How to Celebrate Holidays

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Unit 5

• How to Celebrate Holidays
• Text A Writing
  Three Thank-you Letters
• Text B Where Is
  Home
• 
  

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Text A Writing Three Thank-you Letters

• Part One Pre-reading Activities
• A Reading Comprehension
• Native Traditions of Giving Thanks
• The American custom of giving thanks did
  not begin with the arrival of European colonists.
  Spirituality was (and is) a deeply sacred and
  personal part of Wampanoag (one Indian Tribe in
  America) life. Everything is sacred, and giving
  thanks for the Creators gifts is an integral
  part of daily life. From ancient times up to the
  present day, the Native people of North America
  have held ceremonies to give thanks for
  successful harvests and other good fortune.
  According to the oral information of tribal
  elders, giving thanks was the primary reason for
  ceremonies or feasts.
• Giving thanks was an important part of
  the celebrations, called Nickommo, which are
  still held by the Wampanoag. Give-away
  ceremonies, feasting, dancing and sports and
  games were common features of these occasions.
  Give-away ceremonies show gratefulness to the
  Creator who provides for the people and makes
  possible the blessings celebrated. The act of
  giving away material things shows respect and
  caring for others, while reminding the
  participants that material objects are only
  secondary to ones spiritual life.

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Thankfulness was woven into every aspect of
Wampanoag life. If an animal was hunted for food,
special thanks were also given to the Creator and
to the spirit of the animal. If a plant was
harvested and used for any purpose, or a bird or
a fish, if an anthill was disrupted, gratitude
and acknowledgement were given for the little
ones lives. To this day it is the same with most
Native people.

• Questions
• When did the custom of giving thanks begin?
• What is the key reason for Native Americans
  ceremonies?
• Except giving thanks, are there any other
  activities in these feasts?
• Why do they give away those material things?
• What kinds of things do they give thanks to?

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B Learning Quotations

• Life is a festival only to the wise.
• --
  Ralph Waldo Emerson
• To give thanks in solitude is enough.
  Thanksgiving has wings and goes where it must go.
• 
  -- Victor Hugo
• Your friend is your field which you saw with
  love and reap with thanksgiving.
• 
  -- Kahlil Gibran

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Part Two A Brief Introduction of Alex Haley

• Alex Haley(1921-1992) Journalist, Novelist
• The author of the widely acclaimed novel Roots
  was born in Ithaca, New York on August 11, 1921,
  and reared in Henning, Tennessee. The oldest of
  three sons of a college professor father and a
  mother who taught grade school, Haley graduated
  from high school at fifteen and attended college
  for two years before enlisting in the United
  States Coast Guard as a messboy in 1939. He
  severed there till 1959.

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• His first major work The Autobiography of Malcolm
  X (1965), was an authoritative and widely read
  narrative based on Haley's interviews with the
  Black Muslim spokesman. The work is recognized as
  a classic of black American autobiography.
• Haley's greatest success was Roots The Saga of
  an American Family (1976). This well-researched
  genealogy--born of the history recited by Haley's
  maternal grandmother--covers seven American
  generations, from the enslavement of Haley's
  African ancestors to his own genealogical quest.
  The work forcefully shows relationships between
  generations and between races.

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Part Three Comprehension Questions

• Pair Work
• 1. When and where did the writer write the three
  thank you letters?
• 2. What made the writer extremely busy on the
  Thanksgiving Day ?
• 3. What was the writer thinking about on the deck
  after the days hard work?
• 4. What then did he decide to do?
• 5. Why did the writer feel ashamed when he
  thought about the people that he wanted to
  express his gratitude to?
• 6. Who did he finally decide to write to?
• 7. What did the writer learn from the writing of
  the three letters?
• 8. What did the writer wish for all people when
  another Thanksgiving was drawing near?

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Group Work

• 1.How is Thanksgiving celebrated in the United
  States? Do you think the way the writer
  celebrated the holiday makes sense ?
• 2. Why do you think the writer printed Find good
  and praise it at the bottom of all his
  stationery?
• 3.Do you praise others more often than criticize
  them or the other way round?

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Part Four Cultural Notes

1. Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is celebrated in the
   US on the fourth Thursday in November. For many
   Americans it is the most important holiday apart
   from Christmas. Schools, offices and most
   business close for Thanksgiving, and many people
   make the whole weekend a vacation. It is
   associated with the time when Europeans first
   came to North America. In 1620 the ship the
   Mayflower arrived, bringing about 150 people who
   today are usually called Pilgrims.

