词汇典故:独立日

Independence Day 词汇典故:独立日

Hello and welcome to the VOA Learning¹ English program Words and Their Stories.

Independence Day is a huge celebration in the United States. People celebrate by having parades and picnics and usually end the day with fireworks. So what do some of these words mean?

Parade                                       

Cities and towns, large and small, across the U.S. close their main streets to make way for Independence Day parades. Clean and shiny firetrucks and school marching bands parade down the streets lined with people watching and cheering.

Parade floats, which are decorated vehicles, carry local stars, like the child who won the spelling bee or the winner of a local beauty contest.

People work very hard making a parade. So, the worst thing to happen on parade day is rain. To rain on someone’s parade is to ruin something for someone else. Here’s an example: “I hate to rain on your parade, but the guy you like is not coming to the party.”    

Picnic                                  

On Independence Day people in the U.S. like to eat outside. Friends, family, and neighbors will come together and picnic. Picnics are easy and fun. So, when something is difficult we say it is no picnic. “Taking the TOEFL exam is no picnic. I studied for months and it was still so hard! ”

Fireworks

Many people around the world celebrate important days with fireworks, including the United States. Independence Day fireworks shows are explosive², bright and colorful.

The word “fireworks” can be used in other situations, both good and bad. For example, if two people are having a fiery³ argument others may tell them to “stop all the fireworks.” Fireworks, in this case, are a bad thing.

But, good fireworks are exciting and beautiful, like falling in love. A kiss or touch of a lover’s hand can create fireworks between two people. Even couples who have been married for many years but who are deeply in love can have fireworks explode each time they kiss.

If you want to see real fireworks in the U.S., visit during the 4th of July. The U.S. traditionally celebrates its freedom with huge, outdoor public gatherings⁴ and fireworks at night.

In Washington, D.C., for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument to listen to music and watch a big fireworks show. In other cities and smaller towns, local people also listen to music concerts and watch fireworks explode after dark.

They also play songs that that celebrates the American dream. You might hear Neil Diamond’s “America,” a song that honors⁵ the American Dream and America’s immigrant⁶ experience.

(NEIL DIAMOND, ‘AMERICA’)

“Got a dream to take them there / They’re coming to America / Got a dream they’ve come to share / They’re coming to America /  

Some songs are about the dream of the American Dream, one that perhaps did not happen. In his song, “American Tune” famous singer/songwriter Paul Simon paints a more complex view of the American experience. He sings of weariness⁷, hard work and homesickness but promises that in the end it will be all right.

(PAUL SIMON, ‘AMERICAN TUNE’)

And I dreamed I was flying / And high up above my eyes could clearly see / The Statue of Liberty / Sailing away to sea / And I dreamed I was flying

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 explosive   

adj.爆炸的，爆发的；极易引起争论的；n.炸药

参考例句：

• Where's the rest of the explosive?剩下的炸药在哪里？
• Gelignite is a high explosive.葛里炸药是一种烈性炸药。

3 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

4 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

5 honors   

n.礼仪；荣典；礼节； 大学荣誉学位；大学优等成绩；尊敬( honor的名词复数 )；敬意；荣誉；光荣

参考例句：

• He aims at honors. 他力求名誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We did the last honors to his remains. 我们向他的遗体告别。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 immigrant   

adj.(从国外)移来的，移民的；n.移民，侨民

参考例句：

• Life in the USA was very hard for almost every new immigrant.美国的生活几乎对每一个新移民都很艰难。
• I'd like to obtain some information about applying for an immigrant visa.我想取一些申请移民签证的资料。

7 weariness   

n.疲倦

参考例句：

• I detected a faint note of weariness in his voice. 我从他的声音中察觉出一丝倦意。
• His eyes were half closing in weariness. 他疲倦得眼睛都快睜不开了。