北師大版英語教材

模塊1

Unit1Lifestyles

Lesson1APerfectDay?

Acouchpotato

WhenIwakeupIdon'tgetupimmediately.Iturnonthetelevisionandwatchthechildren's

programsandoldmoviesuntilabouthalf-pastten.ThenIgetup,godownstairsandswitchontheTV

inthelivingroom.Forlunch,Ihavebiscuitsandaglassofmilk,andIwatchthenews.Inthe

afternoon,Ioftenwatchanotheroldfilm-they'reshowingsomegoodonesatthemoment.Inthe

evenings,IoftenwatchTVseriesorsportandthenewsagain.Ilikethemainnewsatsixo'clock.At

ninethirty,ifthereisagoodplayonBBC2,1switchoverandwatchit.Thenatnight,Iwatchmore

filmsandIusuallyswitchofftheTVatabouttwoo'clock.IneverwatchTVatnight.

1watchTVforsixteenorseventeenhoursaday.1alsodosomeexerciseeveryday.ItakeTina,

thedog,forawalkeveryafternoon.1don'tgofar,ofcourse.Iwalktothewalloutsidemyhouse.I

alwaystakemyportableTVandIsitonthestonewallwhilethedogwalksroundinacircle.

Ofcourse,Icouldn'tlivethislifestylewithoutagoodwife.She'snotherenowbecauseshe's

working,butshealwaysmakesmymeals.Wehaven'tgotmuchmoney,youknow,butwe'rehappy.

SitdownandwatchTV.Here'stheremotecontrol.You'vegottheworldatyourfeet.Andinyour

hand.Great!

Aworkaholic

Inormallywakeupaboutfiveminutesbeforemyalarmclockgoesoff.AssoonasIhearmy

alarmclock,Ijumpoutofmybed.Ittakesmelessthanfifteenminutestowash,getchanged,have

breakfast,leavehomeandgetonabus.

Iamalwaysthefirstpersontogettotheoffice.Themorningsarealwaysverybusyandthe

afternoonsareevenbusier!Meetingsandphonecallstakeupalargepartoftheday.Everyminuteof

thedayisfilledwithurgentmatters.Byaroundeighto'clock,Iusuallyfindsometimetodomyown

paperworkandanswersomepersonale-mails.

WhenIgethomeataboutten,IlookatsomedocumentsthatIbringbackfromtheofficesothat

Icanbereadyforthenextday'swork.Igettobedaroundmidnightwhenmywifeandchildrenare

alreadyasleep.

Iseldomhavetimeforfunandotheractivitieswithmyfamily.Myfamilycomplainsaboutit.

ButItrytoworkhardsothatIcanmakemoremoneyforthem.Besides,Igetboredifthere'snothing

todo.Ilikebeingbusy.

Lesson4

Cityandcountry

DebbieisanaccountantinalargecompanyinthecentreofLondon.

Ineedtobeinmyofficebynineo'clocksoIusuallygetupatseveno?clock.Itraveltoworkon

“thetube”.That'swhatpeoplecalltheundergroundinLondon.Ittakesaboutfiftyminutes.Usually,

it'ssocrowdedthatIcan'tfindanywheretosit.Ijuststand.TmalwaystiredbeforeIarriveatwork.I

don'tliketheunderground!

Ispendallmorningcheckingnumbers.Lunchisalwayssimple.Ioftengetasandwichina

nearbysandwichshoporIjusthavesomebiscuitsandacupofcoffee.Thenintheafternoon,Ireturn

tothepaperworkintheoffice.

OnMondaynights,Ihavedanceclasses,andonWednesdaynights,Igotothegym.Ineedtodo

thatbecauseIdon'tgetenoughexerciseotherwise.OnTuesdayandThursdaynights,IhaveFrench

classes.IworkforaFrenchcompanysoIthinkstudyingFrenchwillhelpmeinmyjob.

Igotothecinemaalmosteveryweekend.Sometimes,iftheweatherforecastisgood,myfriends

andIdrivetothecountrysideforaweekendbreak.Weliketovisitnice,quietplacesfarawayfrom

thecityandgowalkingwheretherearenoshops,crowdsorthetube.Thatfreshairissogoodfbrmy

lungs.Iloveit.