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• Mayflower ?

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Cultural Notes Thanksgiving

• Today people celebrate Thanksgiving to
  remember these early days. The most important
  part of celebration is a traditional dinner with
  foods that come from North America. The meal
  includes turkey, sweet potatoes and cranberriers.
  The turkey is filled with stuffing or dressing,
  and many families have their own special recipe.
  Dessert is pumpkin made into a pie.
• On Thanksgiving there are special television
  programs and sports events. In New York there is
  the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, when a long
  line of people wearing fancy costumes march
  through the streets with large balloons in the

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shape of imaginary characters. Thanksgiving is
considered the beginning of the Christmas period,
and the next day many people go out to shop for
Christmas presents.
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2. Pilgrims

• The term is referred to the 102 English people
  who sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620.
  Their group included 35 Puritans whose aim was to
  create a safe religious community in the New
  World. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, and
  they established the Plymouth colony. They
  arrived at the beginning of the hard winter and
  could not find enough to eat, so many of them
  died. In the next summer Native Americans showed
  them what foods were safe to eat and so they
  could save food for the next winter. They held a
  big celebration to thank God and the Native
  Americans for the fact that they had survived.

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3. Native Americans

• Native Americans were living in North America
  for many of hundreds of years before Europeans
  reached the continent. For a long time white
  people called them Indians. Today many people do
  not like this name since it is based on a
  mistake it was given to the people living in the
  Americas by Christopher Columbus who thought he
  had landed in India when he arrived in Americas.
  Instead, people prefer to use the term Native
  Americans.

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4. The United States Coast Guard
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The US Coast Guard

• The US military service that is controlled by the
  US Department of Transportation but becomes part
  of the US Navy during a war. It was established
  in 1915. The Coast Guard stops ships suspected of
  carrying drugs and other illegal goods, and can
  make arrests. It also keeps watch to see that
  other laws of the sea are obeyed, rescues ships
  in danger and has a weather service.

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Part Five Text Structure
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Text Structure

• Part One On Thanksgiving Day 1943, as a young
  coastguardsman at sea, the writer came up with
  the idea of expressing his gratitude to people
  who had helped him before.
• Part Two the writer three thank-you letters
  to his father, the Rev. Nelson and his
  grandmother.
• Part Three The writer got three letters in
  reply.
• Part Four The writer wishes everyone to find
  the good and praise it.

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Part Six Language Points

• under way in motion or operation, having started
  and making progress
• Examples The nationwide medical reform is
  now under way.
• Preparations for the 100th
  anniversary celebration are now well under way.
• put away remove (sth.) to a place where it is
  usually stored.
• Examples The kids are asked to put all the
  toys away before they leave.
• You wash the dishes and
  Ill put them away in the cupboard.

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Language Points in Text A

• 3. get to sth./doing sth. begin to give serious
  attention to or deal with
• Examples a) Recently Ive got to wondering
  why I am doing the part-time job.
• b) Ill get to the accounts
  as soon as possible.
• 4. and the rest and so on
• Examples a) The patient can have apples,
  apple sauce, and the rest.
• b) The citizens are
  interested in the governments policies on such
  important issues as health, education, tax, and
  the rest.

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Language Points in Text A

• 5. in quest of seeking
• Examples a) Tony went to the school library
  in quest of Mark Twins novels.
• b) He has traveled half way
  round the country in quest of the truth about his
  sons death.
• 6. reverse turn around to the opposite
  direction exchange the position of
• Examples a) They have made it clear that
  they will not reverse the decision to increase
  prices.
• b) Why dont you reverse the
  order so that I play first and she plays second?

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Language Points in Text A

• 7. turn over think about, consider
• Examples a) Even when she didnt say
  anything you could see her turning things over in
  her mind.
• b) I sat quietly, turning
  over the problem.
• 8. repay pay back, reward
• Examples a) Peters work with us has played
  an important role in our success, and well repay
  him for his efforts some day.
• b) The graduate failed to
  repay the loan and the finance company decided to
  take legal action.

