You are required to prepare a short talk on a particular topic for oral English test. The topic you are given  is “ Changes in

My Life” ( the difference between the past and the present ) and you decide to talk about your childhood holidays and your

holidays today.

Suggested expressions:

1.       We didn’t have TV (fridge, washing machine, telephone, natural gas, air conditioner)a t that time.

2.       Festivals were exciting (colorful, joyful, wonderful, magical) for children particularly.

3.       Festivals brought me happiness (new clothes, shoes, delicious food, holidays gifts, good rest).

4.       But now we are longer excited over (interested in, attracted by ) new clothes and shoes.

5.       I really miss my childhood festivals ( my mother-cooked food, my childhood friends, my childhood happiness, my lost time).

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  （２）

　　In my hometown, Spring festival is still a big event. People start preparing for the festival a month before. They prepare delicious food, clean and decorate their houses. On the eve of the festival, the whole family get together for a big dinner. People stay up to eat dumpling at midnight for good luck and health. On Spring festival, there is no sweeping because people think it will sweep away good luck. We have many other local customs. If you are interested in them, come to my hometown!

在我的家乡，春节仍是件大事。人们提前一个月就开始为春节做准备了，做美味的食品，打扫和装饰房间。在除夕夜，全家人要团聚一起吃一顿团圆饭。人们守岁到午夜，吃饺子，据说这能够带来好运与健康。在春节这一天，人们不扫地，担心会把好运气扫走。在我的家乡还有很多地方性的风俗，如果您对这些风俗感兴趣，您　就来我的家乡看看吧！

Exercise   

You are talking with a foreign friend. He/She is interested in Spring Festival. You are going to tell him/ her the local customs

for Spring festival in your hometown ( Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian and so on ).

Suggested expressions 

1.       Spring festival is still a big (the most important, exciting, colorful ) event.

2.       People eat dumpling for good luck (fish for wealth, sweet rice dumpling for happiness ).

3.       We have many local customs in Beijing ( Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin ).