Section III
Maintaining a Sharp Eye

Passage I :   Read and Think

Answer the following questions according to the text.

  1. What is the origin of Thanksgiving Day?
                                                        
  2. How did the early settlers survive their first winter in the New World?

                                                         

　3.What does a traditional Thanksgiving dinner usually include?

                                                         

　4.What do people do if they can't join the family for Christmas?

                                                         

5.Why is Christmas said to be a family holiday?
                                                     

Key:

  1. It’s origin dates back to the arrival of some of the first European settlers in the New World.
  2. With the help of their native Indian neighbors.
  3. It usually includes turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
  4. They will send a Christmas card home to express greetings of the season.
  5. Because it always has its “home, sweet home” flavor.

Passage I :   Read and Complete 1
Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage.
The origin of Thanksgiving Day    1    to the arrival of the first European settlers in America, which has been       2     favorable natural conditions. However, those early settlers would not have survived their first winter without the help of their Indian friends. The first Thanksgiving Day     3    after the first harvest when people showed their gratitude to God and their friends. A Thanksgiving dinner usually    4     traditional food such as turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie that early settlers and the Indians    5    on the first Thanksgiving Day in 1621.
Now Thanksgiving Day is officially set on the fourth Thursday of November. The celebration also    6    the beginning of the busiest Christmas shopping season in most stores and shops. Although most American households won't    7   a Christmas tree until a couple of weeks before Christmas Eve, there are impatient shops and families that    8    that long.
Christmas is a holiday for family reunions. Nostalgia for home    9     in quite a number of Christmas songs such as "I'll be home for Christmas." and "Silent Night,     10     ".People who    11     their family for Christmas     12       a Christmas card home to express their love and best wishes. Parents will prepare gifts for their children, which are often     13   to be brought to them by Santa Claus. Adults enjoy their leisure by     14     a cup of tea or coffee. Though Christmas is now becoming a popular international holiday it    15    its "Home, sweet home" flavor.

Key:
1. dates back   2. blessed with    3. was observed    4. includes   5. ate
6. marks     7. put up     8. will not wait    9. is expressed   10. Holy Night
11. cannot join   12. will send  13. believed  14. talking over  15. still maintains

Passage I :   Read and Complete 2
Complete each of the following statements by adding a clause to each sentence according to the passage.

1. Thanksgiving Day is a uniquely American holiday, ________________________________.
2. However, those early settlers would not have survived their first bitterly cold winter without the help of their native Indian neighbors, _________________________ __                              .
3. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner usually includes turkey, corn, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie --- all foods                                             .
4. Some American households will even put up a Christmas tree this early, __________________________________________________________.
5. Those ____________________ will send a Christmas card home to express greetings of the season.
6. Children are kept busy with gifts ________________                      .
7. ___________________________________, it still maintains its sweet home flavor.

Key:

    1. which dates back to the arrival of the first European settlers in the New World
    2. who taught them how to plant corn, and how to hunt wild deer
    3. that early settlers and the Indians ate on the first Thanksgiving in 1621
    4. although most will wait until a couple of weeks before Christmas Eve
    5. who cannot join the family
    6. they believe to be brought to them by Santa Claus
    7. Though Christmas is now celebrated widely the world over

Passage I :   Read and Complete 3
Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions given below, changing the form if necessary.

believe      bless with     talk    responsible       date back
express        fail to           maintain          mark             
observe       put up          similar to           survive

1. This china vase __________ to the early Song dynasty.
2. The company has tried to ________ the high quality of their products.
3. The baby is the only person that ____________ the air crash.
4. People have different ideas as to who should be ____________ for the accident.
5. Gold is __________ copper in color.
6. Shall we _______ the tent near the river?
7. The couple often ______ understand each other.
8. It can __________ that there is no life on Mars.
9. China’s accession to WTO _______ a new era in her development.
10. Dragon Boat Festival ___________ on the 5th of May.
11. China ______________ a long history of civilization.
12. I still find it difficult to ________ myself in English.   
13. I regard it a great enjoyment to _____ over a cup of tea with friends.

Key:
1. dates back   2. maintain   3. has survived   4. responsible   5. similar to
6. put up       7. fail to     8. be believed    9. marks      10. is observed 
11. is blessed with    12. express       13. talk

Passage I :   Read and Translate
Translate the following sentences into English.