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Language Points in Text A

• 9. sincere not pretending, honest
• Examples a) Any readers who feel annoyed
  please accept my sincere apologies.
• b) Id like to express my
  sincere thanks and love to my family for their
  help.
• 10. gratitude being thankful, thankfulness (to
  sb./for sth.)
• Examples a) It is my great pleasure to be
  here to express my sincere gratitude to my fellow
  members for electing me as your president.
• b) What she felt for David
  was not love but gratitude.

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Language Points in Text A

• 11. statement sth. that is said or written, esp.
  formally and officially
• Examples a) The trade union issued a
  statement opposing racial discrimination.
• b) In his newly-published
  book, Williams made a number of statements about
  modern life.
• 12. specific relating to one thing and not
  others particular
• Examples a) The new system made it easier
  for employers to recruit workers based on
  specific needs.
• b) Do you have any specific
  skills that will be of use to you in the job you
  are applying for?

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Language Points in Text A

• 13. on ones behalf/ on the behalf of sb. for
  sb. in the interests of sb. as the
  representation of sb.
• Example He delivered a speech on the
  behalf of all the graduates on Graduation Day.
• 14. impress a) fix in sbs mind make the
  importance of (sth.) very clear to sb. (upon/on
  sb. sth./that)
• Examples The teacher tried to
  impress on his students the necessity of being
  honest.
• He has always
  impressed on his students that if they work hard
  they will succeed in life.

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Language Points in Text A

• b) cause (sb.) to feel
  admiration or respect
• Example Wanting to impress
  his girl friend, Dustin bought a suit for their
  first date.
• 15. diminish make or become smaller or less
• Examples a) Her patience with the children
  diminished as the hours went by.
• b) Time will not diminish
  our friendship.

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Language Points in Text A

• 16. expose leave uncovered make accessible (be
  exposed to)
• Examples a) It is feared that people living
  near the power station may have been exposed to
  radiation.
• b) The immigrants children
  exposed to American pop culture often rebel when
  their parents try to impose the values they
  brought with them.

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Language Points in Text A

• 17. immerse over completely in a liquid absorb
  deeply
• Examples a) I held my breath and immersed
  myself in water, trying to stay under for as long
  as possible.
• b) John was so immersed in
  playing the computer games that he was unaware of
  things happening around him.
• 18. marvelous causing wonder, excellent
• Examples a) I have got some marvelous news
  for youyoure going to be promoted.
• b) Its marvelous that we
  can at last buy our own house.

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Language Points in Text A

• 19. assemble a) bring or call together in a
  group
• Example Delegates were
  assembling in Geneva for the conference.
• b) fit together the parts
  or pieces of
• Example It took me less
  than an hour to assemble the bookcase.
• c) get and put together
  sth. such as proof or information in an organized
  way
• Example We will let you
  have the report as soon as we have assembled all
  the data.

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Language Points in Text A

• 20. considerate thoughtful of the rights and
  feelings of others
• Example Friendly and considerate, he
  invariably consult with people around him before
  taking decision.
• 21. sprinkle scatter on sth. scatter in small
  drops
• Example Sprinkle the meat with salt and
  place it in the pan.

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Language Points in Text A

• 22. unload remove (the load or cargo) from a
  ship, car, etc.
• Examples a) Unload everything from the
  boat and clean it thoroughly.
• b) He helped me unload the
  shopping from the car.
• 23. accord a) grant
• Example The headmaster accorded
  me permission to attend the seminar.
• b) be in agreement ( with)
• Examples His behavior does not
  accord with his principles.

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Language Points in Text A

• 24. successive following one after the other
• Example a) The Brazilian mens soccer team
  has won three successive games so far.
• b) After four successive
  election defeats, the Labor Party once again
  faces the painful task of reconstruction.
• 25. in turn one by one
• Examples a) The freshman called out their
  names in turn.
• b) For years he struggled in
  turn as a farmer, an agent, and an account.

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Language Points in Text A

• 26. amid in the middle of, among
• Examples a) The children were changing
  classroom amid laughter and shouts.
• b) Amid the confusion, the
  two men slipped away quietly without being
  noticed.
• 27. undergo go through, experience
• Example No one can force you to undergo a
  medical examination.

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Language Points in Text A

• 28. swift rapid, prompt
• Examples a) Because of the swift, enormous
  growth of the urban areas many farmers left their
  village in quest of work.
• b) The Olimpic motto is
  Citius-Alitus-Fortius. These words mean Swifter,
  Higher, Stronger.

