【正确答案】Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival for Chinese people. In China, it is also called the Spring Festival. The New Year's celebrations last from the New Year's Eve, namely the last day of the last month of the lunar calendar, to the Lantern Festival, which fails on the 15th day of the first month. Customs and traditions surrounding the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary broadly from place to place. Nevertheless, the New Year's Eve is often an occasion for Chinese families to gather together for the annual reunion dinner. It is also customary for every family to thoroughly clean their houses so as to sweep away ill fortune and to bring in good luck. Chinese people also decorate their doors with red couplets, the themes of which are health, wealth and good luck. There are some other activities such as setting off fireworks, giving money in red envelopes, and visiting relatives and friends.

【答案解析】 本文主要介绍了中国的春节，属于说明文。因此，汉译英时应使用较为正式的词语，而且本文讲述的是一个客观事实，所以时态应为一般现在时。文中有许多跟春节有关的庆祝活动，汉语考生都很熟悉，但译成英语时会有一定的难度。
   汉译英时，首先要看清题材，选择相应的时态；其次，准确理解原文要表达的意思；最后，注意英汉两种句子结构、语言表达的差异，选择标准的英语句子结构、地道的表达方式，为译文加分。
   这个翻译题目主要讲的是中国的春节，对考生来说再熟悉不过了，理解上基本没什么困难。但是像“除夕夜”、“年夜饭”和“大扫除”等字眼考查的就是考生词汇储备量的大小。
   第一句话中的“中国新年”和“春节”虽然汉语是一个意思，但在英语中却有不同的说法。前者应译为“Chinese New Year”，后者应译为“the Spring Festival”。
   第二句话中有两个难点：表示持续一段时间“从……到……”既可译成“run from...to...”，又可译成“last from...to...”；把“从农历最后一个月的最后一天至新年第一个月的第十五天”这句话拆开，分别做“除夕”和“元宵节”的同位语或定语从句，使译文显得更加紧凑和严密。
   第三句话中翻译的难点是“除夕夜”和“年夜饭”，前者应译为“the New Year's Eve”，后者应译为“the annual reunion dinner”。
   第四句话中翻译的难点是“驱厄运”、“迎好运”和“大扫除”，应该分别译为“sweep away ill fortune”，“bring in good luck”和“thoroughly clean house”。
   第五句话中前后两个小句可以通过由which引导的定语从句联系起来，使句子显得更为通顺。
   第六句话中的翻译难点是“放鞭炮”和“发红包”，应该分别译为“set off fireworks”和“give money in red envelopes”。