PaullivesinasmallvillageinthenorthofEngland.

Iusuallygetupatfouro'clockeverymorningwhenit'sstilldark.Iliveandworkonthefarm

soIdon'tneedtotravel.Afterabigbreakfastinmyhouse,IwalkoutofthefrontdoorandI'm

alreadyatwork.

Therearemanythingstodoonthefarmallday.Wedon'thavethesameworkhoursthatoffice

workersinthecityhave.Wedojobswhentheyneedtobedoneandthatcouldbeearlyinthe

morningorlateatnight.Ihavecows,sheep,pigsandchickensonmyfarm.Ihavetomakesurethey

arefreeofsickness.Ialsogrowwheatandvegetablessotherearemanythingstolookafter.

Intheevening,Iliketoplaywithmychildren.Ihavetwochildren,aboyandagirl.Theyaresix

andeightyearsold.Ialsoliketostudy.RightnowIamstudyingChinesebydistancelearning.Iam

veryinterestedinChinaandit'smydreamtoseetheGreatWalloneday.

Ilovemovies.Mywifecallsmea"moviefan”.Butthereisn'tacinemainmyvillagesoIdon't

getthechancetogoveryoften.Igoabouttwiceayear,usuallywhenIgotoLondonwithmyfamily.

WetakeaweekendbreaktherewhenIamnottoobusyonthefarm.Mywifeloveslookinginthe

clothesshopsandIlikeallthecrowdsandthenoise.Ialsoliketobuyaflewcigars.Unfortunately,my

wifeisn'tasfondofthemasIam.MysonanddaughterlovetorideonLondon'sredbusesandthey

especiallyloveCogoonthetube!

CultureCorner

EnglishTeaandCoffeeCulture

OnethingthatBritishandChineseculturesshareisaloveforfinetea.Today,whenwethinkof

Westernteaculture,weoftenthinkoftheEnglishandbeautifulchinateacups.

Afternoontea

PeoplebelievethatanEnglishlady,Anna,firstintroducedtheideaofafternoontea.

Inthe18thand19thcenturies,theEnglishateonlytwomainmealseachday:breakfast

andaheavysupperthatwouldlastforseveralhoursintheevening.Asaresult,people

oftengotveryhungryduringthelongwaitbetweenthesetwomeals.Tosolvethis

problem,Annacameupwiththecleverideaofinvitingsomefriendstojoinherforan

afternoonmealbetweenfourandfiveo'clock.Thismealincludedcakesandsandwiches.

Andteawasserved（供應）towashdownthefood.Inordertomakethisafternoonmeal

important,finechinacupsandplatesandsilverteapots,knives,forksandspoonswere

used.Soon,afternoonteapartiesbecamepopularsocialoccasions.Today,afternoon

teapartiescontinuetoplayanimportantpartinthesociallifeinmodernBritain.

Willyoucomeforcoffee?

CoffeealsohasanimportantroleinBritishculture.Peopleoftenusethewords

“Willyoucomeforcoffee“tomean“Wouldyouliketocometomyhomeforachat?"

Normally,severaldifferentdrinkssuchastea,hotchocolateorasoftdrinklikeorange

juicewillbeservedaswellascoffee,andyouwillbeaskedwhatyouwouldlike.

However,youwillnotnormallybeofferedwineata"coffee"party.

CoffeehousesandtheLondonStockExchange

Inthe17thcenturyLondon,coffeehouseswerebusyandnoisyplaces.

Businessmenandbankerswenttocoffeehousestodotheirbusiness,aswellastodrink

coffee.Infact,theLondonStockExchange（倫敦股票交易所）isbelievedtohavestarted

fromthesecoffeehouses.

Focusonreading

Toofarawayfromitall?

AnewTVseriesinEngland,Awayfromitall,hassurprisedeveryonebybecomingahuge

successwithyoungpeopleacrossthecountry.Itssuccessissurprisingbecausethemaincharacterin

theseriesisashepherd,andtheseriesisabouttherelaxinglifestylesofpeoplewholiveinthecountry.

