Unit Two: Western Holidays

Festive adj. 欢乐的

e.g. Christmas is the most festive time in the United States.

Festival n. 节日

e.g. Spring Festival

Christian adj. 基督教的

n. 基督教徒

Christianity n, 基督教

New words

joy n. 欢乐，愉快，喜悦

e.g. the sheer joy of seeing you after all these years

令人愉快的人或事物

Joyful adj. 充满欢乐的，显示快乐的，令人高兴的

e.g. on this joyful occasion

Laughter n. 笑声

Laugh v. ① 笑

e.g. He is so funny, he always makes me laugh.

② 感到好笑

e.g. a man who laughs in the face of danger

New words

Hospitable adj. 好客的，乐于接待客人的

e.g. She is always hospitable to visitors from abroad.

Hospitality n.

Decorate v. (decorate sth with sth) 装饰某物

e.g. Bright posters decorate the street.

Decoration n.

Decorator n.

Decorative adj.

New words

Associate v. ① (associate sb/sth with sb/sth) 将…联系起来

e.g. You would not associate these two writers – their styles are

completely different.

② (associate with sb) 与某人来往或打交道

e.g. I don’t like you associating with such people.

Association n. 联合，联系，联盟，合伙

e.g. These is a close association between these two schools.

New words

Gift n. ① 礼物，赠品

e.g. a birthday gift

② 天赋，才能

e.g. I have always been able to learn languages easily, it’s a gift.

Ornament n. ① 装饰，点缀

e.g. the palace was rich in ornament.

② 装饰品，点缀品

e.g. a shelf crowded with ornaments

New words

Observe v. ① 看到，注意到

e.g. He observes keenly, but says little. ( 他观察敏锐，但是很少说话 )

② 遵守，奉行（规则，法令 等）

e.g. observe the speed limit

Symbol n. ① 象征，标志

e.g. The cross is the symbol of Christianity.

② 符号，记号

e.g. On maps, a cross is the symbol for a church.

New words

Represent v. 代表，象征

e.g. Phonetic symbols represent sounds.

Representation n. 代表，代理

Representative adj. 有代表性的，典型的

n. 代表，代理者

Religion n. 宗教，宗教信仰

Religious adj. 宗教的，宗教上的

e.g. religious worship, belief, faith, etc.

New words

Originate v. 起源于，发端于

e.g. The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.

Origin n. 起点，开端，来源

e.g. the origins of life on earth

Original adj. ① 原始的，最初的，原先的

e.g. The Indians were the original inhabitants of North America.

② 新颖的，创新的

e.g. His designs are highly original.

New words

Infant n. 婴儿，幼儿

Infancy n. 婴儿期，幼儿期

e.g. infant mortality rate 幼儿死亡率

Celebrate v. 庆祝，祝贺

e.g. celebrate somebody’s birthday, a wedding anniversary

Celebration n.

New words

Delicious Christmas Food

Fir n. 杉木，枞树

Raisin n. 葡萄干

Walnut n. 胡桃，核桃

Turkey n. 火鸡

Ham n. 火腿

Pudding n. 布丁

New words

Be full of (= be filled with)

e.g. The festival is full of joy and gaiety.

Take advantage of

=Make (good) use of

=Make the most of

e.g. They took full advantage of the hotel’s facilities.

New expressions

As for = with regard to

e.g. As the hotel, it is very uncomfortable and far

from the sea.

Pass down v. 将某物从一代传给下一代

e.g. knowledge which has been passed down for

centuries

New expressions

In contact with = keep in touch with

e.g. We have been in contact with each other.

Look forward to (doing) 盼望，期待

e.g. I have been looking forward meeting you.

New expressions

Christmas Day, which is the most festive time in the United States, falls on December 25th on which Christian people believe Jesus Christ was born. This is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the United States, which is full of joy and gaiety, love and laughter, hospitality and good will.

Christmas

Americans begin to prepare Christmas long before the actual day. Small families and large business firms prepare the holiday differently. Stores are decorated with the traditional Christmas colors of green and red. Goods associated with Christmas become best sellers at this time.

