新视野大学英语视听说教程 3 Unit 9-8

Now Your Turn
A: Will you be spending the Thanksgiving holiday with us this year?
B: No, I'm flying back to the States to spend the holiday with my mother and brother. I haven't seen my family for over a year. You see, Thanksgiving is a big family holiday
A: In China the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a holiday for family reunions. Do you happen to know the origin of Thanksgiving?
B: It began as a celebration by the Pilgrims¹. They were happy just to have survived their first harsh² winter in the new land in 1621.
A: I'm not quite sure of the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but it is said to have something to do with Lady Chang'er who flew to the moon. On a day of full moon her husband longed for her to return to earth. So this may have something to do with family reunions
B: Thanksgiving is also an occasion³ to celebrate the harvest. The Pilgrims' first harsh winter was followed by an abundant⁴ harvest. That was good reason to celebrate
A: Most cultures have some sort of celebration of the harvest. In fact the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival to celebrate the harvest month, since fruits, vegetables and grain have been harvested by this time and food is abundant.
B: To observe Thanksgiving, Americans eat turkey, ham, corn-on-the-cob, yams, peas and carrots, and to top it all off, pumpkin⁵ pie.
A: Oh, just thinking about all that food makes my mouth water. We Chinese eat moon cakes to mark the occasion. The round moon cakes symbolize⁶ a family reunion
B: Thanksgiving in the States has developed into a major holiday
A: The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important festivals in China, too. It's sometimes believed to be the second most important holiday, next only to the Spring Festival.

1 pilgrims   

香客，朝圣者( pilgrim的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca 前往麦加的穆斯林朝圣者
• Many pilgrims knelt piously at the shrine. 许多朝圣者心虔意诚地在神殿跪拜。

2 harsh   

adj.严厉（酷）的，刺耳的，刺目的，毛糙的

参考例句：

• The sunlight is very harsh.太阳光很刺眼。
• Although his words are harsh,there is positiveness in them.虽然他的话很苛刻，但有建设性。

3 occasion   

n.场合，时机，机会，诱因，理由；vt.惹起，引起

参考例句：

• Her dress was too showy for such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，她的服装过分华丽了。
• Her tears were fought back on such an occasion.在这种场合下她忍住了眼泪。

4 abundant   

adj.丰富的，充足的，大量的，多的

参考例句：

• Shandong province is famous for its abundant agricultural resources.山东省以其丰富的农业资源而闻名遐迩。
• China is abundant with natural resources.中国自然资源丰富。

5 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

6 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。