ThereisnoneoftheactionthatweusuallyseeonTVtoday.Therearealsonostressfulmoments,busy

officesorcrowdedcities.AwayfromitallissetinthepeacefulEnglishcountrysideandtellssimple

storiesaboutpeople'skindness.

ThedirectoroftheTVseriessaysthatitssuccessisasignofteenagerssufferingfromstress.

TheysaythatwatchingAwayfromitallhelpsteenagersforgetaboutthepressuresofexamsand

homework,andthetroublesthatfilltheworldtoday.Theyalsosaythatit'sagoodsignoftoday's

youngpeopleswitchingtohappierTVseriesasitshowstheywouldlikeahappierandhealthier

world.

Althoughtheseries'successmighthaveagoodside,manyteachersandparentsareworried,

however.Theysaythatsomeoftheirstudentsandchildrenarebecomingcouchpotatoesandareusing

Awayfromitallasanexcusefornotcompletinghomework.Somechildrenhaveevenrefusedtolearn

forexamsbecausetheysaythattheycanonlyachievepersonalhappinessbyavoidingstressful

situationscompletely.

Onemother,LucyLinney,talksabouthersonPatrick.^BecausehestartedwatchingAwayfromit

allhelovedchallengesanddidvolunteerworkeveryafternoon.Butnowhehasbecomeacouch

potato.HeswitchesonTVwhenhegetshomefromschoolandonlyswitchesitoffwhenhegoesto

bedatmidnight.Hisgradeshavedroppedandhenolongervolunteersbuthesaysitdoesn'tmatteras

hewantshislifeto4getawayfromitall'.”

Andwhatdotheexpertssay?PaulaRay,adoctorofeducation,saysthatTVcaninfluence

children'slifestyles.ButshesaysthatifachildreactsasstronglyasPatrick,it'slikelythatthereare

otherreasonsforhischangeinbehavior.ShesaysthatthereisnothingwrongwithwatchingAway

fromitallbutsuggeststhatparentsshouldmakesuretheirchildrenknowTVisnotthesameasreal

life.

Unit2Heroes

Lesson1NationalHero

Chin'sfirstmannedspaceshipliftedoffat9a.m.onWednesday,October15th,2003inJiuquan,

GansuProvince.Thespaceship,calledShenzhouV,wascarryingChina'sfirstastronaut,YangLiwei.

Yang,whowasapilotinthearmy,waschosenfrom1,500otherarmypilotsandstartedtrainingfor

hisspaceflightin1998.

Thelaunchwasverysuccessful."Whenthespaceshipwasliftingoff,Icouldreallyfeelthehigh

gravity”，saidYangLiwei."Whenthespaceshipseparatedfromtherocket,Isuddenlygotafeelingof

soaringintotheskybecauseofthezerogravity.”

Duringthe21-hourspaceflight,theShenzhouVcircledtheearth14times.Whilethespaceship

wascirclingtheearthforthesixthtime,YangLiweispokewithgroundcontrolinGansu.Hewasalso

abletospeakwithhiswifeand8-year-oldson.YangLiweihadseveraltaskstocompleteduringthe

flightandonlysleptinthespaceshipforabout3hours.Whilehewassleeping,thespaceshipcircled

theearthtwice.

Whenthespaceshipwasdoingitsseventhcircle,YangLiweishowedtheflagsofChinaandthe

UnitedNations,expressingthewishesoftheChinesepeopletoexploreandusespacepeacefully.

At6:23a.m.onOctober16th,YangLiweilandedinInnerMongoliasafely.Hetoldreporterslater,

“Thesurfaceofthespaceshipwasglowingredwhenitcamebackintotheearth'satmosphere.When

ShenzhouVletoutitsparachute,Ifelttheshipwasshaking.^^AsYangLiweireturnedintotheearth's

atmosphere,helicopterswereflyingtowherehewouldland,readytocollecthim.

MillionsofpeoplealloverChinawerewatchingTVwhenthespaceshiplandedsafely.When

YangLiweiclimbedoutofthespaceship,hesmiledandwavedtothecrowdswaitingforhim.Yang

Liweiwashappytobehomebuthesaid,“Ithought21hourswastooshorttostayinspace.^^

Lesson3SportsStars

VENUSANDSERENAWILLIAMSaresisters.Theyarealsobothtennischampionswhooften

havetoplayeachother!Venusisnoweleventhintheworld,andheryoungersisterSerenahasmoved

uptothird.

