英美文化阅读
英 美 文 化 阅读译文
1.英美文化之 American Family 美国家庭「请将火鸡与配料递给我。
」这个简单的请求令你想起什么？如果你是美国人，你会想到感恩节。
对美国人而言，火鸡大餐象征感恩节。
感恩节提醒了美国人哪些事情呢？--他们的家人。
感恩节是家人聚集的时间，在这个节日，家人聚在一起对着火鸡以及鸡腹中的调味材料大快朵颐；家人享受一起看游行、看足球比赛的电视转播以及同聚的时光。
到底家庭对于美国人的意义是什么？传统的美国家庭被称为「核心家庭」。
核心家庭包含了先生、太太和小孩子，今日美国的一般家庭有二个或三个小孩（或者再加上几只宠物）。
在一些文化里，大家庭住在一起，甚至好几代的人同住。
在美国，只有极少的情况下才会有超过一个家庭同住一个屋檐下。
美国人看重对家人回家时热诚的欢迎。
许多家庭用民主政治般的方式来治理，家中每个人都有发言权利，公平观念广泛存在于美国的家庭当中；除了敬畏之情外，孩子们也将父母亲当成好朋友，夫妇经常彼此共同分担家务；许多家庭的孩子在自己的卧室内享有隐私权；孩子们在很小的时候便有理财的责任，他们可能每个礼拜会有零用钱或是出去打工；父母亲常会给孩子们自己做决定的自由，学龄前的孩子可以自己选择穿什衣服或买什么玩具，青年人则可自由选择职业及结婚的对象。
正如许多其它文化一样，美国的家庭也面对许多问题。
社会的压力正将愈来愈多的美国家庭解体。
现在，超过半数以上的婚姻在美国是以离婚做结束；每四个小孩中就有超过一位是由单亲养育长大的，它的结果是造成了许多人相信美国家庭有麻烦了。
即使如此，还是有盼望。
许多机构正努力巩固家庭。
几乎所有的美国人都相信家庭是生命中最重要的一部份。
大多数人也认为传统双亲式的家庭对小孩子是最好的。
他们明白近来家庭生活的问题，已带来了许多严重的结果。
所以，愈来愈多的人将家庭视为第一优先。
许多妇女辞去工作在家陪孩子。
全家人一起渡假或出去玩，丈夫与妻子一起集中心力使婚姻稳固。
联合国已宣布一九九四年为国际家庭年。
英美文化阅读
英美文化阅读
英美文化是西方文化中的两个重要分支，具有悠久的历史和深厚的文化底蕴。
以下是一些英美文化的阅读推荐：
1. 《傲慢与偏见》（英国小说）——简·奥斯汀
这是英国文学史上最具代表性的小说之一，描述了英国乡村的社交生活和贵族阶层的生活方式。
它以幽默和机智的方式讽刺了当时的社会和文化。
这本小说可以帮助读者了解十九世纪英国文化和社会秩序。
2. 《了不起的盖茨比》（美国小说）——F·斯科特·菲茨杰拉德
这是一部描写美国“狂热年代”的小说，通过讲述富有的社交名流盖茨比的故事，展现了当时的社会和文化观念。
读者可以从中了解美国现代文化的一些特点。
3. 《鲁滨逊漂流记》（英国小说）——丹尼尔·笛福
这是一本经典的冒险小说，讲述了一个男子在荒岛上生存和冒险的故事。
这本书不仅展现了英国种族和殖民时期的历史和文化，还提供了关于人类生存和适应的思考。
4. 《卡拉马佐夫兄弟》（俄国小说）——陀思妥耶夫斯基
尽管这本小说并不是英美文化，但它在英语世界中有着广泛的
影响力。
这是一部充满哲学、宗教和道德思考的小说，它展示了人类的弱点和恶劣行为，同时也提出了许多伦理和道德问题。
它可以帮助读者了解东欧的文化和传统。
以上是一些经典的英美文化阅读推荐，通过阅读，可以更好地了解西方文化和思维方式。
英美文化阅读理解专项：素材积累
24. Friday and the Thirteenth 星期五和13Friday-the Thirteenth has long been considered extremely unlucky because it has some bad associationswhich came from mythology tale of the Bible, and the customs andhabits. According to the Bible, the Lord God created the first man,Adam. Then he took a rib from Adam's body and out of it created thefirst woman, Eve. It was said that Adam was created on a Friday and itwas on Friday that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and on a Friday they died.Friday was also the common day in England for executing criminals , for which it was sometimes known as Hanging Day.From the old Norse myth people got the idea that 13 people sitting at a tableto have a dinner was unlucky. And this superstition was confirmed by the lastsupper of Christ and his disciples. Bible tells us that Christ sat down with his 12disciples, which made up the number 13, at the last supper when Judas, one ofthe 12 disciples , sold his master for thirty pieces of silver. Christ was killed by nailing on the cross the following day on a Friday. (193 words)◆Helper:association联系mythology[mi'θɔlədʒi]神话Bible['baibl]圣经Adam ['ædəm]亚当rib肋骨Eve [i:v]夏娃forbidden fruit禁果execute ['eksikju:t]处死Hanging Day绞刑日Norse myth[miθ]挪威神话superstition [sju:pə'stiʃən] 迷信disciple [di'saipl]门徒◆ Exercises:从所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：英国人性格特点+英国新年前夜+圣帕特里克节
8.The character of English people英国人的性格特征养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
The English have the reputation of being very different from all other nationalities. It is claimed that livingon an island separated from the rest of Europe has much to do with it. Whateverthe reasons, it may be fairly stated that the Englishman has developed someattitudes and habits distinguishing him from other nationalities.Broadly speaking, the Englishman is a quiet, shy, reserved person amongpeople he knows well. Before strangers he often seems inhibited, evenembarrassed. You have only to witness a railway compartment any morningor evening to see the truth. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or dozing in a corner; no one speaks. An English wit once suggested to overseas visitors, "On entering a railway compartment shake hands with all the passengers.”Needless to say, he was not being serious. There is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior, which, if broken, makes the person immediately the object of suspicion.It is well known that the English seldom show openly extremes of enthusiasm, emotion etc. Of course, an Englishman feels no less than any other nationality. Imagine a mancommenting on the great beauty of a young girl, A man of moreemotional temperament might describe her as “a marvelous jewel",while the Englishman will flatly state “Um, she's all right". AnEnglishman may recommend a highly successful and enjoyable film tofriends by commenting, "It's not bad." The overseas visitors must not bedisappointed by this apparent lack of interest; he must realize that “allright", "not bad" are very often used with the sense of "first class", "excellent". This special use of language is particularly common in English. (277 words)◆Helper:reputation声誉claim声称，断言state说, 陈述distinguishing有区别的embarrassed 不安的doze 打盹wit风趣的人suspicion[səs'piʃən]猜疑, 怀疑temperament ['tempərəmənt] 性格flatly 平淡地◆Brief Introduction:英国处在一个与欧洲大陆相隔离的群岛上。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读专练：专题 28 英美文化阅读理解专项：骑马运动+苏格兰高原运动(名师原创)
Horse Sports 骑马运动养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
Here in the UK the sport of horse racing is often referred to as the “sport of kings”. However, after Zara Phillips stunning victory in the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, perhaps equestrian events shouldbe called the “sport of princesses.”Th at’s because the new three-day event worldchampion, Zara Phillips, is Queen Elizabeth’s niece and11th in line to the throne.With her horse, Toytown, she won the three-dayevent competition in Germany, adding the world title tothe European crown she won last year.The three-day event tests competitors’ horsemanship in three different disciplines: dressage, in which the rider must manoeuvre the horse through a sequence of movements in an enclosed arena; cross-country which is a timed race over obstacles such as fences, ponds and ditches; and finally show-jumping which tests the technical jumping skills of horse and rider.Zara is following in the footsteps of her mother, Princess Anne, and father, Captain Mark Phillips, both of whom represented Great Britain in equestrian events. However, neither of her parents managed to achieve world champion status.Naturally, she was delighted to win the title, telling the BBC, “It’s incredible; it’s beyond my wildest dreams.” However, the joy of victory was lowered with sadness as she presented her victory to her friend Sherelle Duke, another equestrian rider who was killed when her horse fell, crushing her while competing a week before the World Championships.Zara has now set her sights firmly on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, especially since an injury to her horse prevented her from qualifying for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.She told us, “Obviously winning the Olympics has been a massive dream but you have to get everything right leading up to it, and have the horse power, so it's still a long way away." (300 words )◆Helper:Equestrian[i'kwestriən]骑手three-day event三日赛程champion冠军in line to the throne皇位继承人European crown欧洲桂冠horsemanship马术dressage[dresəʒ]驯马技术manoeuvre[mə'nu:və]驱使enclosed arena封闭的竞赛场地cross country越野obstacle障碍物ditches壕沟status地位incredible难以置信的crushing挤压, 压伤◆Brief Introduction:在英国赛马运动通常被称作“国王的运动”。