  1. 这座城市有着天赐美景和丰富的自然资源。 (be blessed with)
  2. 第一个端午节出现在屈原离世之后，人民用一种独特的方式向这位伟人表达敬意。 (observe, unique)
  3. 传统的中国生日宴常有鸡汤面。(traditional, include)

4尽管大部分人家要等到春节前几个星期才动手准备，可有些中国家庭却这么早就开始筹备了。(prepare for, wait until)
5他们对祖国的热爱之情表达在"我的祖国"的甜美歌声中。(express, melody)
6那些不能跟随俱乐部观看主队比赛的足球迷绝对会在电视上观看每一场比赛。(join, fail to)
7 尽管粤菜闻名全世界，许多广东菜肴已不再保留它们的特有风味了。(maintain)

Key:

  1. This city is /has been blessed with beautiful scenery and rich natural resources.
  2. The first Dragon-boat Festival was observed after the death of Qu Yuan, and people showed their respect to this great man in a unique way.
  3. A traditional Chinese birthday dinner usually includes chicken soup noodle.
  4. Some Chinese families will even start to prepare for the new year this early, although most will wait until a couple of weeks before Spring Festival.
  5. Their love for the country is expressed in the sweet melody “My Homeland”.
  6. The football fans who could not join the club in the host matches will never fail to watch each game on TV.
  7. Though Guangdong dishes are popular the world over, many of them no longer maintain their special flavor.

Passage I :   Read and Simulate

Pay attention to the italicized (斜体的) parts in the English sentences and translate the Chinese sentences by simulating the structure of the English sentences.
1America has been blessed with fertile land and rich natural resources.
China has been blessed with a long history and rich cultural heritage.

滨海市享有天然的旅游资源和宜人的气候。
                                                         
希腊盛富美丽的神话与童话故事。
                                                         
2However, those early settlers would not have survived their first cold winter without the help of their native Indian neighbors.
However, we would not have succeeded in the campaign without the support from all the volunteers.

然而，如果没有队友们的合作，这个球员是不可能攻入这个球的
                                                         

然而，如果没有解放军战士的帮助，许多人是不可能躲过这场洪水的。
                                                         

3The first Thanksgiving Day was observed after the fall harvest.
The first modern Olympics were observed in 1792.

中国第一个教师节出现在八十年代早期。
                                                         
第一个联合国日出现在二战之后。
                                                         

4The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year.
The period after Christmas is the most relaxing of the year for many people.

期末考试后是繁忙学期中最轻松的一段时光。
                                                         

午夜后的时辰是一天中最黑暗的。
                                                         

5This feeling is expressed in the song "I'll be home for Christmas".
This idea is expressed in the speech "I have a dream".

这一愿望被表达在《给我三天光明》这一文章中。
                                                         

这种情绪被表达在《月光》这首诗中。
                                                         

6Children are kept busy with gifts they believe to be brought to them by Santa Claus.
Teachers are kept busy with papers they believe to be valued by students.

父母们忙于他们认定是天予的职责。
                                                         

主妇们忙于她们认定是社会强加在她们身上的家务琐事。
                                                         

7The usual Christmas dinner is similar to Thanksgiving dinner.
The fashionable birthday party today in China is similar to those in the West.

练瑜珈功的基本方法大体与练太极拳相同。
                                                         

传统的径赛项目大体与现代径赛项目相同。
                                                         

8Though Christmas is now celebrated widely the world over, it still maintains its "home, sweet home" flavor.
Though yoga is now a popular practice almost the world over, it still maintains its strong mysterious flavor.

尽管剪纸现在已成为享誉世界的艺术形式，它依然保留着东方韵味。
                                                         

尽管这位总裁 (CEO) 现在已成为世界知名人物，他依然保持着简朴的生
活风格。
                                                         

Key:

  1. Binhai has been blessed with tourist resources and pleasant weather.

Greece has been blessed with beautiful myths and fairy stories.

2.However, the player would not have made the global without the cooperation of his teammates.

However, many people would not have survived the flood without the help given by the PLA men.

3.The first Teacher’s Day was observed in the early 1980s in China.

The first United Nations Day was observed after World War II.

4.The time after the final examinations is the most relaxing of the busy term.

The hour after midnight is the darkest time of the day.

5.This desire is expressed in the article/essay “Three days to see”.

This mood is expressed in the poem “Moonlight”.

6.Parents are kept busy with duties they believe to be offered by nature.

Housewives are kept busy with chores they believe to be imposed upon them by society.

7.The general way of practicing yoga is similar to that for practicing tai-ji.

The traditional track races are similar to the modern ones.

8.Though paper cutting is now a popular art form almost the world over, it still maintains its oriental flavor.

Though the CEO is now a well-known figure almost the world over, he still maintains his simple life style.