VOA慢速英语207--土拨鼠日2017-土拨鼠费尔预测冬天会延长6周
时间：2018-12-07 作者：英语课 分类：2017年VOA慢速英语(二)月
Groundhog Day 2017: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts 6 More Weeks of Winter
Here's WGroundhog hat's Trending Today.
Pennsylvania’s world famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter on Thursday after seeing his shadow.
This event is part of an American tradition called “Groundhog Day.” It takes place every February 2 in the small Pennsylvanian town of Punxsutawney.
Since 1886, thousands of people have come together on this day on a hill called “Gobbler’s Knob 1.” They watch as a groundhog named Phil predicts the length of the winter season. Today was the 131st official Groundhog Day.
A groundhog is a large rodent 2, and part of a family known as marmots.
On Groundhog Day, Phil the groundhog comes out of a hole in the earth just after sunrise. As the tradition goes, Phil will then look for his shadow on the ground. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of cold weather during winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, warmer weather will arrive soon.
From Europe to America
The story of Groundhog Day comes from an early Christian 3 European tradition, says John Griffiths. He helps take care of Phil the groundhog.
“It stems 4 from the tradition of ‘Candlemass.’ February 2 actually is the halfway 5 point of winter. In Europe, they would melt their candles down and make new candles … and it was basically a day for communities and folks to get together.”
Griffiths said that when European settlers came to Pennsylvania from Germany, they held on to that tradition. They decided 6 that the groundhog was the best animal to continue the tradition.
The town of Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in 1886, but the first official Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob happened the next year, in 1887.
The legend of Phil
Phil is taken care of by a local group known as Phil’s “Inner Circle.” Griffiths is a member of the Inner Circle. He says the group helps pull Phil out of the hole on Groundhog Day. The members also take care of the day-to-day activities of the Groundhog Club. The Groundhog Club organizes the annual celebration.
Phil has become very important for the town of Punxsutawney. This year, between 15,000 to 20,000 people came to town for the celebration. The event helps support the local economy.
Many people say that Punxsutawney Phil is always correct with his weather predictions. Elaine Owen traveled to Punxsutawney from Greenwich, Pennsylvania. It was her first time coming to the event.
“It’s just been a tradition that everybody says that the groundhog is very accurate. And whatever he predicts is what happens.”
As the story goes, the groundhog that appeared in this year’s event is the same groundhog that saw its shadow in 1886. Phil is able to live so long because he drinks “groundhog punch,” made from a secret recipe. One sip 7 is given to Phil every summer. It is enough to give him many more years of life.
More than just the weather
The Stormfax website looked back at Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions over the years. It found Phil has been correct 39 percent of the time. He usually predicts six more weeks of winter weather.
Griffiths says Groundhog Day means more to people than just predicting the weather.
“It’s not religious, it’s not political, it’s all about having fun. It’s a time of the year… it gives everybody a chance to get out and for one day, cast all their cares off and have a good time.”
Visitors agree. One visitor who went by the nickname 8 of “Winter” says the event helps bring the community together.
“I think it brings a community together, and people get really excited… generally speaking Groundhog Day is something that, for a very long time, has brought communities together."
Whether it is for the community, the weather prediction, or just the tradition itself, Groundhog Day is one of America’s most unusual celebrations.
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Words in This Story
accurate - adj. able to produce results that are correct
candle - n. wax that has been formed into a stick or another shape and has a string in the middle that can be burned
cast - v. to throw or move (something) in a forceful way
celebration - n. a party or other special event that you have for an important occasion or holiday
groundhog - n. a small, furry 9 North American animal that lives in the ground
marmot - n. a small animal of America and Europe that has short legs and that lives in holes that it digs in the ground
rodent - n. a small animal (such as a mouse, rat, squirrel, or beaver) that has sharp front teeth
- There is a knob of butter on the table.桌子上有一小块黄油。
- This knob is only held on by sellotape.这个旋钮只是用透明胶带固定住的。
- When there is a full moon,this nocturnal rodent is careful to stay in its burrow.月圆之夜，这种夜间活动的啮齿类动物会小心地呆在地洞里不出来。
- This small rodent can scoop out a long,narrow tunnel in a very short time.这种小啮齿动物能在很短的时间里挖出一条又长又窄的地道来。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- The present wave of strikes stems from discontent among the lower-paid. 当前的罢工浪潮起因于低工资雇员们的不满情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Her interest in flowers stems from her childhood in the country. 她对花卉的兴趣产生于她在乡下度过的童年时代。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
- In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
- She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
- Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。