ThetwosisterswereborninapooranddangerousareaofCalifornia.Itwasfullofdrugsand

violence.Inarecentinterview,VenusspokeaboutthetimewhensheandSerenawerepractising

tennisandtheyhadtorunandhideasbulletsstartedflyingthroughtheair.Finally,in1991,the

sistersandtheirfamilymovedtoasaferareaandsincethentheyhaveneverlookedback.

Thesisters*father,Richard,startedtotrainVenusandSerenawhentheywereyoungchildren.He

hasalwaysbeenverystrictwithhisdaughters,trainingthemhardtocompeteagainsteachother.

Brandi,thesisters'mothertaughtherdaughtersathomesothattheycompletedtheirhighschool

whiledevelopingtheirtenniscareers.Today,bothsistersarestudyingdesignatcollege.Theyhave

alreadyexpressedakeeninterestinworkingindesignaftertheirtenniscareerscometoanend.

Thesisters'roadtosuccesshasbeenamazing.ThefirsttimeVenusplayedinabigeventwasin

1996.Sincethen,shehaswonWimbledonandtheUSOpentwice.Serenahascontinuedtoimprove

andmakefantasticprogress.In1999and2002,shewontheUSOpen,andin2002and2003,shewas

thewomen'ssingleschampionatWimbledon.Hastennisevercausedproblemsbetweenthesisters?

Fortunately,no."We'veplayedeachotherbeforeandithasn'tworriedusyet!”saysVenus."Ifshe

wins,“Serenajokes,44Mamasaysshehastodothedishes!”

Lesson4SuperheroChristopherReeve

ChristopherReevewasbominSeptember,1952.Hewasinhisfirstschoolplaywhenhewas

eightandhestartedtoactinTVshowsandfilmswhilehewasstillincollege.Hemademany

successfulfilmsandTVshowsbutheismostfamousforhisSupermanfilms.

Unfortunately,disastercamein1995whenhefellfromhishorseandbrokehisback.Thedoctors

didnotexpecthimtolive.However,hemadeamazingprogress.Atfirst,hecouldn'tbreathewithouta

machine,buthelearnttobreatheonhisown.Hewouldneverwalkagainbuthestartedanewlife

withgreatcourage.

Thesecondyearafterhisaccident,Christopherreturnedtofilmmaking.Healsoraisedalotof

moneytopromotemedicalresearchintobackinjuries.HemadespeechesallovertheUSAabouthis

experiences.Thisnotonlydrewpublicattentiontoresearchintobackinjuriesbutalsoencourageda

lotofpeoplelivingwithallkindsofproblems.

Fromtheirhome,ChristopherandhiswifeDanaspokeabouttheirlifeaftertheaccident.

Haveyouthoughtofgivingupaftertheaccident?

“No.Fourdaysaftertheinjury,Icametounderstandmysituation.MywifeDanaandIwerein

thehospital.ThedoctorsaidIwasnotgoingtopullthrough.Danasaid:"Butyou'restillyou,andI

loveyou/Andthatsavedmylife.SincethatmomentIhaveneverthoughtofgivingup.Ofcourse,

Fvehadmomentsoffeelingsorryfbrmyself,butI'veneverhadanythoughtsofcommitting

suicide.,,

Didyouthinkthatyourmarriagewassostrong?

“Yes,becauseDana'ssowonderful.Wehavealwaysgotonreallywell.Ourrelationshiphas

alwaysbeenfantastic.^^

Howdidyourparentsreacttotheaccident?

'TheydivorcedwhenIwasfour.They'vegotclosersincetheaccident.,,

Howdidyougetinvolvedwithcharitywork?

“Iknowalotofdisabledpeopleneedmyhelp.ThisishowIgotinvolvedwithmycharitywork

toimprovethequalityoflifeforalldisabledpeople/*

“Withtheprogressofnewmedicalresearch,I'mconfidentthatpeoplelikemewouldbeableto

walkagainoneday.Soyoucansee,Tmfartoobusywithlivingtothinkofgivingup!”

