unit 13 reading1 Hallowe’en

A Time of Surprise and Joy

Pre-reading Questions

1. When is Hallowe’en?2. Who did people think would come

back on earth on Hallowe’en?3. What were some of the old customs

that some superstitious people kept?4. Why did people hang rowan leaves

over stable and shed doors?

5. What has Hallowe’en become today?

6. What do chidren do on Hallowe’en?

7. Name some special games played by children on Hallowe’en?

8. What happens to those people who have no sweets for children?

Passage Analysis

Style: expositionTheme: practices in Hallowe’enStructure:

Part 1: “superstitious” feature of Hallowe’enPart 2: Hallowe’en for childrenPart 3: Hallowe’en artifact “jack-o’-lantern”

Language

points

spell

n. words used as a charm, supposed to have

magic power 符咒；咒语 / attraction ， fascinationexercised by a person 魔力；迷惑力

1. the spell of fine music2. to speak the spell over sb.3. to cast/ put/ lay/set a spell over/ on sb.4. to break the spell5. The beauty of the island cast a spell

over the tourists.

More on “spell ”

n. an unbroken period of time of usually unstated length 一段时间

a usually quickly-passing period of illness, fainting, etc; attack 一阵

1. a cold spell 一阵寒流2. a spell of coughing 一阵咳嗽

to enchant(by/with)

v. (often past tense) to fill someone with delight; to use magic on

1. I was enchanted by her singing.2. He is enchanted with her manner.3. The witch enchanted the princess with

magic words.4. We were enchanted with the

performance of the opera.

to keep up

to continue something/to remain the same

1. Lanny kept up a correspondence with her friend.

2. We’ve kept up our friendship for over twenty years.

3. It is difficult to keep up a conversation with someone who only says “yes” and “no”.

4. Quite a number of people keep up the tradition of making pumpkin pies on Thanks Giving Day.

in an effort/ efforts to do sth.

1. They climbed up the deck in an effort(in efforts) to see what was happening.

2. The terrorists failed in their efforts to attack the navy base.

3. The novel got printed in a common effort.4. The small country is fighting hard in

efforts to win independence.5. The Pantagon warned Asia of attacks

from Islamic terrorists in an effort to rally support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

to dress up

to make (sth./sb.) more attractive, esp. Withclothing / (usu. of children) to wear someoneelse’s clothes for fun and pretence

1. What they wanted was to dress up and display themselves.

2. They dressed up for the grand occasion.3. Mary was dressed up the play Cinderella in her

school play.4. The children dressed themselves up as pirates.

to hollow out

to make a hollow or hollows in/ to bend into ahollow shape

1. The boy hollowed a whistle out a piece of wood.

2. The old man hollowed one hand against his ear to hear better.

3. It has been warned that the river banks have been hollowed out by rushing water.

Translation Check

1. 医生建议这个病人在手术之后要充分休息。（ recommend ）

2. 他已经超负荷工作多年了，怪不得他病倒了。 (no wonder)

3. 她使自己整天都忙忙碌碌的，力图以此来克服她失去儿子的悲痛。 (in an effort)

4. 每隔半个小时就有一辆火车离站。 (at intervals)5. 今晚的观众大多是四十岁以上的人。 (for the

most part)

The doctor recommended that the patient should have plenty of rest after the operation.

He had been overworking for years. No wonder he was taken ill.

She kept herself busy all day long in an effort to get over her sorrow at the death of her son.

Trains leaves this station at intervals of half an hour.

The audience tonight, for the most part, people over forty.

Reading II

The Slow Death of Solemn Sunday

England under King Edward VII (1841-1910), whose reign (1901-1910) followed that Queen Victoria.

Edwardian England

King Edward 1841-1910, King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1901. As Prince of Wales he was a prominent social figure, but his mother Queen Victoria considered him too frivolous to take part in political life. In 1860 he made the first tour of Canada and the US ever undertaken by a British prince. He took a close interest in politics and was on good terms with party leaders. He succeeded to me throne 1901 and was crowned 1902. Although he overrated his political influence, he contributed to the Entente Cordiale 1904 with France and the Anglo-Russian agreement 1907.

VICTORIA (r. 1837-1901) 

Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. Her father died shortly after her birth and she became heir to the throne because the three uncles who were ahead of her in succession - George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV - had no legitimate children who survived. Warmhearted and lively, Victoria had a gift for drawing and painting; educated by a governess at home, she was a natural diarist and kept a regular journal throughout her life. On William IV's death in 1837, she became Queen at the age of 18. Queen Victoria is associated with Britain's great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and - especially - empire. At her death, it was said, Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.

Religious Tract Society --

Tractarianism: another name for the Oxford Movement, 19th-century movement for Catholic revival within the Church of England.

Note: “tract” in our article means “a short article, esp. one dealing with a religious or moral subject”. “Tracts for the Times” in 1833-41 published by Oxford Press.

Church Going Sunday

1922 British Broadcasting Company formed

1922 John Reith appointer General Manager

John Reith of the BBC -- Sir John Reith was a powerful and influential figure in the world of British broadcasting and politics between the two World Wars. He was a dour Calvinist who believed that public broadcasting was a grave responsibility for its officers, and that the consuming public needed strong guidance with this new medium. Although a naturally aloof and often inventive man he came to be seen as an Establishment figure. During the period of office he was however sufficiently strong and stubborn to repel drooling politicians who, while fearing the power of radio (and subsequently television), wanted to use its influence in their careers.