18-19Unit4英美文化欣赏
【导读】世界名著《呼啸山庄》是19世纪英国文学的代表作之一。
小说全篇充满强烈的反压迫、争幸福的斗争精神，又始终笼罩着离奇、紧张的浪漫气氛。
阅读下面的节选，对比中外文化中对收养弃儿态度的异同。
Wuthering Heights (excerpt)Ellen Dean's story—Catherine and Heathcliff as children1770. When I was a child，I was always at WutheringHeights，because my mother was a servant of the Earnshawfamily.They are a very old family who have lived in that house forcenturies，as you can see from their names on the stone over thefront door.I grew up with Catherine and Hindley Earnshaw，and wethree played together as children.One day，their father Mr. Earnshaw came back from a long journey.He had travelled sixty miles to Liverpool and back on business，and was very tired.“Look what I've brought you！” he told us all，unwrapping something he was holding carefully in his arms.Catherine and Hindley were expecting presents，and they rushed eagerly to see what it was.They were very disappointed to see only a dirty，blackhaired gipsy child.“I found him all alone in the busy streets of Liverpool，”Mr. Earnshaw explained to them，“and I couldn't leave him to die.He can sleep in your room.”But Hindley and Catherine were angry because they had not received any presents，and refused to let the strange child share their room.However Mr. Earnshaw insisted，and little by little the boy became accepted by the family.He was called Heathcliff，as a first and last name.No one ever discovered who his parents had been.Catherine and he became great friends，but Hindley hated him，and was often cruel to him.Old Mr. Earnshaw was strangely fond of this gipsy child，and frequently punished his son for behaving badly to Heathcliff.Hindley began to be jealous of his father's feelings for Heathcliff，and saw them both as enemies.This situation could not last.As Mr. Earnshaw grew old and ill，Heathcliff became even more his favourite，and Hindley often quarrelled with his father.WhenHindley was sent away to study，I hoped that we would have peace in the house.But then it was that old servant Joseph who caused trouble.He tried to persuade his master to be stricter with the children，and was always complaining that Heathcliff and Catherine did not spend enough time studying the Bible or attending church services.Catherine was a wild，wicked girl in thosedays.We had to watch her every moment ofthe day，to stop her playing her tricks on us.She was proud，and liked giving orders.Butshe had the prettiest face and the sweetestsmile you've ever seen.I could forgive heranything when she came to say she was sorry.She was much too fond of Heathcliff，and the worst punishment we could invent was to keep her separate from him.Her father could no longer understand her or her behaviour，and Catherine did not realize that his illness made him less patient with her.At last Mr. Earnshaw found peace.He died quietly in his chair by the fire one October evening in 1775.The night was wild and stormy，and we were all sitting together in the big kitchen.Joseph was reading his Bible at the table，while Catherine had her head on her father's knee.He was pleased to see her so gentle for once，and she was singing him to sleep.I was glad the old gentleman was sleeping so well.But when it was time to go to bed，Catherine put her arms round her father's neck to say goodnight，and immediately screamed，“Oh，he's dead，Heathcliff! He's dead！”Heathcliff and I started crying loudly and bitterly too.Joseph told me to fetch the doctor，so I ran to the village，although I knew it was too late.When I came back，I went to the children's room，to see if they needed me，and I listened for a moment at their door.They were imagining the dead man in a beautiful distant place，far from the troubles of this world.And as I listened，crying silently，I could not help wishing we were all there safe together.呼啸山庄(节选)艾伦·迪恩讲述的故事——凯瑟琳和希斯克利夫的童年1770年，我小时候一直在呼啸山庄，因为我母亲在欧肖家做佣人。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：专题 19 英美文化阅读理解专项：感恩节+ (耶稣)降临节+圣诞节
Thanksgiving Day 感恩节养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
48.Thanksgiving Day is a very important traditional holiday in America. On the fourth Thursday of each November, families and friends gather together for the occasion to celebrate with a traditional turkey dinner,usually in the mid-afternoon. Thanksgiving Day originated as a celebration of theyear's harvest and is similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.This American tradition started in 1621 before the United States of Americawas established. It was a huge celebration for a hard-earned harvest in the firstyear after the first group of immigrants arriving in the New World.On September 6,1620,the Mayflower ship set sail from Plymouth, Devon, England, taking all the English Pilgrims to the New World. The English Pilgrims numbered about a hundred people, and left England to escape religious persecution.The Pilgrims sailed sixty-six days, arrived in the New World in November of the same year. They first settled in a cornfield abandoned by Native Indians and named it Plymouth Plantation.They worked on the land with much difficulty and were beset by a devastating plague in which half of the Pilgrim died in the long winter of 1620. In the spring of 1621, an Indian brave named Squanto and her Wampanoag tribe came to their help. The tribe taught the Pilgrims how to work the earth and plant corn, beans, pumpkins, squash and other crops.In late September 1621, the Pilgrims were pleased with their great harvest. To celebrate their first harvest, the Pilgrims wanted to thank God and the Native Indian. They invited Squanto and the entire Wampanoag tribe to celebrate together in a shared feast.The first Thanksgiving dinner is