ChristopherReevediedonOctober10,2004.Butpeopleallovertheworldwillalways

rememberhimasasuperhero.

Focusonreading

Spiderman-aherojustlikeyouandme

Spidermanisoneofthemostfamouscomicbookheroesofalltime.HewascreatedbyStanLee

in1963andwasfirstintroducedtotheworldinthepagesofMarvelcomicbooks.Atthattime,

Marvelwasasmallcompanyanditscompetitorwasabigcompanywho'dcreatedSuperman.But

Spidermanwasaherothatpeoplelikedbecausehehadproblemsjustliketheydid.Hewasa

superhero,butpeoplesawhimasoneofthem.ThesuccessoftheSpidermancomicsmeantthat

Marvelwassoonthebiggestcartooncompanyintheworld.

Spiderman'sstoryisthestoryofPeterParker,achildwholosthisparentsandliveswithhisaunt

anduncle.Peterisashy,quietboywearingglassesandhasfewfriends.Oneday,onahighschool

classtriptoasciencelab,hegetsbittenbyaspecialspider.SoonPeterrealiseshehasamazing

powers:heisasstrongandquickasaspiderandalsohasatypeofsixthsense.Henolongerneedshis

glassesandhecanusehissuperpowertoflythroughthecitystreets!

RememberingsomethinghisUncleBenhastoldhim,that“withgreatpower,theremustalso

comegreatresponsibility,,,Peterdecidestousehispowerstofightenemieswhodocruelthingsto

people.Andso,Spidermanisborn.

LifeisnoteasyforPetereventhoughheisasuperhero.HeisinlovewithMaryJanebutcannot

tellherabouthisamazingpowers.

Besides,hisbestfriendHarryhatesSpiderman!Peterisalsoshortofmoneyandtime.Hehasto

sellphotographsofSpiderman(himself!)toanewspaperandhekeepslosinghisotherjobsbecause

he'ssobusysavingpeople!Yethehastofightdifferentkindsofcruelenemies.

Theworld'sloveforSpidermanwasshownin2002andagainin2004,whenSpidermanand

Spiderman2becametwoofthemostwatchedmoviesofalltime.Andit'sunlikelythatthingswill

change.Allinall,peopleloveSpidermanbecausehestruggleswith,andsolvesproblemsjustlike

theydo.WithaneverydayherolikePeterParker,Spiderman3willnodoubtbeahugesuccesstoo.

CultureComer;elieroes

Inthecourseofspaceexploration,434astronautshavemadethejourneyintospace.

Theyservedallofus.

Unit3Celebration

Lesson1Festivals

A:Autumn

EveryyearinSeptemberorOctober,theMid-AutumnFestivaliscelebratedbytheChinese

peopleallovertheworld.Onthisday,themoonissaidtobeitsbiggestandbrightest.Peopleliketo

meetintheeveningandwatchthemoon.

TheMid-AutumnFestivalisimportantbecauseitisaspecialoccasionforfamily.Itisalsoaday

forspecialfoodslikemooncakes.Thereareallkindsofmooncakes.Traditionalmooncakesare

usuallymadewithbeanpaste,butnowadays,therearemanydifferentkindsofmooncakesincluding

fruit,coffee,chocolateandevenice-creammooncakes.

B:Winter

TheLanternFestivalfallsonthefifteenthdayofthefirstlunarmonth.Itmarkstheendofthe

ChineseNewYearcelebrations.

TherearemanystoriesabouthowtheLanternFestivalstarted.Inonestory,lanternswerelitto

celebratethepoweroflightoverdarkness.Inanotherstory,atownwasalmostdestroyedbutthelight

frommanylanternssavedit.Thestorywasaboutagodwhowantedtoburndownthetown.Hewas

fooledwhenhesawthousandsoflanterns.Hethoughtthetownwasalreadyburning.

Inthepast,lanternswereusuallylitbycandlesanddecoratedwithpicturesofbirds,animalsand

flowers,etc.Nowadays,mostlanternsaremadewithlightbulbsandbatteries,andtheycomeinmany

shapesandsizes.Inthenorth-easternpartofChina,thereareevenice-lanterns.

