四级段落翻译

1. 中国面临的最严峻的挑战之一就是人口老龄化（aging population）。专家称在未来四十年内，中国老年人口将接近5亿，占据人口总数的三分之一。这无疑给中国经济增长带来了巨大的压力，但这也意味着更多的商机。人口老龄化将为养老院（nursing home）行业的发展带来良好的前景。据粗略统计，5亿老年人每月至少能为养老院行业带来5000亿元的经济效益。

Aging population is one of the most severe challenges in China. According to the experts, within four decades, China will have nearly 500 million elderly people, which accounts for one third of the total population. Such a situation will undoubtedly put huge pressure on the economic growth of China, but it also means more business opportunities. The fast-growing numbers of elderly people will bring a very good prospect for the industry of nursing homes. Based on rough statistics, half a billion elderly people can at least bring the industry an economic benefit of 500 billion every month.

2. 国画（Chinese painting）指中国传统绘画，历史悠久，远在2000多年前的战国时期(Warring States Period)就出现了画在丝织品上的绘画。国画的工具盒材料有毛笔(brush)、墨、纸盒丝绸等。国画从题材上主要分为三类：人物、山水、花鸟。国画起源于中国书法(calligraphy)，在本质上是一种线性艺术，试图采用绘画唤起意象和感情。国画在内容和艺术创作上，体现了古人对自然、社会、哲学、宗教和道德的认识。

Chinese painting, the traditional painting in China, has a long history. There were paintings on silks even in Warring States Period over 2,000 years ago. Tools and materials used in Chinese painting are brush, ink, paper and silk and so on. There are three main subjects of Chinese painting: human figures, landscapes, and birds and flowers. Originated from Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting is essentially an art of line, which attempts to arouse images and emotions with paintings. The content and artistic creation of Chinese paintings reflect the ancient people’s recognition on nature, society, philosophy, religion and morality.

3. 中国长城是中国古代为抵御敌人的侵袭而修筑的伟大工程。它位于中国北部，全长约8851.8公里。它始建于2000多年前的春秋时期(the Spring and Autumn Period)，秦始皇统一中国之后联成万里长城。汉、明两代(the Han and Ming Dynasties)又曾大规模修筑，因此它是世界上修建时间最长的一项古代工程。长城是人类文明史上最伟大的建造工程之一，被列为世界八大奇迹之一和世界文化遗产(heritage)。

The Great Wall of China is a great project in ancient China constructed to defend against the attacks of enemies. It locates in the northern part of China and stretches for 8,851.8 kilometers. First built in the Spring and Autumn Period over 2,000 years ago, it was united to become “the Wall of 10,000 Li” after Qin Shi Huang unified China. The Han and Ming Dynasties saw extensive rebuilding and maintenance of the Great Wall. Thus it is an ancient project which consumed the longest time in the world. As one of the greatest constructions in the history of human civilization, the Great Wall has been listed as one of the Eight Wonders of the World and a world cultural heritage site.

4. 西部大开发(western development campaign)是中国政府的一项政策，于2000年开始运作。目的是提高西部地区的经济和社会发展水平。西部大开发的范围是中国西部的12个省和自治区(autonomous region)。西部地区自然资源丰富，市场潜力大，战略位置重要。但由于自然、历史、社会等原因，西部地区经济发展相对东部落后。这一政策的实施可以使西部地区得到更快、更深、更广的发展，实现共同富裕(common prosperity)。

Western development campaign is a policy made by Chinese government and operated from 2000. Its goal is to improve the economic and social development level of the western areas. There are twelve provinces and autonomous regions covered in this campaign. The western area s have abundant natural resources with huge potentia l market and important strategic location. But because of natural, historical and social factors, the economic development in those areas lags behind that of the eastern areas. The implementation of the policy can bring a faster, deep er and broad er development in the western areas, which will help realize common prosperity.

5. 汉字源于远古时期对自然景物的简单描摹，如树木、河水、山川、人物等。这些描摹实际上就是象形文字(pictograms)的萌芽。甲骨文(Oracles)是刻在龟壳和兽骨上的古老文字，是汉字最早的形式。汉字的创造和应用对中华文明的发展起到了重要作用。汉字对世界文明的发展也产生了深远的影响。例如，日本、朝鲜等国家的文字都是在汉字的基础上创造的。

Chinese characters began in ancient time as simple drawings of natural objects – trees, rivers, mountains and hills, human beings, etc. These drawing s are actually the buds of “pictograms”. Oracles, the ancient characters carved onto tortoise shells and beast bones, are the earliest form of Chinese characters. The creation and use of the Chinese characters have played a significant role not only in the development of Chinese civilization, but in that of the world civilization. For example, the characters of some countries, like Japan and Korea, were created on the basis of the Chinese characters.

6. 孔子学院(Confucius Institute)是中国在世界各地设立的教育和文化交流机构。推广汉语、传播中国文化是设立该机构的目的。孔子学院最重要的一项工作就是给世界各地的汉语学习者提供标准的教材以及正规的汉语学习渠道。全球首家孔子学院于2004年在韩国首尔(Seoul)成立，目前已遍布100个国家。孔子学院有力地推动了中国文化与各国文化的交流与融合(integration)。

Confucius Institute is an institute of education and cultural communication established by China all over the world. Its aim is to promote Chinese language and spread Chinese culture. The most important task of Confucius Institute is to provide standard textbooks and a formal channel to learn Chinese for learners all over the world. The first Confucius Institute opened in 2004 in Seoul, South Korea. At present, it has been established in 106 countries. Confucius Institute has greatly promoted the exchange and integration of cultures between China and the rest of the world.