said to have lasted from three days to one week. It was indeed a time of happiness, fellowship and rejoicing for the Pilgrims. They arranged a friendly treaty with the Native American Indians, built houses in the wilderness, and raised sufficient crops to feed themselves for the upcoming long winter. The Pilgrims had become the first generation of settlers in this new land holding so much promise.From then on, Thanksgiving became a holiday for celebrating the harvest in the New World, and dates varied from October to November each year over the next 150 years.The first National Thanksgiving was declared by the Continental Congress in 1777. On October 3,1789, President George Washington declared that the people of the United States should observe (celebrate) “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” on Thursday,26 November. In 1941,a Congressional Joint Resolution set the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday for Thanksgiving. (423 words)◆Helper:originate起源establish成立hard-earned辛苦劳作的immigrant移民Mayflower“五月花”号Plymouth，Devon德文郡普利茅斯Pilgrims清教徒persecution[pə:si'kju:ʃən]迫害abandon废弃Plantation种植园beset困扰devastating['devəsteitiŋ]毁灭性的plague[pleig]瘟疫Squanto斯匡托Wampanoag[wɔmpə'nəʊæg]万帕诺亚格人feast[fi:st]盛宴rejoice(使)欣喜, 喜悦vary['vɛəri] 变化Congressional Joint Resolution国会联合决议◆ Exercises:从所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：美国人的独立观+美国人眼神交流+美式友谊
Independence in America美国人的独立观养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
I had my first job at the age of thirteen, when a friend of my mother's who owned a bookshop hired me for sixhours a week to help her in the shop. I was very proud to earn my ownpocket money and my parents never interfered with how I spent it,even when I was spending it foolishly. They believed that by earningmoney, spending it, and learning from my mistakes, I would becomemore mature and responsible about how to handle work, relationshipswith others, and money.Like many American parents, my parents also let me and mybrothers do things over which they worried a great deal. When I was sixteen, for example, after I finished high school and before I entered university, I wanted to spend the summer months traveling around Europe. My mother was against the idea of my traveling alone at such a young age, but my father felt that it would be a great experience for me. In the end, myfather won the argument on the condition that I limited my traveling toFrance, my mother's home, where I had many uncles, aunts and cousinsspread out through the country who could provide shelter and help if Ineeded it.Three years later when he was eighteen, my younger brotherdecided to take a year off after his first year in university and travelthrough the United States and the Caribbean. Again my mother was very worried and not eager to see my brother leave school, but my father encouraged my brother had a fascinating year working his way on trains and ships toearn money to different ports and cities, and discovering many fascinating places and people.These kinds of experiences are probably rare for children in many countries but in the US they are fairly common. Most parents start pushing their children at a young age to do small things by themselves. By the time they have finished high school, many American kids have already had part-time jobs, traveled around the US or other countries on their own, have selected the university they plan to attend and maybe even decided on their future career, and so on. (368 words)◆Helper:pocket money零花钱interfere[intə'fiə]干涉handle['hændl]处理shelte r['ʃeltə]遮蔽处Caribbean [kæri'bi(:)ən]加勒比海fascinating ['fæsineitiŋ]迷人的rare罕见的, 珍贵的career生涯, 职业, 事业◆Brief Introduction:13岁自己去挣零花钱，16岁独自环游欧洲，这些在我们的眼中看来似乎不可思议的事情，对美国人来说却是司空见惯的。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读专练+素材积累：专题 30 英美文化阅读理解专项：美式教育观+英国学校教育
Raising Children 美式教养观养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
The job of raising children is a tough one. Childrendon't come with an instruction manual. And each child isdifferent. So parents sometimes pull their hair out infrustration, not knowing what to do. But in raisingchildren----- as in all of life---- what we do is influenced byour culture. Naturally then, American parents teach theirchildren basic American values.To Americans, the goal of parents is to help children stand on their own two feet. From infancy, each child may get his or her own room. As children grow, they gain more freedom to make their own choices. Teenagers choose their own forms of entertainment, as well as the friends to share them with. When they reach young adulthood, they choose their own careers and marriage partners. Of course, many young adults still seek their parents' advice and approval for the choices they make. But once they "leave the nest" at around 18 to 21 years old, they want to be on their own, not "tied to their mother's apron strings."The relationship between parents and children in America is very informal. American parents try to treat their children as individuals—not as extensions of themselves. They allow them to fulfill (realize) their own dreams. Americans praise and encourage their children to give them the confidence to succeed. When children become adults, their relationship with their parents becomes more like a friendship among equals. But contrary to popular belief, most adult Americans don't make their parents pay for room and board when they come to visit. Even as adults, they respect and honor their parents.Most young couples with children struggle with the issue of childcare. Mothers have traditionally stayed home with their children. In recent years, though, a growing trend is to put preschoolers in a day care center so Mom can work. Many Americans have strong feelings about which type of arrangement is best. Some argue that attending a day care center can be a positive experience for children. Others insist that mothers be the best caregivers for children. A number of women are now leaving the work force to become full-time homemakers.Disciplining children is another area that American parents have different opinions about. Many parents feelthat an old-fashioned spanking helps youngsters learn what "No!" means. Others prefer alternate forms of discipline. For example, "time outs" have become popular in recent years. Children in "time out" have to sit in a corner or by a wall. They