ThespecialfoodfortheLanternFestivalisthesweetdumpling.Sweetdumplingsareboiledand

servedinhotwater.

C:Summer

TheDragonBoatFestivalfallsonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthofthelunaryear,Asitisin

earlysummer,itmarksthebeginningofthehottestseasonoftheyear.

ThetraditionoftheDragonBoatFestivalstartedmorethan2,000yearsago.Intheolddays,

dragonboatraceswereorganizedonlybyChinesepeople.However,inrecentyears,peoplefrom

othercultureshavealsotakenpartinracesandenjoyedthefun.

Thereisaspecialfoodforthefestival.Itiscalledzongzi,whichisstickyriceinfreshbamboo

leaves

Lesson3Weddings.

WeddingsinIndonesia

Ifafriendgetsaninvitationtoawedding,youcangowithhim/her,evenzfyoudon'treceivean

invitationyourself.

Thetimesoftheweddingceremonyandthereceptionarebothontheinvitation.However,you

oughtnottogototheinvitation.However,yououghtnottogototheceremonybecauseitisonlyfor

closefamily.Ifyoureallywanttoseeit,yououghttoaskfirst.Everyonecanattendthereception

afterwards.

Nowadays,Indonesianwomendon'thavetocovertheirheads,buttheyunusuallywear

traditionalclothes.

Thereisaboxattheentrancetothereceptionandyououghttoputmoneyintoit!Butdon't

worry,youdon'thavetocontributealotofmoney.

Andremember-atmostweddingreceptionsyoucan'tdrinkalcohol.

GreekWeddings

OnthedayofaGreekweddingceremony,thebridge-groomhastoaskthebride'sfatherforhis

daughter'shandinmarriage.Thebridge-groom^bestmanthengoeswiththecoupletothechurch,to

bemarried.

Duringthechurchceremony,thebestmanshouldhelpputcrownsmadeofflowersontheheads

ofthebrideandbridegroom.Alongsilkribbonthatlinksthecrownsisasymbolofalongandhappy

lifeforthecouple.

Aftertheceremony,theguestscanattendaweddingaweddingreception,whichisusuallya

hugepartyandcanlastthroughthenight.Thereisalotofeating,drinkinganddancing,includingthe

famousGreekcircledance,whereeveryonejoinsin.Duringthereception,guestscanthrowdisheson

thefloorandputmoneyonthebride'sweddingdressforgoodluck.

Lesson4ChristmasMemoriesofChristmas

Forme,Christmasalwaysbeganinthemiddleofthecold,windymonthofNovember.My

sister,Alison,andIsatdowninfrontofthefireandwrotealettertoFatherChristmastellinghim

aboutallthepresentswewanted.Weseriouslywrote“FatherChristmas,theNorthPole“onthe

envelope,beforegivingthemtoourmothertopost.

WithDecemberourexcitementgreweachdayasweopenedthenewyearcalendar,

Christmascardsarrivedinthepost,Christmaslightscourse,therewassnoweverywhere.Enough

snowtomakesnowmen,andtohaveexcitingsnowballfightsintheschoolplayground.

OnChristmasEve,thewholefamilyhelpedtodecoratethehouse,putuptheChristmastree,the

decorationsandtheballoons.Then,intheafternoon,whenAuntieKathleenandmytwocousins

arrived,everythingwasready.Beforewewenttobed,weleftsomewineandbiscuitsforFather

Christmasandthenputourstockingsattheendofourbeds.Wetriedtostayawakeaslongas

possibletoseeFatherChristmasbutthenextthingweknewitwasmorning.Christmasmorning!

Atthebottomofthebedwasthestocking,nowfullofallkindsofsmallpresentsandsweets.

Christmasmorningwasbrightandsunnyand,afterchurch,mycousinDavidandIwentoutintothe

gardentoplaywithournewpresents.Lunchwasalwayslate,butwhatalunch!Abigturkeywithall

thevegetablesfollowedbyChristmaspudding.Iliketurkeybreastthebest.Iputsomuchfoodinmy

mouthsometimesthatitwashardtoswallow.WesangChristmascarolshappily,laughedatjokes,put

onsillypaperhatsandlaughedagain.

