Unit 1
Original text: English is known as a world language, regularly used by many nations whose English is not their first language. Like other languages, English has changed greatly. The history of the English language can be divided into three main periods: Old English, Middle English and Modern English. The English language started with the invasion of Britain by three Germanic tribes during the 5th century AD, and they contributed greatly to the formation of the English language. During the medieval and early modern periods, the influence of English spread throughout the British Isles, and from the early 17th century its influence began to be felt throughout the world. The processes of European exploration and colonization for several centuries led to significant change in English. Today, American English is particularly influential, due to the popularity of American cinema, television, music, trade and technology, including the Internet.
Translation: It is generally believed that English is a world language, Often used in many countries where English is not the first language. Like other languages, English has changed a lot. The history of English can be divided into three main stages: Old English, Middle English and Modern English. English originated in the 5th century AD, when three Germanic tribes invaded Britain. They played a great role in the formation of the English language. During the Middle Ages and early modern times, English influence spread throughout the British Isles. From the beginning of the 17th century, its influence began to be felt around the world. Hundreds of years of European exploration and colonization resulted in significant changes in English. Today, the influence of American English is particularly significant due to the popularity of American movies, television, music, trade and technology, including the Internet.
Original text: Chinese calligraphy (calligraphy) is a unique art and a unique artistic treasure in the world. The formation and development of Chinese calligraphy art are inseparable from the emergence and evolution of Chinese characters. In the long process of evolution and development, Chinese characters, on the one hand, play an important role in communicating ideas and inheriting culture; on the other hand, they have formed a unique art in themselves.
Calligraphy can reflect the calligrapher's personal life feelings, knowledge, cultivation, personality, etc. through his works. Therefore, there is usually a saying that "the words are like the person". Chinese calligraphy is not only a cultural treasure of the Chinese nation, but also shines uniquely in the treasure house of world culture and art.
Translation: Chinese calligraphy is a unique art and the unique art treasure in the world. The formation and development of the Chinese calligraphy is closely related to the emergence and evolution of Chinese characters. In this long evolutionary process, Chinese characters have not only played an important role in exchanging ideas and transmitting culture but also developed into a unique art form. Calligraphic works well reflect calligraphers' personal feelings, knowledge, self-cultivation, personality, and so forth, thus there is an expression that "seeing the calligrapher's handwriting is like seeing the person". As one of the treasures of Chinese culture, Chinese calligraphy shines splendidly in the world's treasure house of culture and art.
Unit 2
Original text: A MOOC (massive open online course) is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web. MOOCs are a recent development in distance education and have now become a surging trend in higher education. These classes are aimed at expanding a university's reach from thousands of tuition-paying students who live in town, to millions of students around the world. In addition to traditional course materials, MOOCs provide interactive user forums to support interactions between students and professors. MOOCs can encourage communication among participants who bring a variety of viewpoints, knowledge
, and skills to the course; inspire people to "try on" subjects that they wouldn't otherwise pursue or even try on education itself; provide multiple ways to engage with course material, encourage multimodal (multimodal) learning that can address the needs of learners with a variety of learning styles; and inspire better teaching and use of technologies for face-to-face courses.
Translation: MOOC is an online course that aims to achieve a wide range of Participation and open access. MOOCs are the latest step in distance education and are now quickly leading the way in higher education. Through these courses, universities can expand their reach from thousands of students living in cities paying tuition to millions of students around the world. In addition to traditional course materials, MOOCs also provide users with interactive forums to support communication between students and lecturers. MOOCs can promote communication among participants, allowing a variety of perspectives, knowledge and skills to emerge in the classroom; it encourages people to try courses that were impossible to try before, or even try new education methods; it provides a variety of learning course materials In this way, we encourage multi-modal learning and meet the needs of learners with various learning styles; in addition, MOOCs promote the improvement of teaching and enable better application of technology in face-to-face teaching.
Original text: In recent years, with the development of Internet technology, my country's digital education resource construction has made great achievements. Many colleges and universities have established their own digital learning platforms, and digital teaching is playing an increasing role in education. Compared with traditional teaching methods, digital teaching methods have great advantages. On the one hand, digital teaching enables teaching resources to be shared globally; on the other hand, it expands learners’ learning time and space, and people can enter digital virtual schools to study through the Internet anytime and anywhere. This makes it possible for humans to move from receiving one-time education to lifelong learning.
Translation: In recent years, with the development of Internet technology, the construction of digital education resources of our country has made great achievements. Many universities have set up their own digital learning platforms, and digital teaching is playing an increasingly important role in education. Compared with the traditional way of teaching, the digital way has a lot of advantages. On one hand, digital teaching makes global sharing of teaching resources possible; on the other hand, it expands the learner's study time and space to learn, allowing people to get access to the digital virtual schools through the Internet anytime and anywhere. These advantages make it possible for people to shift from one-time learning to lifelong learning.