Many Americans take advantage of the time to earn extra money by selling Christmas cards, small gifts and ornaments, etc. The decorating of homes for Christmas is also very common. Most Americans who observe Christmas have a Christmas tree in their homes. People like evergreens and they think that branches of fir will bring good luck and symbolize spring.

The Christmas tree is usually covered with strings of colored lights, and a star on top representing the star in the East which guided the three Wise Men to where Jesus was born. Christmas food is special: bright colored hard sweets, chocolates, clusters of chocolate-covered raisins, walnuts, etc.

As for the Christmas dinner, Americans traditionally have turkey or ham, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and Christmas pudding. Although Christmas is religious in origin, many of the customs and celebrations are no longer religious. Among them, the most popular ones are as follows:

Exchange Gifts

This custom originated from the ancient religion of believing that the first

Christmas gifts were given by the three Wise Men to the

infant Jesus Christ. It has been passed down and become very

popular among friends and families in the United States.

Sending Christmas Cards.

This custom first started in London in the 19th century. Today, most Americans send

greeting cards to their friends and families at Christmas

time. Some people who are friends and relatives and live

great distances from each other may not be much in

contact with each other during the year –but will actually

exchange greeting cards and often a Christmas letter.

Receiving Gifts from Santa Claus.

Santa Claus is believed by American children to be a fat jolly old man with a red suit,

red hat and a long white beard. On Christmas Eve Santa Claus comes down

through the chimney to bring them gifts. So young children are happiest at this time of

year and look forward eagerly to Christmas morning when

they find the gifts they want.

Passage B: April Fool

File n. 档案 , 公文箱 , 锉刀

e.g. Put this letter in the main file.  把这封信放在主要文件夹中。

v. 列队行进 , 归档 , 申请

e.g. The pupils filed out of the room during the fire drill.  在消防演

习中，学生们排成纵队走出房间。

Dustin n. 垃圾箱

e.g. Please put all your sweet wrappers in the dustbin.  请把你

们的糖纸都放进垃圾箱里去。

e.g. The dustbin is chock-full (of rubbish).  垃圾箱塞满了（垃圾） .

New words

Shout n. 呼喊 , 突发的大笑

e.g. The children on the sand were shouting with excitement.  沙滩

上的孩子们兴奋得大喊大叫。

v. 呼喊 , 高声谈笑 , 玩乐

e.g. I shouted (out) my name to the teacher.  我向老师大声说出我的

名字 .Stain n. 污染 , 污点 , 著色

e.g. I can‘t get these coffee stains out of the carpet.  我弄不掉

地毯上的咖啡污迹。

v. 沾染 , 染污 , 著色

e.g. The little boy stained his fingers with ink.  小男孩的手指让

墨水给染脏了。

New words

Envelope n. 信封

e.g. He addressed the envelope before mailing the letter.  寄信前，

他在信封上写上地址。

e.g. The envelope was firmly sealed.  这个信封封得很严实。

Silent adj. 安静的 , 不吵闹的 ,沉默的 ,无言的

e.g. If you are arrested you have the right to remain silent.  如

果你被捕，你有权保持沉默。

e.g. The old house was quite silent.  这所旧房子非常寂静。

New words

Except prep. 除了 ...之外 ,若不是 ,除非

e.g. I can answer all the questions except for the last.  所有的题我

都会答 , 只是最後一题不会 .

e.g. The meal was excellent except for (ie with the exception of)

the first course.  这顿饭好极了 , 只是第一道菜稍差 .

Lawn n. 草地 ,草坪

e.g. Let's have tea on the lawn.  我们到草坪上去喝茶吧。

e.g. My mother asked me to mow the lawn.  妈妈让我去剪草坪。

New words

Praise n. 赞美 ,称赞 ,崇拜

e.g. Let us give praise to God.  让我们来赞扬上帝吧。

e.g. This doctor received high praise from everyone.  这位医生受到

所有人的高度赞扬。 v. 称赞 , 归荣誉于 ,赞美

e.g. The teacher praised her for her courage.  老师赞扬了她的勇气。

e.g. He was obviously expecting to be praised.  他显然想要得到表

扬 .