can get up only when they are ready to act nicely. Older children and teenagers who break the rules may be grounded, or not allowed to go out with friends. Some of their privileges at home-like TV or telephone use---- may also be taken away for a while. Although discipline isn't fun for parents or children, it's a necessary part of training.Being a parent is a tall order. It takes patience, love, wisdom, courage and a good sense of humor to raise children (and not lose your sanity). Some people are just deciding not to have children at all, since they're not sure it's worth it. But raising children means training the next generation and preserving our culture. What could be worth more than that? （535words）◆Helper:manual指南frustration挫折infancy['infənsi]婴幼儿期seek寻求approval赞同apron['eiprən]围裙extension延伸fulfill履行，实现contrary相反的board膳食费用homemaker家庭主妇discipline['disiplin]训诫spank责打ground把…放在地上privilege特权sanity神智健全, 头脑清楚preserve保留◆ Exercises:从所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。
2024秋七年级英语上册英美文化英美文化阅读素材新版人教新目标版
英美文化阅读1.海外文化:圣诞节袜子的传闻It is said that there was a goodness man who went broke his domain . He lived a hard life and he had three daughters. The three daughters were being married but he didn't have money to buy dower for his daughters. On the happy Christmas Eve three girls went to bed early. They didn't know that their father was so worried. At last the Chrismas father decided to help them. He besprinkled gold through the stack and the gold fell into the socks of the man's daughters. They lived a happy life from then on... Christmas socks was origined by this.传闻有个心地和善的没落贵族，生活特别艰难。
三个女儿快要出嫁了，他为自己没有钱给她们置办嫁妆而难受。
喜庆的圣诞夜，三个姑娘早早地蜷在炕上睡觉了，剩下父亲在长吁短叹。
圣诞老人确定帮助他们。
他在他们家的烟囱里撒下了很多金子，落进姑娘们烤在火炉旁的长筒丝袜里。
从今，他们过上了华蜜而快乐的生活。
圣诞节的长筒袜就这样产生的。
2.圣诞老人的传闻Chrismas Father was the descendant of a deity called Odin. It's also said that Chrismas Father comes from San Nichola, so he is also called St.Nicholas. He was the bishop of Asia Minor city of Rafah and he was called a man of God after his death. He is an old man in red clothes and he wears a red hat. He has white mustache. He comes from the north on a blowmobile every Chrismas Day. He went into people's houses by the track and he put the presents into children's socks. So in western countries,parents put the gifts to their kids in kids' socks and put them on the head of the bed on Chrismas Eve. On the second day, the first thing after kids wake up is to find the presents from Chrismas Fathers.圣诞老人为奥丁神后裔。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：专题 18 英美文化阅读理解专项：父亲节+万圣节前夜+万圣节
45.Father's Day 父亲节养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honoredby their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the UnitedStates are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special.The origin of Father's Day is not clear. Some say that it began with achurch service in West Virginia in 1908. Others say the first Father's Dayceremony was held in Vancouver, Washington.The president of the Chicago branch of the Lions' Club, Harry Meek, is said to have celebrated the first Father's Day with his organization in 1915; and the day that they chose was the third Sunday in June, the closest date to Meek's own birthday!Regardless of when the first true Father's Day occurred, the strongest promoter of the holiday was Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Mrs. Dodd felt that she had an outstanding father. He was a veteran of the Civil War. His wife had died young, and he had raised six children without their mother.In 1909, Mrs. Dodd approached her own minister and others in Spokane about having a church service dedicated to fathers on June 5, her father's birthday. That date was too soon for her minister to prepare the service, so he spoke a few weeks later on June 19th. From then on, the state of Washington celebrated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Children made special desserts, or visited their fathers if they lived apart.States and organizations began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father's Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea, but it was not until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event to "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations." Since then, fathers had been honored and recognized by their familiesthroughout the country on the third Sunday in June.When children can't visit their fathers or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card. Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimenta l. Most greeting cards are whimsical so fathers laugh when they open them. Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child needed Dad. (396 words)◆Helper:ceremony['seriməni]典礼，仪式promoter[prə'məutə]发起人veteran['vetərən]退伍军人lobby['lɔbi]游说intimate['intimit]私人的, 秘密的obligation[ɔbli'geiʃən]义务，职责sentimental [senti'mentl]多愁善感的whimsical['(h)wimzikəl]奇形怪状的，异想天开的heartfelt['hɑ:tfelt]衷心的, 真心真意的Spokane：斯波坎，美国华盛顿的靠近爱德华州的一座城市，位于斯波坎河瀑布的边界。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：现代家庭+美国人待客之道
35. The Modern Family 现代家庭养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
Father leaves for work in the morning after breakfast. The two children take the bus to school, and mother stays home cooking and cleaning until father and the kids return home in the evening. This is the traditional pictureof a happy family living in Britain. But is it true today?The answer is no! The past 20 years have seen greatchanges in the lives and structure of families in Britain.The biggest change has been caused by divorce. Asmany as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce, leading toa situation where many children live with one parent andonly see the other at weekends or holidays.There has also been a huge rise in the number of women with children who work. They need to work to support themselves and their children. Even where there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities(儿童保育机构), though it is very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas.In addition, women are no longer happy to stay at home raising children, and many have careers earning as much or even more than men, the traditional breadwinner.There has also been a sharp increase in the number of single mothers, particularly among teenagers. Some people have blame d this increase for the rise in crime. They feel the lack of a male role model has damaged these children in society.However, these changes have not had a totally negative effect. For women, it is now much easier to have a career and good salary. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it has become normal and is no longer seen as a bad thing for the children.As for children themselves, some argue that modern children grow up more independent and mature than in the past. From an early age they have to go to childminders or nurseries, and so are used to dealing with strangers and mixing with other children. (339 words)◆Helper:divorce离婚childcare facilities 儿童福利机构,设施breadwinner养家糊口的人sharp急剧的；明显的blame谴责；归咎male role model 男性角色模范mature成熟的nursery['nə:səri]托儿所◆Brief Introduction:爸爸早饭后外出工作，孩子们乘车上学，妈妈在家做家务。