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Language Points in Text A

• 29. appreciate recognize the quality or
  significance of, value
• Examples a) Professor Smiths general
  comments may help students to appreciate the
  theories in the textbook.
• b) I like and appreciate
  your honest and frankness.

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Language Points in Text A

• 30.bring back cause to return to the mind
• Examples a) The lyric always brought back
  good memories of my childhood.
• b) The old photographs
  brought back many pleasant memories of my college
  life.
• 31. in a flash instantly
• Examples a) The answer to the math question
  came to him in a flash.
• b) The ceremony was all over
  in a flash.

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Language Points in Text A

• 32. go about move around behave in a society
  keep busy doing sth. set about
• Examples a) Some people go about telling
  untrue stories.
• b) Despite the threat of
  war, people went about their work as usual.
• 33. in secret secretly
• Examples a) The negotiators were meeting in
  secret for for several month before peace
  agreement was reached.
• b) We found that Mary had
  been meeting her boy friend in secret.

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Language Points in Text A

• 34. quote repeat or copy the words of (another)
• Examples a) To close, I would like to
  quote Benjamin Franklin, One should eat to
  live,not live to eat.
• b) Nothing gives an author
  greater pleasure than to finds his works
  respectfully quoted by others.

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Part Seven Comprehension Exercises

• A Paraphrasing Sentences
• I thanked her for the years of eating her good
  cooking, the equal of which I had not found
  since.(para 15)
• I wept over the page representing my Grandmas
  recent hours invested in expressing her loving
  gratefulness to me (para 23)

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BTranslation

• ????????,??????????????,??????????????????????
  ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
  ???????????????????????????????(excellence)???????
  ????????????????,??????????????????????????(Aeso
  p)?????????????????????

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Keys

• Amid the atmosphere of Thanksgiving, rather
  than joining his friends in celebration of the
  holiday, George was immersed in the dairy left to
  him by his father, who died at sea after he
  completed too successive trips around the world.
  The diary brought back every moment George had
  spent with his father and many specific things
  his father did on his behalf. Georges father
  used to impress on him the need to undergo all
  kinds of hardship in quest of excellence. He also
  taught him that nothing in the world could be
  taken for granted. Even today, George still
  remembers how his father would quote Aesops
  famous saying Gratitude is the sign of noble
  souls and tell him to accord the greatest
  importance to it.

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Text B Where Is Home?

• Exercises
• Completing the following sentences with the words
  chosen from the below table
• definition designated
  complains
• bring in compress
  spectrum
• swap to the point
  restless
• migrate referred to
  saturated
• testimony settle down
  touched on

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Text B Where Is Home

1. Jason feels _____ because he is not sure what he
   is supposed to do now that he has finished his
   higher education.
2. After a long and exhausting journey, we were
   finally able to _____ to have a drink and relax.
3. If you thought is _____ with the fear of failure,
   it will kill your efforts and make success
   impossible no matter how hard you work.
4. The Antarctica is _____ a nature reserve,
   devoted to peace and science.
5. Your report is too long. Please try to _____ it
   into 500 words.
6. It is almost universal that everyone _____ of the
   badness of his memory, but nobody of his
   judgment.
7. The recent lecture on the legal issue of cloning
   human beings attracted more than 500
   participants. It is a _____ to the importance of
   this topic.
8. In his talk to the workers, the manager _____ the
   issue of low wages, but said it was beyond him to
   solve the problem immediately.

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Text B Where Is Home

• 9. My _____ of a wise man is the fellow who knows
  the right thing to do at the time it has to be
  done.
• 10. Anne is so full of ideas that she is _____ as
  the brain in her family.
• 11. The only way you can _____ the harvest in the
  fall is to plant in the spring, and to water,
  weed and fertilize in the summer.
• 12. The president of the teachers college was
  quoted as saying we expect to enroll more
  students from a broader _____ of cultural
  backgrounds this year.
• 13. As they are tired of their life in a noisy
  environment, they have decided to ______ their
  life in the city for one in the country.
• 14. As there was not much time left, the chairman
  wanted everyone at the meeting to make his
  question or comment ___.
• 15. Many birds of cool or cold regions_____ each
  year to warm areas to avoid winter, when food is
  hard to find.