醒地看到，经济社会发展中还存在不少问题和困难。必须坚持把人民群众利益放在第一位。要切实维护人民群众的经济、政治和文化权益，着力解决关系群众切身利益的突出问题，保障城乡困难群众的基本生活。不断满足人们日益增长的物质文化需要，是社会主义现代化建设的根本目的。只有执政为民，我们的各项事业才能获得最广泛最可靠的群众基础和力量源泉。
12. 中国法定假日
中国人民依法享受超过115天的假期，其中包括104天的周末和11天的节假日。中国一年中有7个法定假日，包括元旦(New Year’s Day),春节（Spring Festival)，清明节（Qingming Festival), 五一劳动节(May Day)，端午节(Dragon Boat Festival),中秋节(Mid- Autumn Day)和国庆节(National Day)。员工有5至15天的带薪年假。学生和老师有大约三个月的寒暑假。在中国，暑假一般约在7月1 日开始，8月31日左右结束，寒假是根据春节的日期，通常是在1 月或2月。
9.Translation for reference:
Science is related to all the existing things and the characteristics and process
of the phenomena happening in nature. Science contains the whole nature, which develops various penetrating views about human being's conceptions that how various natural phenomena are related together and how they constitute our so-called universe. Science has many characteristics. We have to inspect those functions and characteristics in detail if we want to know what the science is. Some authors assert that science in fact is a kind of method --- scientific method. This definition is over-simplified .But obviously the scientific method plays an important role in deciding the nature of the scientific knowledge.
10.Translation for reference:
Fujian Fuxin Yizhen Bio-engineering Co.,Ltd. is a high-tech joint venture cofounded by Hongshan Group and Hong Kong Fuxin Investment Co.,Ltd, with registered capital up to RMB 20 millions. The company is in possession of abundant technical resources, technical and managerial talents above college or polytechnic school account for 30% of its staff. What's more, tightly-knit partnership has been established with a number of domestic scientific research institutions.
Treasuring the spirit of honesty of Fuxin and adhering to the spirit of unity, hard work, realism, innovation and sacrifice”of Hongshan, the company is advancing with vigor and enthusiasm and will become more and more prosperous.
11.Translation for reference:
In reviewing our work of the past year, we clearly see that many problems and difficulties remain in our economic and social development. We must always put the interests of the people first, truly protect the people‘s economic, political and cultural rights and interests, pay particular attention to solving acute problems affecting their vital interests, and ensure that poor urban and rural residents have the basic necessities of life. The fundamental goal of our socialist modernization drive is to continually meet the growing material and cultural needs of the people. Only if we exercise power for the good of the people can we enjoy the broadest and most reliable support from the people and draw from them the strength for accomplishing all our undertakings.
12.Translation for reference:
Chinese people legally enjoy over 115 days off， including 104 days of weekends and 11 days of festivals. China has seven legal holidays in a year，including New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Day and National Day. Employees have 5 to 15 days of paid annual leave. Students and teachers have summer and winter vacations for about three months. The summer vacation in China generally starts around July 1st and ends around August 31st，and the winter vacation usually falls on January or February according to the date of the Spring Festival.
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