新西兰英语 801 Start of School Holidays

 　　For the next two weeks, schools are closed and children have a holiday. Some are lucky to have a family holiday, perhaps skiing in the mountains. Some children visit grandparents in another town for the holidays. If parents are separated and live in different parts of the country, sometimes children spend the holidays with the other parent. When a child is 5 years old, he or she can travel on a plane without an adult.

　　However, some flights were cancelled today in and out of Wellington because of strong winds. The Cook Strait ferries cancelled their sailings also because of strong wind gusts², up to 130 km per hour. Snow on the Desert Rd on Friday and Saturday closed roads in that area.

　　The cold, wet and windy weather will continue in many places for the next few days. This makes it harder to find things for children to do. Many outdoor activities have been cancelled. There are indoor activities like movies, ten pin bowling³, concerts, art classes, plays and gymnastics but they usually cost money. Libraries often have free activities however, like story-telling for younger children.

　　The next school term finishes Friday 27th September.

　　Vocabulary

　　ferries – ships which travel between Picton and Wellington, across Cook Strait

　　wind gust¹ – sudden burst of wind

　　term – usually 10 weeks

　　Note:

　　spend the holidays with / in . . .

　　school holidays – often plural

1 gust   

n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发

参考例句：

• A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来，把前门关上了。
• A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。

2 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。

3 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？