Afterlunch,theadultssleptonthesofasinfrontoftheQueen'sspeechontelevisionwhilewe

allplayedcards.Thenwehadtea,withahugeChristmascakecoveredwithsnowmen.Itdidn'tseem

possible,butwecarriedoneating.Bybedtimeallofthechildrenwereverytired.Assoonaswe

turnedoffthelight,weallfellintoadeep,happysleep.

CultureComerHappyHalloween!

HalloweeniscelebratedbyWesterncultureseveryyearonthenightof31October.Butdidyouknow

thatitisoneoftheoldestholidaysinhistory?

Over2000yearsago,peopleknownastheCeltslivedinNorthernEurope.Theyworshippedthesun

godandbelievedthegodmadetheircropsgrow.Onthenightof31October,aftertheircropshad

beenharvestedandstoredforwinter,theCeltsbegana3-dayNewYearholiday.Duringthistime,

theyofferedcropsanddeadanimalstothankthegodanddancedincostumesmadefromanimal

headsandskin.

Later,whentheRomansinvadedEurope,theyadoptedtheCelts1NewYearcustomsandusedthemin

theirownfestivals.After835AD,theCatholicChurchinEuropeinventedaholidayon1November,

AllHallows'Day,tohonorsaints.Later,itinventedanotherholidayon2November,AllSouls*Day,to

honordeadpeople.

TocelebrateAllSoulsDay,peoplemadebigbonfiresanddressedupasangels,devils,saintsand

witches.Theylitcandlesinlanternsmadeofhollowed-outturniporpumpkintofrightenawayghosts.

Onthisnight,peoplealsotravelledfromvillagetovillagetoaskforfood.Itwasbelievedthatany

villagethatdidnotgivefoodwouldhavebadluck.

Gradually,overtheyears,theCeltic,RomanandCatholiccustomsandholidaysgotmixedtogether,

andfinally31OctoberbecameknownasHalloween,

Inthenineteenthcentury,IrishimmigrantstookHalloweencustomsfromEuropetotheUSA.Today,

intheUSAandtheUKinparticular,Halloweenhasbecomeaspecialoccasionforyoungpeople,In

thesecountries,childrenwearspookycostumesandgofromdoortodoorsaying"Trickortreat!'1and

theyaregivensweetstotakehome.

LanguageSpotlACHRISTMASCAROL

ItwasChristmasEve.EbenezerScroogewasinhisoffice,theofficeofScroogeandMarley.Hisclerk,

poorBobCratchit,wasworking.Suddenly,Scrooge'syoungnephewcameintotheoffice."Hello

uncle.MerryChristmas!"hesaidhappily."DoyouwanttocomeandhaveChristmasdinnerwithus

tomorrow?"nChristmas?nScroogereplied,"Bah!Humbug!"ScroogehatedChristmasandherefused

hisnephew'sinvitationfordinneronChristmasDay.Hisnephewwentaway.Latertwomencameto

theoffice,askingformoneyforthepoor.

"Bah!Aretherenoprisonsforthesepeople?**Scroogerefusedtogiveevenapenny.

Then,whenitwastimetoclosetheoffice,BobCratchitaskedforthedayoff,becauseitwas

Christmas.

nAllright,"Scroogesaid,nbutbehereearlythenextmorning!1'

ThateveningScroogewassittinginfrontofhisfireathomewhen,suddenly,hesawaghostinfront

ofhim.nWhoareyou?"Scroogeaskednervously.

“Inlife,IwasJacobMarley,yourpartner.IamwearingthesechainsandIcanneverbeinpeace,

becausewhenIlived,Ionlythoughaboutmoney.ButIamheretohelpyou.Youhaveachanmceto

escapemyterribledestiny.Tonightthreeghostswillvisityou."ThentheghostofMarleydisappeared.

Scroogewenttobedandfellasleep,butinthenighthewokeup.

Thefigureofastrangeoldmanappearednearhisbed.

nIamtheGhostofChristmasPast.Ofyourpast,1'ittoldScrooge.TheghosttookS