【推荐1】This is a song millions of Americans will hear this New Year's Eve. It is called Auld Lang Syne (《友谊地久天长》). It is the traditional music played during the New Year's celebration. Auld Lang Syne is an old Scottish poem. It tells about the need to remember old friends.

The words “auld lang syne” mean “old long since”. No one knows who wrote the poem first. However, a version (版本) by Scottish poet Robert Bums was published (出版) in 1796. The words and music we know today first appeared in a songbook three years later.

The song is played in the United States mainly on New Year's Eve. The version ( 译 文 ) you are hearing today is by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. As we end our program with Auld Lang Syne. I would like to wish all our radio friends a very Happy New Year!

【推荐2】Dan Wilson is good at vocals (声乐) and guitar. John Munson is good at bass guitar and keyboard. In 1993, Dan Wilson and John Munson chose to leave their band. The name of their band was Trip Shakespeare. Then they together joined Jacob Slichter to form Semisonic. Some people didn’t understand why they did so. Some people supported their decision.

Five years later, the band was enjoying huge success. They succeeded not only in USA but all over the world with their singles (单曲). Their first single was closing time. Soon the single was popular all over the world. Another single secret smile from their second CD Feeling Strangely Fine also became popular. Great things were expected from their next album Chemistry (from which I wish is taken). But although the critics (评论家) weren’t disappointed, the record didn’t sell as well as expected. And soon after, the band decided to split up (解散). It is said that Semisonic will get back together. But now there is no result.   

【推荐3】Mr. Smith loved music very much when he was still a child. But he could never learn it because his family was very poor (贫穷的) at that time. Now he has a seven-year-old son, Tom. Mr. Smith hopes Tom can be a musician someday.

Tom is studying music in a school now.

Today, Mr. Smith goes to see Tom and ask him about his subjects. Tom says he does well in them. Mr. Smith is very happy to hear this, so he buys two tickets to a concert and takes Tom to the concert. The music is beautiful and Mr. Smith really likes it. But he finds his son is absent-minded—the boy doesn’t listen to the music at all because he always look outside.

Mr. Smith asks his son, “Do you know the music?”

“Yeah!” Tom says.

“What is the musician playing then?” Mr. Smith asks again.

Tom doesn’t know how to answer it. He thinks hard and then says, “...the piano.”

【推荐1】

Fire has played an important role in human life since the dawn (黎明) of history. It allows us to produce light and heat, to cook food, etc. The discovery of fire, or, more precisely(准确地), the use of fire, was one of mankind’s first great innovations (新发明，改革).

Long long ago, people make fires from lightning (闪电). But they had to keep the fire burning, for they couldn’t start it again if there was no lightning. Later, they found out hitting two pieces of stones together could make a spark (火花). The spark could fire dry leaves. In this way they could make the fire again if it went out. Then people also learned to make a fire by rubbing (摩擦). They made a hole on a piece of wood and put a smaller stick into the hole. They turned the stick again and again. After a few minutes they got a fire.

As years went by, people learned other ways to make a fire. Sometimes they used the heat from the sun. They held a piece of glass in the right way and made a piece of paper on fire.

About two centuries ago, people began to make matches (火柴). Matches brought people a quick and easy way to make fires. Today matches are still being used, but people have more new ways to make fires. One of them is to use an electric fire starter. Of course an electric fire starter is much expensive than a box of matches. But it is very useful.

【推荐1】

The art of Chinese paper cutting, or jianzhi, has a history of thousands of years. The art form is said to date back to the Han Dynasty. During that time paper was very expensive. During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese people started using paper for artistic expression. Paper cutting became popular.

Common themes of paper cutting include animals, plants and traditional Chinese characters like fu shou and xi. They are often seen during Chinese New Year. In the past, paper cutting was usually as decorations for festivals. It was put up on windows and doors for good luck. Chinese paper cutting has become not only a traditional art form but a symbol of Chinese culture. In recent years, it is not only tor decorative purposes, but also in fashion, design, advertising and more areas.

Chinese paper cutting is a fragile (脆弱的) art form. On the one hand, the beautifully shaped designs can easily be broken. On the other hand, the traditional skills used to create them are at risk of being lost. Luckily, some people are trying to keep this tradition alive. They want to make sure that it will be passed down to many more generations.

【推荐2】There is a traditional toy called taiping nijiaojiao. It is a clay (陶土) toy and also a whistle (哨子) in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. It has a history of over 1,000 years.

Taiping nijiaojiao is made of the mud from the local mountain. It takes more than ten steps to make the clay toy, and the key step is to knead (捏) it with your hands. You can knead the clay toy into anything, like animals and plants. The blowhole (通风孔) is the most difficult part to make, for the sound depends on the size of the blowhole.

While coloring, you can use traditional cultural elements (元素) that carry good meanings. It’s hard to make taiping nijiaojiao. But when you finally make it, you will feel good about yourself.

Zhou Baokang, a lover of folk art, learned how to make the clay toy from local artists about 20 years ago. He wants more people to know about it, so he has opened a museum to introduce the clay toy. He teaches kids how to make the clay toy, too.

There are many traditional art forms in China, but some of them have been lost. Luckily, the traditional clay toy taiping nijiaojiao is kept to this day.

There is a traditional toy called taiping nijiaojiao. It is a clay toy and also a whistle(哨子) in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. It has a history of over 1,000 years.

Taiping nijiaojiao is made of the mud from the local mountain. It takes more than ten steps to make the clay toy, and the key step is to knead (捏) it with your hands. You can knead the clay toy into anything, like animals and plants. The blowhole is the most difficult part to make, for the size of the blowhole makes a difference to the sound. While coloring, you can use traditional cultural elements(元素) that carry good meanings. It’s hard to make taiping nijiaojiao. But when you finally make it, you will feel proud of yourself.

Zhou Baokang, a lover of folk art, learned how to make the clay toy from local artists about 20 years ago. He wants more people to know about it, so he has opened a museum to introduce the clay toy. He teaches kids how to make the clay toy, too.

There are many traditional art forms in China, but some of them have been lost. Luckily, the traditional clay toy taiping nijiaojiao is kept to this day.