Unit 3
Original text: As an important part of the American culture value system, "individualism" is admired by most American people. Americans view the family as a group whose primary purpose is to advance the happiness of individual members. In contrast to many other cultures, the primary responsibility of the American family member is not to advance the family as a group, either socially or economically. What would be best for the family is not usually considered to be as important as what would be best for the individual .With freedom comes the responsibility to care for oneself, for it is the freedom of choice that carries with it
the responsibility: to accept the consequences of the choices. Many Americans give their children a lot of freedom because they want them to be independent and self-reliant. Along with the American emphasis on individual freedom, the belief in equality between parents and children also has had a strong effect on the family.
Translation: As an important part of the American cultural value system, "individualism" is respected by most Americans. Americans believe that the main purpose of the family as a group is to promote the happiness of each member of the family. In contrast to many other cultures, the primary responsibility of American family members is not to enhance the status of the entire family socially or economically. People often think that what is best for the individual is more important than what is best for the family. With freedom comes the responsibility to take care of oneself, because freedom of choice carries with it the responsibility to accept the consequences of one's choices. Many Americans give their children a lot of freedom because they want them to be independent and self-reliant. While Americans emphasize individual freedom, the belief in equality between parents and children has also had a huge impact on American families.
Original text: Filial piety is the basic code of ethics in ancient Chinese society. Chinese people regard filial piety as the foundation of personality, family harmony, and national well-being. Since filial piety is the core of Confucian ethical thought, it has become the moral code for maintaining family relationships in Chinese society for thousands of years. It is undoubtedly a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation. Filial piety culture is a complex concept with rich content and wide coverage. It has both cultural concepts and institutional etiquette. Generally speaking, it refers to the obligations that society requires children to have towards their parents, including respect, care, support for the elderly, etc. Filial piety is the foundation of ancient "oriental civilization".
Translation: Filial piety is the basic code of ethics in ancient Chinese society. Chinese people consider filial piety as the essence of a person's integrity, family harmony, and the nation's well-being. With filial piety being the core of Confucian ethics, it has been the moral standard for the Chinese society to maintain the family relationship for thousands of years. It's undoubtedly a traditional Chinese virtue. The culture of filial piety is a complex concept, rich in content and wide in range. It includes not only cultural ideas but also institutional etiquettes. Generally speaking, it refers to the obligation of children to their parents required by the society, including respect, care, support for the elderly and so forth. Filial piety is fundamental to the ancient " Oriental civilization".
Unit 4
Original text: Valentine's Day on February 14 is celebrated in various American and European countries. It is a holiday of love and romance usually by exchanging valentines or love tokens between lovers. There are different origins regarding the festival. One legend goes that the Romans put a priest named Saint Valentine into prison for refusing to believe in the Roman gods. On February 14, Valentine was put to death not only because he was Christian , but also because he had cured the jailer's daughter of blindness. The night before he was executed he wrote her a farewell letter s
igned "From your Valentine". Later, February 14 became a holiday for people to show affection for their loved ones. Today, people celebrate Valentine's Day in different ways, sending greeting cards and flowers, giving chocolate or other gifts, or joining in romantic dinners. The holiday has now become popular all over the world. In China the festival is also becoming increasingly popular with young people.
Translation: Countries in America and Europe celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th. This is a festival full of love and romance, and lovers usually exchange love cards and tokens of love. There are different opinions about the origin of this festival. One legend has it that the Romans imprisoned a priest named Saint Valentine because he refused to believe in the Roman gods. On February 14, Valentine was executed not only because he was a Christian, but also because he had cured the blind daughter of a prison guard. The night before he was executed, he wrote her a farewell letter signed "Your Valentine." Later, February 14th became a holiday where people could show their affection to their lovers. Nowadays, people celebrate Valentine's Day in different ways, they send greeting cards, flowers, give chocolates or other gifts, or have a romantic dinner. Now this festival is popular all over the world. In China, this festival is becoming more and more popular among young people.
Original text: The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the Chinese Qixi Festival (Qixi Festival), which is the most romantic festival among the traditional Chinese festivals. Some big businesses hold different events every year, and young people also give gifts to their lovers. Therefore, Qixi Festival is considered China's "Valentine's Day". The Chinese Valentine's Day comes from the legend of Cowherd and Weaving Maid. According to legend, on this night every year, the Weaver Girl in the sky meets the Cowherd. Therefore, on the night of Chinese Valentine's Day, people can see the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meeting each other on the Milky Way. Girls will also pray to the Weaver Girl in the sky for wisdom on this night to obtain a happy marriage. However, with the changes of the times, these activities are disappearing. Only the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, which symbolizes loyal love, has been spread among the people.
Translation: July 7th on the Chinese calendar is Chinese Qixi Festival, the most romantic of all the traditional Chinese holidays. Every year, some big businesses organize various activities, and young people send gifts to their lovers. As a result, the Qixi Festival is considered to be Chinese "Valentine's Day". The Qixi Festival is derived from the legend of Cowherd and Weaving Maid. The legend holds that on this particular night every year the Weaving Maid in heaven meets with Cowherd. So , people can see Cowherd and Weaving Maid meeting in the Milky Way on the night of Qixi. On this night, girls would also beg Weaving Maid for some wisdom for a happy marriage. But, with the changing of times, these activities are diminishing. All that remains is the legend of Cowherd and Weaving Maid, a sign of faithful love, continuously circulated among the folk.