TheDragonboatFestival(龙舟节）

　　TheDragonboatFestivaltakesplaceonthefifthdayoflunar[lju:nE]month,usuallyaroundthesummarsolstice.Itprobablystartedasafestivaltocelebratetheplantingofthericecropandtoprayforagoodrainfall.Longago,peoplebelievedthatdragonscontrolledriversandrain.Theyputofferingsintheriverssothatthedragonswouldbringrainforcrops.

　　Thehighlightofthefestivaltodayisthedragonboatrace.dragonboatsarelong,narrowboatswithacarveddragon'sheadatoneendandatailattheother.Upto80roverspaddletogether.Acoxswainsitsinthefrontoftheboatandshoutsdirectionsandsetsthepacefortherowersusingalargedrum.Theracesareverynoisyandexciting.Teamstrytotrickeachotherintomakingawrongmove.Teamsoftencometoblowswitheachother.

　　译文：

　　农历五月初五是中国传统节日龙舟节,大致在夏至前后.这个节日很可能起源于人们庆祝水稻的种植和祈求降雨.以前,人们都相信龙控制着河流和降雨.他们把祭品放进河里,以求龙为他们的庄稼降下甘霖.

　　现在,这个节日中最精彩的节目就是赛龙舟了.龙舟又细又长,一头有一个精雕细凿的龙头,另一头是龙尾.一条船能由80个水手来划.船长坐在船头指挥方向,并击打大鼓来控制划船的节奏.龙舟赛总是喊声震天,激动人心.比赛团队都试图诱使对方偏离航向.队伍之间还常常打斗起来.