Because of his influence, the BBC entered World War in 1939 wholly independent of Government and, unlike the Press, wholly untainted by the spores of Prime Minister Chamberlain's policies of appeasing the National Socialist Government in Germany. Reith was entertainingly naive about the world, as his immensely readable Diaries conclusively prove. He was a towering colossus who stumbled blindly into difficult situations from which he always seemed to extricated himself with no damage to his reputation.

Reading Comprehension

What is Edwardian England?What is the traditional way of spending Sundays in England?How did those religious families spend their Sundays?What had made things changed in 20 century?How important did John Beith of the BBC play in shaping the country’s mentality?

Language Study

solemn a. 1) habitual, customary. (Latin, solemnis, strictly speaking means "once a year," "annual," of course the usual meaning of "solemn" is devout, but an annual festival, like Good Friday, etc., may be both devout and serious. The Latin for "it is usual," is solemne est, and to "solemnise" is to celebrate an annual custom. ( From The Dictionary of Phrase & Fable ) 2) performed with religious or other ceremony; causing deep thought or respect

         A baptism is a solemn rite.          The new president took the solemn oath of office.

3) serious-looking, grave          That solemn teacher never smiles.          The inauguration was a solemn event.

to observe v.

-- to pay attention to (rules, etc.); to celebrate (festivals, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. )

         Every student ought to strictly observe the school discipline.

         The fashion festival has been observed in Dalian for over ten years.Cf. to observe - to see and notice, watch carefully

         She carefully observed every detail of their actions.

taboo n.

① (C, U) (among some peoples) sth. which religion or custom regards as forbidden, not to be touched, spoken of, etc.

② (C) general agreement not to discuss sth., do sth. e.g. Today is smokefree day, so we place a taboo on smokingto put / place the taboo on ....to put... under tabooThat tree is said to be under taboo.

consist of   -- to be made up of

         A university consists of teachers, administrations and students.         Our dinner consists of three courses only.         Cake consists of flour, sugar, egg and some other ingredients. The

prizes in the games consist of medals and diplomas.         The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

consist in -- to have as a base; depend on          True freedom consists in the absence of laws.         The beauty of Venice consists in the style of its ancient building.         The true wealth does not consist in what we have, but in what we are.

Cf. to make up with, to compose of, to comprise

There was not much to do on Sundays but go to church.

but -- conj. used in coordination          He never did anything but read novels.         Jack was not there but his brother was.         We tried to do it but couldn't.         He's a hardworking but not very intelligent boy.         You cannot get this book anywhere but here.Cf. She could do nothing but weeping, prep.She could do nothing but weep.Nothing remains but to die. Conj.Review: I'm anything but that to you. ( Dialogue 11)

pack off/bundle off

-- to cause to go away or off quickly, usu. after trouble         She packed the children off to their aunt's for a few days while the house was being cleaned through.         He packed off his wife with Mrs. Paine and left a few days later.         Suggestion was made that they should be packed off at once in a special tram.         She packed her son off to school and then went out herself.         The family were so ashamed of the youngest son that they bundled him off (to Canada).

to center upon /on /round /around

-- to (cause to) gather to a center; (cause to) have a center

         She centered her attention on the problem.

         Do women center their lives around the home now?

         Our thoughts (are) centered upon one idea.

         The conversation (was) centered upon the election.

cater for (AmE cater to) -- to take account of and provide with what is necessary         I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.         These hotels cater to high-class tourists.         Our newspapers and magazines try to cater for all opinions.         TV programmes usually cater for(to) all tastes.         The shop caters to a small, wealthy regular clientele.

Translation Exercise

1. 他不顾自己对别人许下的诺言 .

He paid no regard to the promise he made to others.2. 他的保险保证他在万一发生火灾时不受金钱上的损失。His insurance guaranteed him against money loss in case of fire.3. 合作在于相互帮助和得失与共。 Cooperation consists in helping one another and in sharing losses and gains.4. 由于起来晚了，他们匆忙吃些早餐就被打发上学了。 As they got up late, they were packed off to school after a hurried breakfast5. 这个游乐中心为各种年龄的儿童服务。 This amusement center caters for children of all ages.

More on Translation

1. 如果一切顺利，我希望 11 月底回来。

I expect to be back by the end of November if all goes well.

2. 这样他们就能更好地把理论运用到实践中去。

In this way they can apply theory to practice better.

3. 旅馆房间须预先预定。

Rooms in this hotel should be applied for in advance.

4. 他对法语就象英语那样通晓。

French is as familiar to him as English.

5. 在你出国赴美国之前，你应该先通晓英语。

Before you leave home for the United States, you should be familiar with the English language.

，

6. 这只是一个非正式聚会，你不需要刻意打扮。

It is quite an informal gathering; you needn't dress up for it.

7. 他的任务是向工人讲解这个组织的宗旨。

His work consists of explaining the objects of the organization to the workers

8. 讨论集中在最重要的问题上。

The discussion centers on (round) the most important question.

9. 我陶醉在这美妙的音乐中。

I was enchanted with the sweet music. 10. 那些房屋建造锝很坚固，即使在强烈的地震中也不会倒塌。

Those houses are so strongly built that they would keep up even in a violent earthquake.