【一起听英语】圣诞节
圣诞节是一个大家伙都放假庆祝的日子，朋友们、家人们聚在一起吃吃喝喝，谈天说地。就像中国的春节.....
Rob 1: 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 3 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 4 it yet! Don't forget Christmas is also a time
for giving presents too. We'll be finding 5 out what Christmas means 6 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 7 bread filled with fruit.
b) where the tree is decorated, and presents placed underneath 8.
c) in olden days it was used to breed 9 a turkey for the Christmas feast 10.
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 11 occasion 12.
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Finn: Some people believe this is when Jesus Christ 2 was born – so it's a sort of birthday
celebration 13. 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 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.
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Finn: We also heard from other people using positive words like happy and relaxed.
Someone said they felt fat – probably because of stuffing 19 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!
6 Minute English ©bbclearningenglish.com 2013
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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.
- Two men formed a plot to rob the bank.两人制定了抢劫那家银行的秘密计划。
- They were scheming to rob the bank.他们在密谋抢劫银行。
- 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。
- 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。
- The chocolates are individually wrapped in gold foil. 巧克力用金箔纸一颗颗独立包装。
- Would you like the chocolates gift-wrapped? 你要把巧克力糖打成礼品包吗？
- 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。
- That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
- We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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！
- She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
- It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。
- 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。
- The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
- The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。
- 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。
- This is a hopeful news.这是个鼓舞人心的消息。
- We are hopeful about the future.我们对未来抱乐观态度。
- 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。
- 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。
- If you will help us, we shall be very grateful.如果你愿意帮助我们，我们会很感激你。
- He closed his letter with expression of grateful thanks.他在那封信的结尾表达了自己的感激之情。