最新15篇文章贯通英语四级词汇MP3 Unit7-Part4

[00:00.00]The first Christmas cards
[00:02.07]were sent in the 1840’s
[00:03.82]in both England and America.
[00:07.43]Gift giving probably stems
[00:10.05]from the Bible where
[00:11.58]it is written that
[00:12.90]three kings, bearing gifts
[00:15.19]from the Orient, visited Bethlehem
[00:17.39]when Jesus was born.
[00:19.24]We know that St. Nicholas
[00:21.76]also gave gifts.
[00:22.96]A later tradition developed,
[00:25.81]whereby gifts were given
[00:27.56]on each of the twelve days
[00:29.53]of Christmas, from December 25th,
[00:32.15]when Jesus allegedly was born,
[00:34.02]to January 6th , when Jesus
[00:37.18]was apparently¹ baptized(the Epiphany).
[00:39.16]There is a popular song
[00:42.43]called the “Twelve Days of Christmas”
[00:45.52]that keeps this tradition
[00:46.97]alive each year.
[00:50.14]We understand, that Macy’s Department Store
[00:52.66]in New York City introduced
[00:54.74]the annual Christmas or
[00:56.49]Santa Claus Parade during the 1880’s.
[00:59.44]Today, in late November,
[01:03.71]or early December, a Christmas Parade
[01:06.88]is held in almost every city
[01:09.18]and town in Europe and America.
[01:12.13]Early on the night
[01:15.19]before Christmas (Christmas Eve),
[01:16.73]children are encouraged to
[01:19.24]go to bed early
[01:20.89]if they expect Santa to come.
[01:23.07]They lay their heads
[01:24.93]on their pillows with visions
[01:26.90]of what the next day will bring.
[01:29.64]Santa is invisible to
[01:31.93]children since no one
[01:33.47]has actually seen him,
[01:34.89]his sleigh, or reindeer²
[01:36.75]on Christmas Eve.
[01:39.16]On Christmas Day, families usually
[01:42.44]get together for a roast goose
[01:44.74]or turkey dinner served
[01:46.93]with mashed³ potatoes, gravy⁴,
[01:49.33]cranberry sauce, and pie
[01:51.30]or pudding for dessert.
[01:53.60]Grownups will pour a glass
[01:56.33]or two of wine or other spirits.
[01:58.52]Together, families will openly
[02:01.91]exchange gifts and gratitude⁵.
[02:04.98]Children, including cousins, nieces
[02:08.04]and nephews, often kneel on the floor
[02:11.10]in front of the tree,
[02:12.96]excitedly trying to find presents
[02:14.93]with their names on them.
[02:17.34]On that day, warm receptions
[02:20.29]are extended to everyone,
[02:22.70]friend or stranger

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 reindeer   

n.驯鹿

参考例句：

• The herd of reindeer was being trailed by a pack of wolves.那群驯鹿被一只狼群寻踪追赶上来。
• The life of the Reindeer men was a frontier life.驯鹿时代人的生活是一种边区生活。

3 mashed   

a.捣烂的

参考例句：

• two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
• Just one scoop of mashed potato for me, please. 请给我盛一勺土豆泥。

4 gravy   

n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快

参考例句：

• You have spilled gravy on the tablecloth.你把肉汁泼到台布上了。
• The meat was swimming in gravy.肉泡在浓汁之中。

5 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。