Explain the reading rules of the words in bold.

Thanksgiving

Then and Now

Americans celebrateThanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. It is one of the oldest American holidays. On Thanksgiving Day, Americans remember the Pilgrims – a small group of people who came to America more than 350 years ago.

The Pilgrims wanted to practice religion in their own way. The government of England did not permit this, so the Pilgrims left England. In September 1620, 102 of them got on a ship and sailed to America. Their ship was named the Mayflower.

The voyage was long and hard. The ship was small and crowded. Many Pilgrims became sick. Some of them died. After 66 days at sea, the Mayflower landed.

The Pilgrims named the place where they landed, Plymouth. They started to build houses there, but winter came very soon. They were not ready for the cold. They did not have enough warm clothing and food. Half of them died that winter.

At last, spring came. Some friendly Indians taught the Pilgrims how to hunt and how to plant new vegetables – beans, corn, and pumpkins.

 

During the summer of 1621, their corps grew. In the fall the Pilgrims had a big harvest. They wanted to give thanks for the food, so they had a big feast and invited their Indian friends.

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. There was plenty of food to eat. There was turkey with nuts, beans, cornbread, and a sauce made from cranberries. For dessert, there was pumpkin pie. During the celebration, the Indians and the Pilgrims played games together.

 

In the United States today, Thanksgiving is a lot like the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth. Friends and families get together for a big dinner. They eat the same food that the Pilgrims and Indians ate in 1621. They often watch a football game in the morning or afternoon. In some cities, like New York and Philadelphia, there are big Thanksgiving Day parades. For modern Americans, Thanksgiving Day is also a day for giving thanks for the good things they have enjoyed during the year.

Read the dialogue.

Career Prospects

Susan How have your two sons been doing at school lately, Andy?

Andy Terrible! James never starts working, and Malcolm never stops

working.

Susan You’re joking, of course. I hear that Malcolm is likely to win all

the prizes in the exam this year.

Andy Yes, so his teachers say. But he deserves to do well. He’s always

been so conscientious and hard-working, and he’s been slaving at

his books every evening for months on end recently. He wants to go to Oxford University next year.

Susan Maybe he’ll become a university lecturer himself eventually.

Andy Maybe. But I think he studies too hard; I sometimes wish he’d go

out and enjoy himself for a change.

Susan Yes … What about your younger one?

Andy Well, James teachers say that he has ability, but that he’s too

inconsistent and that he rarely does his best. In other words, he’s not bad when he makes an effort, but he’s too idle. He couldn’t care less about exams. He does his homework in ten minutes every evening and then rushes out to play tennis.

Susan He’s crazy about tennis, isn’t he? Perhaps he can make his

fortune at it. You can make more money from sport than from an

old-fashioned profession these days.

Andy So I believe. But my wife always worries about the children’s

future. She wants James to give up tennis and study law, but I don’t believe in boys to take up careers they’re not cut out for. I wonder how James’ll develop in a couple of years’ time!

1. Read the words and explain the reading rules of :

“W”working – want – when – what – well – how – always – wonder

win – wish

“O”sport – fortune – son – become – not – old – work – homework

couple – sometimes – about – month – one – too – money

“A”care – want – make – law – bad – what – ability – James – hard

start – take – all – rarely – change

“C”course – couple – recently – career – forcing – children – could

lecturer – crazy – inconsistent – conscientious

“E”been – year – effort – teacher – career – every – evening – ten

deserve – best

Read the poem according to the reading rules.

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 1578