My hometown lies on the Plain of North China. The famous Grand Canal of China is to the east of our village. This is the place where my forefathers have lived for generations. When I was a boy I often played with other children near the bank of the canal. I watched the passing boats, and I wished to travel all over the world.

我的家乡位于华北平原。中国著名的京杭大运河是我们村庄的东边。这是我的祖先们世世代代居住的地方。当我还是个小孩时,我经常和别的孩子在运河的岸边上玩耍。我看着过往的船只,我想环游世界。

There are about 800 people in our village. A pond, teeming with fish, lies in front of the village. I used to swim there in summer and skate in winter. It was in this pond that I spent the happiest days of my childhood.

我们村子大约有800人。村子前面的一个池塘里充满着鱼。夏天的时候，我过去常常在那里游泳在，冬天的时候就滑冰。我童年最快乐的日子就是在这个池塘里。

To the north of our village are great fields. When spring comes, the crops begin to grow, turning the fields green. When crops turn yellow in autumn, the peasants start to harvest them.

我们村以北是伟大的田野。当春天来时，庄稼开始生长，把整个田野变成绿色。当庄稼在秋天变黄时，农民就开始收获了。

Between the canal and our village is an orchard. There were only a few kinds of fruit trees years ago, but now the peasants grow many sorts, including peach, plum, apple and orange.

我们村和运河之间是一个果园。几年前只有几种果树，但现在农民种植了很多品种，有桃、李、苹果和橙。

The majority of the villagers have become much better off. About a quarter of the households have bought television sets and tape recorders. A reading-room and a library have been built. Every evening many young people go to the evening school to learn science and read newspapers.

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大部分的村民生活已经变好了。大约四分之一的家庭买了电视机和录音机。一个阅览室和一个图书馆已经建成。每天晚上很多年轻人去夜校学习科学知识和阅读报纸。

Two roads cross in front of our village. On summer evenings, people sit under the trees enjoying the cool breeze. The houses in our village are well laid out.

在我们村前有条十字路。夏夜,人们坐在树下享受凉爽的微风。这是我们村子里制定好了的约定。

By the end of last year, 35 students in our village had graduated from senior middle school, and 12 students were enrolled at colleges.

到去年年底,我们村里已有35名学生高中毕业，有12名被大学录取了。

This is my hometown. I hope you will make a visit here one day.

这就是我的家乡。我希望有一天你能来这里参观。