New words

None adv. 一点也不

prep. 没人 ,毫无

pron. 没有人 ,没有任何东西

e.g. None of the money is mine.  这些钱中没有一文是我的。

e.g. My car is none the worse for the accident.  我的汽车遇到事故，

但毫无损坏。

e.g. The choir sang sweetly, and none more so than the Welsh

boy.  唱诗班唱得很悦耳，尤其是没人比得上那个威尔士男孩儿。

e.g. I wanted some string but there was none in the house.  我需要

一些绳子，但家里一根也没有。

New words

Molehill n. 鼹鼠丘 ,琐事

e.g. Never make a mountain of a molehill.  【谚】切勿小题大做。

Swear v. 发誓 ,宣誓 ,咒骂 (动词过去式 :swore 过去分词 :sworn)

e.g. They swore an oath to carry out their duties faithfully.  他 们发誓要忠实履行自己的职责。e.g. She bumped her head in the doorway and swore

loudly.  她的头撞到门框上 , 大骂了一声 .

New words

be off to:   去

e.g. They were off to visit a friend of theirs.  他们

动身去拜访他们的朋友。

take off: v. 起飞 ,脱掉

e.g. The plane took off despite the fog.  尽管有雾，

飞机仍照常起飞。

e.g. The officer leading the inquiry has been taken

off the case.  主持调查该事的官员已被调离 .

New expressions

pick up:捡起 ,拾起

e.g. He picked up the child and put her on his

shoulders.  他抱起孩子让她骑在自己的肩膀上。

e.g. She picked up a valuable first edition at a

village book sale.  她在乡村图书展销会上买到一

本珍贵的首版书。

Be proud of (=take pride in)

e.g. He is proud of his achievements.

New expressions

pay back: 偿付

e.g. Pay back the5,000 Yuan I loan you by

today.  我借给你的 5 ， 000元，今天还我吧。

e.g. He will pay back the money in monthly

installment.  他将用每月分期付款方式将钱付还。

go red with anger:  气得 ( 满脸 )通红

e.g. Father went red with anger as Jim did not pass

the exam.

New expressions

“Where is my blue file?” “Blue file?” said Elizabeth’s father. “Was that your blue file? Sorry, Elizabeth, I threw it away.” Elizabeth’s face fell. “But, it had all my French notes in it! I’ve got a French examination tomorrow.”“Maybe it’s still in the dustbin.” Elizabeth went and looked in the dustbin. Nothing.When she went back into the kitchen, the blue file was on the table. “April fool!” shouted her father, laughing.

William, Elizabeth’s brother, looked up. He didn’t think it was very funny. “Well”, said Father, “I must be off to work. Have a nice day, children. Oh, William, take off that shirt. It’s got a stain on it.” William looked down. There was no stain on it.“April Fool!” shouted Father.

Several weeks later, the family were having breakfast when the post arrived. “One for you, Elizabeth” Father said. “From the London Examinations Board. Hmm, must be important.”Elizabeth picked up the envelope and rushed upstairs with it. “What’s the matter with her?” asked Father. “I think they are her examination results,” her mother said.

Elizabeth came down a few minutes later and sat silently at the table. “Well?” said her mother. Elizabeth looked at her father, “I’ve passed in every subject, except French,” she said.“Well done, Elizabeth!” said her mother. Elizabeth waited for a word of praise from her father, but none came. April the first came round again. This time, William and Elizabeth were ready to pay their father back for the tricks he had played on them. He loved his garden, and he was very proud of his lawn.

So, early on April the first, before their parents were up, William and Elizabeth went into the garden and put several small piles of earth on the lawn. From a distance, the piles of earth looked like molehills. Later, when everyone was seated at the breakfast table, William looked out of the window and asked: “What’s that on the lawn?”

Father saw the “molehills” and went red with anger. Moles had dug up his lawn! He began to swear.“April Fool, Dad!” shouted the children, laughing. Their father turned to them angrily. “Stupid children! Go and clean up the mess.”“It was only a joke, Dad,” began William. “We…”“Get out and clear up that mess! Every bit!”

Some weeks later, an official-looking envelope dropped through the letterbox. Elizabeth opened it. “Mummy! I’ve passed my French!” “Oh, that’s wonderful, Elizabeth! Your father will be pleased.” Elizabeth looked away. “Mummy, don’t tell him. I don’t want him to know that I passed my French. Never.”

Thank you ！