中国文化是深远的，从古至今人研究。当然身为国外友人也不例外。在考试中提及中国元素我们想到的就是中国年。北京新航道小编搜集了一篇托福写作材料，供大家参考学习。

　　The term "pass year" is used for the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). The word "Year" in Chinese characters used to mean a horrible beast. To combat the beast, the Chinese hang "good luck" wishes on red paper on the door and use fireworks in the belief that the beast fears red and fire. This tradition in many ways resemble the Western belief of using garlic and crosses to fight vampires。

　　中文中“过年”这个词组用以表示对春节(中国新年)的庆祝。“年”这个字在中文里是一种恐怖的怪兽。因为“年”害怕红色和火，所以中国人会在门上悬挂“春联”写上美好祝福，并放鞭炮来赶跑它。这个传统有点类似西方人用大蒜和十字架吓跑吸血鬼的传统。

　　Why New Year is so special?

　　为什么新年那么特别呢?

　　The Chinese zodiac features 12 animals in the sequence of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. This year is the year of Tiger. Each animal represents a different "personality". According to legend, people held a conference with all the animals, informing them that they would pick the 12 to represent the zodiac. However, in spite of being fast, the cat was not picked as its then-close friend, the rat, did not wake it. This action sparked off a rivalry that continues till this day。

　　中国的十二生肖代表了十二种动物，他们的顺序是：鼠、牛、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗和猪。今年是虎年。每一种动物有他们自己的“性格”。根据传说，人们当初和动物们开了一个会，到会的动物们就可以进入十二生肖。而身为猫的朋友，老鼠却没有把猫叫醒去开会。因此，它们之间的战争一直持续到今天。

　　What do people do?

　　那人们在新年都干啥呢?

　　Eat, eat again, and then eat some more! As the old Chinese saying goes: food is everything。

　　吃、接着吃、再吃东西!就跟一句中国古话说的那样：食物即一切。

　　The tradition is to have different main courses everyday from the 1st day of the New Year to the 15th day of the New Year, from Jiao Zi (dumplings)， noodles, spring rolls, sticky rice cakes, and Tang Yuan (stuffed rice balls). Besides culinary satisfaction, each food has a meaning as well: for instance, Jiao Zi looks like gold, implying a wealthy year ahead。

　　传统就是，从新年天开始直到正月十五，每天都要吃不同的主菜。从饺子、面条、春卷、年糕到汤圆。除了祭好五脏庙以外，每一种食物也有含义：比如饺子看起来就像金元宝，这意味来年的丰衣足食。

　　Besides eating, young people visit older family members and kids are blessed with a red pack of "lucky" money. And then, people gather and eat again (!)， leading to a lot of advertisements about fitness right after the Chinese New Year holiday。

　　多积累一些托福写作材料，对于之后的写作是有很大帮助的。希望同学们认真积累和学习，在考试中利用积累的知识拓展思路。北京新航道小编预祝各位在考试中取得优异的成绩。

　　                                                                点击了解北京托福培训信息