(The Spring Festival is drawing near. Some foreign students at Shanghai International Study University are talking with their teacher Mr. He in the classroom.)
（春节快到了，上海外国语大学的一些外国留学生正在教室里与他们的老师何先生谈话。)
Tom: Mr. He, would you please tell us something about the Chinese New Year.
何先生，你能给我们讲一讲中国的新年吗？
He: With pleasure. You know that it is a traditional festival celebrated throughout China. But do you know when it is?
很高兴。你们知道这是一个全国都庆祝的传统节日。但你知道它是什么时候吗？
Maria: The first day of the first Lunar month.
阴历的第一个月的第一天。
He: Right. But the preparation for the festival usually begins long before it arrives. Weeks before the arrival of the day people start to prepare for it.
对了，但春节的准备工作常常在春节到来很久前就开始了。这一天到来前的几星期人们就开始准备了。
Jack: What do they prepare?
他们都准备什么？
He: They do shopping, thorough cleaning, and cooking.
他们购物，大扫除并烹调食物。
Jack: What do they do when the day comes?
当这一天到来时，人们都做什么？
He: The most exciting time is the Eve of the lunar New Year. Before the dinner firecrackers are set off. After the dinner people sit down to watch the New Year celebration programs on TV. By the midnight there is a highlight of fireworks and firecrackers.
最让人兴奋的是新年除夕，晚饭前人们开始燃放爆竹，晚饭后，人们坐下来观看庆祝新年的电视节目。午夜时，有一个燃放烟花、爆竹的高潮。
Jack: Kids must get very excited.
孩子们一定特别高兴。
He: You are right. They are excited not only by the entertainment but also by the money gifts they receive.
你说对了，他们不仅兴奋于娱乐活动，而且兴奋于他们得到的压岁钱。
Maria: Do they have to kowtow to their parents and grandparents?
他们得向父母和祖父母磕头吗？
He: Traditionally they do. But nowadays it depends.
传统上，他们这样做，但如今要看情况。
Jack: On what?
靠什么而定？
He: It depends on family education. Some parents are more liberal, others are more conservative.
家庭教育。有些父母思想开放，另外一些保守。
Maria: That is to say, those who are more liberal regard Kowtow as feudal.
也就是说，那些更开放的父母认为磕头是封建的。
He: Yes, so they don’t think it right to teach their children to do things like that.
是的，所以他们认为不该教孩子这么做。
Jack: Every culture has its pluses and minuses.
每一种文化都有它的精华和糟粕。
He: You are right.
你算说对了。