圣诞节

 　　Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English, I'm Rob…

　　Finn: …and I'm Finn, hello - and a merry Christmas to you all!
　　Rob: Thanks for that festive 2 greeting Finn. Yes, many people around the world are getting ready to celebrate Christmas, including me…
　　Finn: …and me Rob! For me, it's the time of year when we don't have to go to work, we eat and drink lots and, of course, we get presents. So, Rob, what have you got me?
　　Rob: Wait and see Finn - I haven't wrapped it yet! Don't forget Christmas is also a time for giving presents too. We'll be finding 3 out what Christmas means to other people soon and using some vocabulary connected to the festive season - another way of saying 'the Christmas period'. But let's start with a question.
　　Finn: Yes, the question is: what have you bought me for Christmas?
　　Rob: No Finn, it's not! We know Christmas is full of traditions - events and activities that started a long time ago and now happen every year. Well, in Germany it's traditional to lock a room before Christmas. So Finn, do you know what happens in that room? Is it…
　　a) used to prepare the Stollen cake, a moist 4 bread filled with fruit.
　　b) where the tree is decorated, and presents placed underneath 5.
　　c) in olden days it was used to breed 6 a turkey for the Christmas feast 7.
　　Finn: To breed a turkey! Very interesting! But I think Stollen cake is German so I'm going to say a) where they made the Stollen cake.
　　Rob: OK - I'll let you know the answer later on. So let's talk more about Christmas and what it means to different people. For some people it's a religious occasion 8.
　　Finn: Some people believe this is when Jesus Christ 1 was born - so it's a sort of birthday celebration. People might go to a church service and sing carols - those are the traditional Christmas songs.
　　Rob: Other people like to just let their hair down - or have a good time - because it is the middle of the cold, dark winter - although not everywhere.
　　Finn: Indeed. It's the middle of the summer in Australia, so some people celebrate with a barbeque on the beach.
　　Rob: But I quite like it being cold and dark here in the UK - it feels special decorating the house with lights and candles. And it's a good excuse for staying indoors 9 and eating and drinking!
　　Finn: I guess the thing that most people do at Christmas is catch up with friends and family. Well, that's what I do.
　　Rob: Me too. Well, let's find out what Christmas means to other people. Listen out for the words they use to describe their feelings.
　　Man 1: I suppose Christmas is a time where I feel hopeful for what lies ahead; feel thankful for what I have both materially received and also for the good times that we've had; and then joyous 10 I suppose, as well.
　　Woman: Relaxed, happy, fat!
　　Man 2: Three words to describe Christmas I suppose is: family first of all; holidays, going back home, and thirdly, I suppose, community, getting together, usually at home, in the pub 11 with friends from around the neighbourhood and that sort of thing. So those are the three words that describe Christmas.
　　Rob: Some interesting words there. The first man said he felt hopeful - so, he's feeling good about what lies ahead in the future.
　　Finn: And he felt thankful - grateful for what he had received. He felt thankful for the material things he has and he's also thankful for all the good times he's had. I'll drink to that!
　　Rob: Ha! That's something you can say to mean you agree with what someone says. Another word he used was joyous - meaning full of happiness.
　　Finn: We also heard from other people using positive words like happy and relaxed. Someone said they felt fat - probably because of stuffing 12 themselves with food.
　　Rob: Someone else said, to them, Christmas meant family and going home for a holiday too. And they said community.
　　Finn: A community is a group of people who have common interests, and often because they live in the same area - the same neighbourhood.
　　Rob: And he said a good place for the community to come together is at the pub - that's a very British place where you can socialise over a drink or two. I think I might head to the pub now Finn.
　　Finn: A good idea Rob. But what about the answer to today's question first?
　　Rob: Ah yes. Earlier I asked you if you knew what happens in a room that in German tradition is locked before Christmas. Is it to…?
　　a) prepare the Stollen cake, a moist bread filled with fruit.
　　b) decorate the tree, and put presents underneath.
　　c) in olden days, to breed a turkey for the Christmas feast.
　　Finn: And I said a) it's where they prepare the Stollen cake.
　　Rob: It's a nice idea but you are wrong.
　　Finn: Was it the turkey?
　　Rob: No, the room is actually locked just to decorate the tree and put presents underneath.
　　Finn: Really?!
　　Rob: Quite a nice tradition anyway. By the way, here's your present. Happy Christmas!
　　Finn: (unwrapping) Thanks Rob… it's a dictionary.
　　Rob: Yes, it could come in useful. It's the thought that counts!
　　Finn: Thank you Rob. Yes I need to improve my vocabulary!
　　Rob: Well, that's it for this 6 Minute English. Please check out our website at www.bbclearningenglish.com. And join us again next week for more 6 Minute English.
　　Both: Bye.




点击收听单词发音  






1
Christ

  
 


n.基督，救世主，耶稣


参考例句：





I regarded him as the Christ.我把他当作救世主。
Christ preached that we should love each other.基督在布道中说人们应该互爱。












2
festive

  
 


adj.欢宴的，节日的


参考例句：





It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。












3
finding

  
 


n.发现，发现物；调查的结果


参考例句：





The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。












4
moist

  
 


adj.潮湿的，湿润的；(果物)多汁的；[医]有分泌物的，湿性的；n.潮湿


参考例句：





There were no windows to admit moist atmosphere to enter.没有窗户使潮湿的空气进入室内。
Winds from the sea are usually moist.海风通常是潮湿的。












5
underneath

  
 


adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面


参考例句：





Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。












6
breed

  
 


n.品种，种类；vi.繁殖，产仔；vt.养殖，产生


参考例句：





The parents are trying to breed their son a musician.这对父母尽力要把儿子培养成为音乐家。
This breed of horses is both tall and heavily grown.这种马既高且大。












7
feast

  
 


n.盛宴，筵席，节日


参考例句：





After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。
You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！












8
occasion

  
 


n.场合，时机，机会，诱因，理由；vt.惹起，引起


参考例句：





Her dress was too showy for such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，她的服装过分华丽了。
Her tears were fought back on such an occasion.在这种场合下她忍住了眼泪。












9
indoors

  
 


adv.(在)室内，(在)户内


参考例句：





Because of the coldness of the weather we stayed indoors.我们因天气寒冷呆在家里。
It is very cold outside,you'd better come indoors across the board.外面很冷，你们所有人最好都进屋。












10
joyous

  
 


adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的


参考例句：





The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。












11
pub

  
 


n.[英]旅馆，小店，酒馆


参考例句：





He is the landlord of this pub.他是这家酒店的店主。
They saw that four large men marched into the pub.他们看到四个彪形大汉走进了酒吧。












12
stuffing

  
 


n.填充物vt.填充(stuff的现在分词)


参考例句：





We had a chicken and stuffing, and new potatoes from the garden. 我们吃了只百宝鸡，还有园子里种的新鲜马铃薯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
She had already mixed the stuffing for the dumplings. 她已经把饺子馅和好了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》