英美文化阅读理解专项：美国英语和英国英语- 高考英语常考英美文化阅读专练
51. International Language---EnglishEnglish is the native or official language of one-fifth of the world. It isspoken in North America, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. In SouthAfrica and India it is one of the official languages.More people study English than any other language. In many countries, thetextbooks in universities are in English. Many university classes are taught inEnglish even though the native language is not English.English is the language of international communication. It is the language of international business, research, and science. More than three-fourths of the world's mail is written in English. More than half of the scientific research articles are in English. Most other languages have borrowed many English words.Why did English become the international language? In the middle of the 19th century, French was the international language. Then Britain became very powerful in the world. England started colonies in North America and India in the 17th century. By 1900 England also had colonies in other parts of Asia, Africa and the South Pacific. The people in the colonies had to use English. Slowly it became more important than French internationally. After the Second World War, the United States became very powerful, and even more people began to learn English.Is English a good international language? It has more words than any other language. The grammar is simpler than in the other major languages. However, English spelling is difficult. Foreigners all have trouble spelling English. So do native speakers.Since 1880, people have invented over fifty artificial (not natural) languages. No one speaks them as a native language. However, none of them has ever become popular. Some people don't want to study English, but it is the international language. (292 words)Exercise:◆Helper:South Pacific南太平洋artificial [ɑ:ti'fiʃəl]人造的, 人为的colony殖民地◆Brief Introduction:英语是世界上五分之一人口的母语或者官方语言，学英语的人比学任何其它语言的人都多，在许多国家大学的教材是英文版的，甚至英语不是母语的国家的许多大学用英语授课。
英美文化小故事(reading)
Passage 1 Christmas DayTom is an American boy. He likes Christmas very much. It often snows on this day. The earth, trees and houses are all wearing beautiful clothes. People will put a beautiful Christmas tree in front of the house or in the room and the tree is full of candies.On Christmas Day, Tom can get some gifts from Father Christmas. Father Christmas is an old man. He has a red hat and a red coat; he has white hair, two large eyes and a red nose. He is really kind to children. At night, he will put his gifts on the children’s bed.At daytime, Father Christmas walks in the white field after his deer. He will send his gifts to every child. However, only good children can get his gifts. If the children often tell lies, if they don’t study hard, or if they don’t listen to their parents, they can’t get his gifts.Passage 2 April Fools’ DayApril Fools’ Day came about in France in 1582. In the 16th century France, the start of the New Year was observed on April 1st. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing to music into the late hours of the night. Then in 1582, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world and the New Year fell on January 1st. There are some people, however, who hadn’t heard the news or didn’t believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1st. Others played tricks on them and called them “April Fools”. They sent them on a “fools errand” or tried to make them believe that something false was true. Gradually, this festival comes to other countries, as well as to China in the twentieth century. On that day, people will play all kinds of tricks, even the president may lie to you too. You must be careful, don’t believe it if someone gives you a ticket for a movie, even a small letter may be a trick. They are lying not for chocolate but for fun.Passage 3 International chessIn China, people are more likely to play Chinese chess, but for western people, they are good at chess. Chess has thirty-two chessmen, two different colors, usually white and black, before the game starts, two players put their sixteen chessmen at the first two rows in order. The game starts, two players move their chessman one following the other. Different chessmen have different rules to move. When one of the players couldn’t move any more, the game is over.About chess, there is an international chess league. 169 countries have taken part in this league; they set rules of chess, organize international matches together. In these international matches, people will use a clock to check the time for each one, players have to play in a limited time, or he will lose.Playing chess can help people become smarter. Because when people play, they will think a lot about how to play and how to win the game. Usually, people who can play chess well are smart.Nowadays, to play chess on the computer or to play on-line with other people is very popular. And this will make chess more and more popular.Passage 4 Tips for travelling to Australia.。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：美国宠物+英国狗展
American Pets 美国宠物养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
