英文原版对话1000个:839 Canadian Santa

Anja: So, Fred, tell me, how is the Santa in Canada?

Fred: Well, Anja, I think, listening to the story that you just told me, I believe that it's quite different.

Anja: Is it? How is it different?

Fred: It's very different because, well, actually, Santa Claus comes on the 25th of December. He doesn't come of the 6th of December. I've never heard that before, and so Santa Claus, well, as I just mentioned comes on the 25th, and then he has these little helpers¹. They're called elves. He has many of them, and also they live in the North Pole and together they work at making the toys for the kids.

Anja: Oh, really, so they live in the North Pole and not in the forest like the Swiss² Santa Claus?

Fred: No, they live in the North Pole.

Anja: That must be cold.

Fred: Yeah, well you see, it's true yeah, you're right. It is cold but the idea is that it's Christmas and so in Canada or in the United³ States it is cold. There's a lot of snow and so the image of Santa Claus is actually like snow. He has a big white beard, and he's dressed in this red suit, you know, and he also has a wife.

Anja: Oh, he does?

Fred: Yeah, Mama Santa Claus.

Anja: Oh, really, I didn't know that.

Fred: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so they work together at bringing the kids their gifts that they've ordered, because you see in Canada the kids, maybe a month ealier...or two, three weeks before the 25th write a list of what they want for Christmas.

Anja: Oh, really. That must be a pretty long list. I remember when I was a kid, I always had a lot of things I wanted.

Fred: Yeah, I think so, so Santa Claus has a lot of work right.

Anja: Oh, poor Santa Claus.

Fred: And so the kids write a list, and so for instance⁴ if somebody wants a bike, he writes, 'I want a bike' and then the list is being sent to the address in the North Pole. Santa Claus takes this into consideration⁵, meaning that if the kid has been good all through the year, he will be receiving that gift, but if he hasn't, then maybe he won't get the gift on the 25th.

Anja: Oh, so better be good if you want your presents.

Fred: That's right.
 

1 helpers   

n.助手( helper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a little posse of helpers 一小伙帮忙的人
• At election time the party needs a lot of voluntary helpers. 大选时，该党需要许多义务帮忙的人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 Swiss   

adj.瑞士的；瑞士人的

参考例句：

• The Swiss I know all are clever.我认识的瑞士人都很聪明。
• Today Swiss watches are sold in stores all over the world.现今瑞士的手表在世界各地出售。

3 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

4 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

5 consideration   

n.考虑，思考；要考虑的事；体谅，关心

参考例句：

• John never showed any consideration for his mother's feeling.约翰从来都不体谅他母亲的感情。
• We did an overall consideration of the matter at last.最后我们又对这个问题作了全盘考虑。