【英语趣味课堂】最喜爱的季节-Favorite Season

 Todd: My favorite time of year is autumn, or fall. I like the fall season because I think that's when the weather's the best. It's not too hot. It's not too cold. It's just nice and cool all the time. Also, usually it doesn't rain that much in autumn. The trees also are really, really beautiful in the fall. I love the change in colors when the leaves turn from green to brown, and orange and yellow and I think it's also really pretty to see the leaves on the ground. Also, I really like fall because I'm a big baseball fan¹ and in the fall we have the baseball playoffs and it's the start of the basketball season and the football season, so it's a good time for me to watch sports on TV. Lastly, I like autumn because my birthday is in October, and um, October 2nd, and Halloween is in October and Thanksgiving is in November and these are all my, these are my three days throughout² the year. 

学习内容：

fall

 

My favorite time of year is autumn or fall.

 

'Fall' is the season between summer and winter.  It is when the temperature starts to get colder and the leaves change color and fall off the trees. Notice the following:

 

Fall is the best time to go for long walks outside.

You know it's fall when the leaves start to change.

turn from (to)

 

I love it when the leaves turn from green to brown and orange and yellow.

 

When leaves 'turn from' one color to another they change color gradually³. Notice the following:

 

She can turn from happy to sad in a few minutes.

It will turn from winter to spring before you know it.

playoffs

 

In the fall, we have the basketball playoffs.

 

'Playoffs' are a series⁴ of games which are used⁵ to determine⁶ who will go to the championship games. Notice the following:

 

There is a playoff game tonight at 7 pm.

Our team will never make it to the playoffs.

basketball (or football) season

 

Fall is also the start of the basketball season and the football season.

 

A 'season' for a sport is the time of year when the professionals⁷ play it.  For example, baseball season starts in the spring and ends in the fall. Notice the following:

 

My son is very busy during football season.

He goes to at least five games every basketball season.

Halloween

 

I like autumn because Halloween is in October.

 

'Halloween' is the holiday at the end of October where children put on costumes⁸ and go to houses in the neighborhood asking for candy⁹. Notice the following:

 

You need to buy some candy to give out for Halloween.

He is going to be Mickey Mouse for Halloween this year.

1 fan   

n.风扇，迷，狂热者；v.煽，煽动，刺激

参考例句：

• Are you a football fan?你是足球迷吗？
• Jack is a baseball fan.杰克是个棒球迷。

2 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

3 gradually   

adv.逐渐地

参考例句：

• The roaring sea gradually calmed down.咆哮的大海逐渐平静下来。
• Gradually he became silent.渐渐地他变得沉默寡言了。

4 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 used   

adj.用旧了的，旧的；习惯于…；过去惯/经常

参考例句：

• I used to work until nearly 6:00 o'clock each day.我过去常常工作到6:00左右。
• He used to walk anywhere from two to five miles an hour.他过去经常一小时走二至五英里。

6 determine   

vt.决定，决心；vi.决定，决心

参考例句：

• Shall we determine what we are going to do next? 我们来确定一下下一步该做什么吧？
• I determine him to be a fool.我确定他是一个傻子。

7 professionals   

n.具有某专业资格的人( professional的名词复数 )；专业人士；内行；专门职业者

参考例句：

• The tournament is open to both amateurs and professionals. 这次锦标赛业余选手和职业选手均可参加。
• a book written for professionals and laymen alike 一本内行外行都可以读的书

8 costumes   

n.服装；装束

参考例句：

• The costumes and lighting in the play were restrained. 这出戏的服装和灯光都很朴实。
• The waitresses are all done up in costumes. 女服务生都穿着制服。

9 candy   

n.糖果；vt.用糖煮，使结晶为砂糖；vi.结晶为砂糖

参考例句：

• I'd like a box of candy.我要一盒糖果。
• What shall I buy at the candy shop?我该买什么在水果糖店里？