中学生の基礎英語　レベル２ Lesson 175 Wrap-up Friday

Angie: What is it, Mum?

Michelle: Here, these are for you!

Kota: Red envelopes?

Michelle: Happy New Year!

Angie: Oh, yes! Today is Chinese New Year, Kota! This year it’s at the end of January.

Kota: Oh, Happy New Year!

Angie: Thanks, Mum!

Kota: And what are these envelopes?

Michelle: On Chinese New Year, we give kids red envelopes. They contain some money. It’s a Chinese custom.

Kota: Thank you! We have a similar tradition in Japan.

Angie: Mum is a woman who is very proud of her Chinese background.

Michelle: Of course I am!

Michelle: Yes. My family and I immigrated to Australia when I was five.

Max: There are many immigrant communities in Sydney.

Angie: Sydney is a city which is known for its diversity.

Michelle: And the Chinese community is especially large.

Kota: At my school here, there are students with lots of different backgrounds. I’m interested in learning about different cultures.

Max: Well, today is the start of Chinese New Year. Why don’t we go to Sydney’s Chinatown? You can see the celebrations there!

Kota: Great!

Angie: It’s the biggest Chinatown in Australia.

Kota: Wow, it’s so festive!

Angie: The Chinese New Year celebrations here last for two weeks.

Kota: There are so many Chinese lanterns everywhere! And I see Chinese-style gates. Oh, and the street signs are written in English and Chinese.

Angie: There are lots of delicious Chinese restaurants here. But there are also restaurants from many different Asian countries. For example, Vietnam, Thailand, and, of course, Japan.

Michelle: Are you guys hungry? I know the perfect place! It’s a Chinese restaurant which my aunt runs. The noodles are delicious, for instance.

Kota: I know why! In China, it’s the Year of the Rabbit. It’s the same in Japan.

Max: Oh, that’s interesting.

Kota: There are a lot of street performances. Oh! I can hear some lively music.
Angie: A performance that we all enjoy is starting now.

Kota: What’s that?

Angie: It’s the lion dance!

Kota: Wow, people are dressed in Chinese lion costumes. They look similar to the Japanese shishimai. But these costumes have much more vivid colors!

Michelle: The lion dance brings good luck in the new year.

Kota: That’s nice!

The man who is cooking in the kitchen is Max.

The woman who loves Chinese food is Michelle.

The girl who is listening to music is Briony.

The boy who is surfing is Kota.

The girl who is fashionable is Sapna.

The boy who is singing is Nigel.

The man who is working at the shop is Harry.