Americans love pets. And it's not just puppy love, either. Many pet owners treat their furry friends as part of the family. Sometimes they spice up their pets' lives with entertaining videos and amusing toys. If they have an eyefor fashion, pet owners can dress their pets in stylishclothes. For special occasions, they can use canineperfume to make their dogs smell, well, less beastly.You might say Americans treat their pets like they treattheir children—sometimes even better.In America, there are more households with petsthan those with children. At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic creatures, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves, find a home with some Americans. More common pets include tropical fish, mice and birds. But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs, even at the White House. Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. "Dog people" and "cat people" often enjoy friendly rivalries.Leading a dog's life in America isn't such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet pet foods to owners eager to please their pets. In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes, just like pizza. Well-to-do canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. Pets can even accompany their owners on vacation. Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate both man and beast. Furry guests at Four Seasons Hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china and sleep in soft beds.Beneath the fluffy luxuries, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abusedanimals. Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical care for an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when it's time to say good-bye, owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery.The average American enjoys having pets around, and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting with animals lowers a person's blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of unwanted pests. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases, having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide a good topic of conversation.Pets are as basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. To Americans, pets are not just property, but a part of the family. After all, pets are people, too. （470 words）◆Helper:puppy['pʌpi]没有经验的年轻人furry盖着毛皮的spice加香料于，添趣味stylish漂亮的，流行的canine perfume狗儿专用的香水exotic[eg'zɔtik] 外国的tropical['trɔpikəl]热带的rivalry['raivəlri]竞争,对抗gourmet['guəmei]美食家canine['keinain]犬齿accommodate提供住宿luxury['lʌkʃəri]奢侈、豪华exist存在adoption收养V eterinarian[vetəri'nɛəriən]兽医burglar['bə:glə]夜贼incredible不可思议的; 惊人的companionship伴侣关系；友谊and for good reason而且这合乎情理，而且这很自然，◆ Exercises:从所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读理解专练：美国周末+美国婚礼+英国婚礼习俗
21.Weekend in America美国人的周末养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
In the United States Monday is the beginning of the workweek; it is the day most Americans like least. It is not surprising then that the day they like most is Saturday. Saturday is the end of the workweek and the beginning of the weekend.Life is different on the weekend; most Americans take care of their house,car or garden. They sleep till late in the morning. They enjoy the feeling thatthe time seems to move more slowly. The week is for things you have to do;the weekend is for things you want to do. Some people may get in a car andgo for a drive in the country. They like to take part in a sports activityoutdoors. And on Saturday night they might go to a public eating place or amovie.The idea of the weekend is a recent invention. In the 1870s wealthy people began to speak of spending weekends in the country visiting friends. For most people back then, however, the workday was six days long. It ended at about noon or later on Saturday.Automobile maker Henry Ford was the first major employer in the United States to establish (设立)a workweek of 5 days. He did that in 1926. Henry Ford thought that if the working people had more free time they would spend more money, which is good for the economy. By 1940 it had become common for most Americans to work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Today the lives of most Americans are organized that way: 5 days of work or school followed by 2 days of rest. For many people Saturday night is the highpoint of the weekend and the week. It is the night for going out and having fun.Many people spend the Saturday night at home with friends. They have dinner together. Perhaps they watch amovie on a video cassette recorder. Other people go on a date. A date usually involves (牵涉) two people. People on a date might go to a public concert, yet they talk only to each other.Is there anything people do not like about the weekend? A study of 1,000 Americans found that half would gladly trade a paid workday for an extra day of free time. The only thing wrong with the weekend, they think, is that it does not last longer. (405 words)◆Helper:automobile ['ɔ:təməbi:l, ɔ:tə'məubil]汽车establish [is'tæbliʃ]设立go on a date去约会involve [in'vɔlv]牵涉◆Brief Introduction:一周七天中，大多数的美国人最不喜欢的是星期一，最喜欢的是星期六——这一点当然不足为奇，所有人都知道星期一是一周工作日的开始，而星期六则意味着一周工作的结束和周末休闲娱乐的开始。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读专练：专题 26 英美文化阅读理解专项：爱丁堡艺术节+英国音乐(名师原创)
Edinburgh Festivals 爱丁堡艺术节养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
Summer in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, is the time for festivals. Between the end of July and the beginning of September there are several different festivals which take place there.The original Edinburgh International Festival started in 1947,and offers visitors a rich programme of classical music, theatre,opera and dance. The same year that the official festival began, ahandful of theatrical companies gatecrashed the festival andorganised their own event, which grew into what is now called theFringe Festival.The term ‘fringe’ means something on the outside of the main event,but over the years, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has become the largest ofall the festivals, and indeed the largest arts festival in the world!The Fringe features performers and acts which are less traditional andmore unconventional than those in the International Festival, and includes alot of stand-up comedy shows, music and children’s entertainment. TheEdinburgh Fringe is seen as an important place for up and coming stand-upcomedians to perform at.At the same time in Edinburgh there are various other festivals, such asthe Jazz and Blues festival, the Book Festival, the Film Festival, and even anInternet Festival! There is also a multicultural festival called Mela, whichcelebrates the diversity of people living in Edinburgh, in particular people with South Asian origins.Edinburgh Castle is the site of one of the most spectacular events – The Military Tattoo. A military tattoo has nothing to do with a tattoo on your skin! It means a performance of military music, for example, by marching bands. In Scotland the military tattoo traditionally includes bagpipes and drums. This year the display will also feature dancers, horses and motorbikes!Though you have to pay to attend most of the events at the various festivals, there are several groups who organise large numbers of free events as well. (310 words)◆Helper:a handful of 一把，少数的gatecrashed 不请自来unconventional 非传统的stand-up comedy即兴喜剧表演up and coming 有前途的multicultural 多元文化的diversity [dai'və:siti]多样性spectacular[spek'tækjulə]引人注目的military 军队的bagpipes苏格兰风笛tattoo[tə'tu:, tæ'tu]纹身marching bands 步操管乐队Military Tattoo军乐队分列式，军队夜间游行◆Brief Introduction:苏格兰首府爱丁堡的夏季是盛大节日的时候，从7月底到9月初，那里举行多样的节日庆祝活动。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读：专题 23 英美文化阅读理解专项：英国电影奖+奥斯卡金像奖(名师原创)
