「绿宝书」英语四级汉译英小短文：冬至

早在2500多年前，大概在春秋时代，中国就已经用土圭观测太阳的活动，测定出了冬至，它是二十四节气中最早制订出的一个。这一天是北半球全年中白天最短、夜晚最长的一天。冬至后，白天会变得越来越长。在中国北方的一些地区，人们在这一天喝饺子汤，而其他一些地方的居民吃饺子，这样做将让他们在即将到来的冬天不受冻。但在中国的南方部分地区，一家人在一起吃红豆和糯米煮的饭来驱赶鬼魂和其他邪恶的东西。

As early as 2,500 years ago, about the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), China had determined the point of Winter Solstice by observing movements of the sun with a sundial. It is the earliest instituted in the 24 seasonal division points. The Northern hemisphere on this day experiences the shortest daytime and longest nighttime. After the Winter Solstice, days will become longer and longer. In some parts of Northern China, people drink dumpling soup on this day; while residents of some other places eat dumplings, saying doing so will keep them from frost in the upcoming winter. But in some parts of South China, the whole family will get together to have a meal made of red-bean and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and other evil things.