例題3
Starting a New Tradition
Shantelle Davis is a nine-year-old girl in New York. On a cold night in December, her family is standing around the kitchen table while she lights a candle. The table is decorated with baskets of fruits and vegetables and ears of corn for Shantelle and her two brothers.
“This candle represents umoja, an African word that means being together,” Shantelle says. “That's the most important thing for a family.(第五題:寬扎節(jié)是家人團聚的好時光)”
Tonight is the first night of Kwanzaa, and Shantelle is spending the holiday with her family. More than 5 million African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa every year from December 26 until January 1(第一題:選擇“A正確”。超過500萬的非洲裔美國人每年從12月26日到1月1日慶祝寬扎節(jié)。). It's a time when they get together with their families to think about their history and their ancestors in Africa.
Kwanzaa is very unusual because it was started by one man. In 1966, an American named Maulana Karenga wanted a holiday for African-Americans to honor their culture and traditions. (第二題:1966年美國人馬拉那•卡林加為非洲裔美國人創(chuàng)立了寬扎節(jié))So he used words and customs from Africa to create a new celebration. He took the name Kwanzaa from the words for “first fruits” in Swahili, an African language. At first, a few American families had small celebrations at home. Now there are also Kwanzaa events in schools and public places,and Kwanzaa has spread to other countries like Canada and Jamaica.(第四題:在加拿大、牙買加等國慶祝寬扎節(jié),但沒有說在非洲人民慶祝這個節(jié)日。)
The main symbol of Kwanzaa is a candleholder with seven candles, one for each of the principles of Kwanzaa. Each night, a family member lights one of the candles and talks about the idea it represents:being together, being yourself, helping each other, sharing, having a goal, creating, and believing. The candles are red, black, and green, the colors of Kwanzaa. The parents also pour drinks to honor family members who have died. On the last night of Kwanzaa, there is a big dinner with African food, and children receive small presents.(第六題:孩子們收到小禮物。)
Today people can buy Kwanzaa greeting cards and special Kwanzaa clothes. Stores sell Kwanzaa candles and candleholders. Some people don't believe that Kwanzaa is a real holiday(第七題:不是一個真正的節(jié)日),because it's so new(第三題:一些人認為寬扎節(jié)的歷史并不久遠;寬扎節(jié)創(chuàng)立于1966年。). But other people say that customs and celebrations are always changing and that Kwanzaa shows what is important in people's lives.
Shantelle Davis says she likes Kwanzaa because it's fun. “But I also learn new things every year," she says.
詞匯:
ancestor n.祖宗,祖先 be decorated with 由……所裝飾
honor vt. 尊敬,使榮幸; n.榮譽,尊敬 ears of corn玉米穗
candleholder n.燭臺
注釋:
1. It's a time when they get together with their families to think about their history and their ancestors in Africa.這段時間里他們和家人待在一起緬懷他們的歷史和非洲的祖先。
2. ... shows what is important in people's lives. ……展現(xiàn)了人們生活中重要的東西。