The BAFTAs 英国电影奖养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
The red carpet was rolled out in London’s Leicester Square on Sunday as stars from all over the worldgathered for this year’s British Academy Film Awards.The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTA asit is more commonly known, has raised its profile in recent years bybringing forward its award ceremony to take place before theAmerican Oscars.However, hopes that home-grown films would triumph overHollywood productions were dashed as American movies swept theboard, winning all the major awards including Best Film, Best Actor and British BAFTA winner Thandie NewtonBest Actress. Ang Lee’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’ enjoyed particular success, winning four BAFTAs in total.Fans and supporters of British Cinema were particularly disappointed that ‘The Constant Gardener’, f eaturing British stars Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes, won only one award despite having received ten nominations.One consolation prize for the UK was the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role which went to Thandie Newton for her performance in ‘Crash’. Thandie, who was born in Zambia to a Zimbabwean mother and a British father, impressed the Academy with her portrayal of a woman confronting her racial prejudices.It was also a disappointing night for Keira Knightley who failed to be nominated for her role in the adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’. However, she is still in the running for an Oscar having been nominated in the Best Actress category.In fact, the UK is well-represented in this year’s Oscar nominations. British actresses Judi Dench and Rachel Weisz hope to win Best Actress and Best supporting actress respectively, whilst ‘The Constant Gardener’ has received four nominations including best adapted screenplay.In the Best Animation category, the ‘claymation’ film ‘Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit’ is another UK hopeful. Its director, Nick Park, told us that he just made films for the love of it, but he admitted, “It is great to have this kind of recognition.” (325 words)◆Helper:red carpet 红地毯/贵宾礼遇的rolled out 铺开award ceremony颁奖仪式British Academy of Film and Television Arts英国电影和电视艺术学院大奖bringing forward提前trium ph over战胜dash挫败；破灭swept the board 大赢家nomination提名consolation [kɔnsə'leiʃən] prize 安慰奖portrayal[pɔ:'treiəl]扮演racial prejudice ['predʒudis]种族歧视adaptation[ædæp'teiʃən]改编in the running仍有望获奖well-represented占有相当比例的screenplay（电影）剧本claymation 粘土动画recognition[rekəg'niʃən]承认◆Brief Introduction:这个周日，英国莱斯特广场铺开了红地毯，世界各地的明星们为今年的英国电影奖而会聚于此。
高考英语常考英美文化阅读：专题 24 英美文化阅读理解专项：英国音乐节+欧洲电视歌曲大赛(名师原创)
Music Festivals 英国音乐节养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。
做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。
Summer in the UK is also the time for outdoor music festivals. Let’s look at some of the most famous ones.The Glastonbury Festival first started in 1970, and is oftenseen as the standard to judge other festivals by. It takes place on afarm in the south-west of England over 3 days, and visitors campin the fields around the site.Acts in 2005 included Coldplay, The White Stripes andBasement Jaxx, among others. The only problem withGlastonbury is the unpredictable weather.While Glastonbury tries to keep an air of peace and love, the Reading Festival is a noisier, more aggressive weekend. It is much easier to attend as it is in the centre of the city of Reading, and although you can camp you can also go just for the day. Up to 55,000 people are expected to attend on the weekend of the August Bank Holiday, and top British acts such as Franz Ferdinand and The Kaiser Chiefs will entertain the crowds.If you prefer house music to rock, then Creamfields is probably the place for you. Since 1998, this festival of dance music has taken place in Liverpool, also on the final weekend of August, but only for one day, so there is no need to bring your tent. Instead, just enjoy a boogie to top DJs and live acts.Finally, Knebworth --- Knebworth is a huge manor house and the festival takes place in the gardens. It first took place in 1974, and since then acts such as The Rolling Stones, Queen, Elton John and Paul McCartney have all featured. More recently, Robbie Williams has sold out concerts to crowds of fans.So, whatever your interests in music there is a festival taking place in England to suit you. Just don’t forget to pack your raincoat. （320 words）◆Helper:unpredictable weather变幻无常的天气aggressive大张旗鼓August Bank Holiday八月的公共假日house music大众化舞曲(也称”浩室” 舞曲)boogie(随着摇摆舞音乐节奏)摆动身体manor ['mænə] house庄园主的住宅◆Brief Introduction:夏天是英国人传统的休闲度假的季节。
高考英语考查英美文化阅读理解实例解析
大家知道，学习英语就要学习英美文化、英美习俗等，同时，这也是高考英语阅读理解的一个重要方面。
那么，你了解美国的文化吗？你知道其主要特点吗？读读本文吧，它会从一个侧面告诉你美国文化的特点是什么——Who are these people rushing by you in the street? More than 215 million people now call America “home” but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you look at the names on shop windows you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people who once were strangers to the United States have lost the customs and cultures of their original coun tries and have become “American” is really not true. In fact what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools business and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by-side” has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas and dress food cial customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her familiar world in the United States in churches music food national groups or newspapers.1. More than 215 million people call America “home” because_______.A. they buy their houses thereB. they settle there nowC. they get married thereD. they were born there2. “Side-by-side” living style means _______.A. making friends with native peopleB. keeping their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areasC. the groups of people who live nearbyD. that they get closer to American society3. the passage people in the USA ________.A. share American customs and cultureB. live in a kind of “side-by-side” societyC. keep their own customs and habits firmlyD. make no choice to accept American customs4. Which of the following statements is true?A. They always stick to their own customs and habits.B. “Side-by-side” living style is not suitable.C. They face the society they are not familiar with.D. The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.5. Which title of the following can best take the place of “Different Cultures in America”?A. Advantages and Disadvantages.B. Different Customs and Habits.C. Home for the People.D. “Side-by-side” Living Style in America.【答案与解析】美国文化的总体特点是兼容性强、包容性强、开放性强，许多人称美国文化为“熔炉文化”，本文从一个侧面证明了这一观点。
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1.海外文化:圣诞节袜子的传说It is said that there was a goodness man who went broke his domain . He lived a hard life and he had three daughters. The three daughters were being married but he didn't have money to buy dower for his daughters. On the happy Christmas Eve three girls went to bed early. They didn't know that their father was so worried. At last the Chrismas father decided to help them. He besprinkled gold through the stack and the gold fell into the socks of the man's daughters. They lived a happy life from then on... Christmas socks was origined by this.传说有个心地善良的没落贵族，生活非常艰难。
三个女儿快要出嫁了，他为自己没有钱给她们置办嫁妆而难过。
喜庆的圣诞夜，三个姑娘早早地蜷在炕上睡觉了，剩下父亲在长吁短叹。
圣诞老人决定帮助他们。
他在他们家的烟囱里撒下了许多金子，落进姑娘们烤在火炉旁的长筒丝袜里。
从此，他们过上了幸福而快乐的生活。
圣诞节的长筒袜就这样产生的。
2.圣诞老人的传说Chrismas Father was the descendant of a deity called Odin. It's also said that Chrismas Father comes from San Nichola, so he is also called St.Nicholas. He was the bishop of Asia Minor city of Rafah and he was called a man of God after his death. He is an old man in red clothes and he wears a red hat. He has white mustache. He comes from the north on a blowmobile every Chrismas Day. He went into people's houses by the track and he put the presents into children's socks. So in western countries,parents put the gifts to their kids in kids' socks and put them on the head of the bed on Chrismas Eve. On the second day, the first thing after kids wake up is to find the presents from Chrismas Fathers.圣诞老人为奥丁神后裔。
也传说称圣诞老人由圣·尼古拉而来，所以圣诞老人也称St.Nicholas。
据说他原是小亚细亚每拉城的主教，名叫圣尼古拉，死后被尊为圣徒，是一位身穿红袍、头戴红帽的白胡子老头。
每年圣诞节他驾着鹿拉的雪橇从北方而来，由烟囱进入各家，把圣诞礼物装在袜子里挂在孩子们的床头上或火炉前。
所以，西方人过圣诞节时，父母把给孩子的圣诞礼物装在袜子里，圣诞夜时挂在孩子们的床头上。
第二天，孩子们醒来后的第一件事就是在床头上寻找圣诞老人送来的礼物。
3. 夏威夷印象HawaiiFor most of us, Hawaii begins to weave her spell（魅力）with some little glimmer （微光）of awareness. Golden beaches and golden people. Sun, sand, sea, and surf……And somewhere between the blue skies and the palm trees（棕榈树）……we're hooked（吸引）.The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most beautiful places on earth. The weather isfriendly. The temperature ranges（在一定范围内变化）from 60-90 degrees all year long. It's a little warmer in summer, and a little cooler in winter, but every day is a beach day for somebody.There are no strangers in Paradise. Perhaps the most beautiful part of Hawaii is the genuine（与生俱来的）warmth of people. We call it the spirit of Aloha（爱）. It has allowed a melting pot（熔炉）of cultures from all over the world to find common ground（共同点）, and a new home, in this most gentle of places.对于大部分人来说,那些星星点点的关于夏威夷的印象，足以让我们沉浸于她的魅力。
金色的海滩金色的人们。
阳光、沙子、大海、浪花……在蓝天和棕榈树之间，我们流连忘返。
夏威夷岛是世界上最美丽的地方之一。
这里天气晴朗，气温整年在华氏60-90度之间变化。
夏天稍暖，冬天稍凉，但对于某些人来说每天都是晒太阳的好日子。
在这人间天堂没有陌生人。
也许夏威夷人与生俱来地的热情才是这里真正魅力所在。
我们称之为爱的精神。
它是世界上最文明的地方之一，世界各地的文化都可以在这熔炉中找到共同点，生根发芽。
4. Michael Joseph JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson, on August 29, 1958 - June 25 of 2009), was the personages with symbolic pop culture in world, have extremely high popularity and enormous influence in the whole world, praised as the king (King of Pop) of the pop.He outstanding music versatile person, in write words, compose music, scene made, compose music, sing, dance, musical instrument play respect have remarkable achievement, he call as pop great immortal symbol most at the history jointly with cat king, unkempt person, the two after and its achievement has already been surmounted. The music video-tape of the single song " Thriller " is the first modern MV in the world, praised as " greatest music video-tape " in the history,He has the sales volume first of the special edition " Thriller " in the world, the sales volume has already been up to 110 million one [4 ], its global sales volume of legal special edition has already exceeded 794 million, written into " complete works of Guiness Book of Records ". He is the first artist selling more than one hundred million records beyond U.S.A. in music history.迈克尔·约瑟夫·杰克逊（Michael Joseph Jackson，1958年8月29日－2009年6月25日），是世界流行文化象征性的人物，在全世界都拥有着极高的知名度与巨大的影响力，被誉为流行音乐之王（King of Pop）。
他是出色的音乐全才，在作词，作曲，场景制作，编曲，演唱，舞蹈，乐器演奏方面都有着卓越的成就，他与猫王、披头士并称流行乐史上最伟大的不朽象征，而其成就已超越后两者。
单曲《Thriller》的音乐录像带为全球第一支现代MV，被誉为史上―最伟大的音乐录像带‖，他拥有世界销量第一的专辑《Thriller》，销量已达1.1亿[4]张，其正版专辑全球销量已超过7.94亿张，被载入―吉尼斯世界记录大全‖。
他是音乐史上第一位在美国以外卖出上亿张唱片的艺术家。
5.为何快乐假期转瞬即逝?We have all experienced it —a holiday that whizzes by at the time, the Daily Mail reported.When we are on holiday, or doing something else new and exciting, the hours pass really quickly there and then. But all the new experiences lead to lots of new memories — and when we look back at them, there are so many to go through, that it feels as if we were gone for ages.In contrast, when we are at home or work and going about our normal routine, there are less interesting things and so fewer memories are laid down.This phenomenon has been called "the holiday paradox" by psychology lecturer Claudia Hammond.She said that our lives are normally so humdrum, that only six to nine experiences a fortnight are worth committing to memory. When on holiday, we remember six to nine things from each day.据《每日邮报》报道，欢乐时光总过得特别快，相信人们都有同感。