背诵为王 第 二 册 第 24 课

Lesson24 Halloween
Halloween is a strange holiday． It started several centuries ago in Europe． It began as “Hallow Evening” meaning “holy night”． At that timeNovember 1st was called “All Saints' Day” and people honoured all thesaints who did not have their own special day． People believed that October31st was the time when all the evil spirits were supposed to be active． Sopeople would play all sorts of pranks² on each other．Now Halloween has evolved to a children's holiday． Small children go“Trick-or-Treating”． They wear costumes， knock on doors， and yell，“Trick or Treat”． People almost always choose to give them candy as atreat， instead of opting⁴ to receive a trick from the children．The trick might be something like， “I'll spill all the trash out of yourtrash can if you don't give me a treat．”
Halloween is great fun for children today． They dress up as ghosts，witches，or frightening Dracula．Adults sometimes “trick or treat” their friendstoo． Usually that means the “treat” will be a glass of wine or cosmetics⁶．

saint ? 圣人
evil ? 罪恶的，邪恶的
suppose ? 假设
prank¹ 恶作剧，开玩笑
evolve ? 发展
trick 恶作剧
treat ? 请客，款待
opt³ ? 选择
spill 倒出
trash ? 垃圾
witch 巫婆
Dracula ? 吸血鬼
cosmetic⁵ ? 化妆品

万圣节
万圣节是一个奇异的节日，它起源于几个世纪前的欧洲。刚开始的时候，它叫做“神圣夜”，意思是“神圣的夜晚”。那时，十一月一日被称为“万圣日”，在那天人们纪念所有没有特定纪念日的圣人。人们相信十月三十一日所有邪恶的精灵都会出来活动，所以人们互相玩恶作剧。
现在万圣节已经演变成为一个儿童的节日。小孩子玩“不请客就捣乱”的游戏，他们穿着特殊的服装，敲门，然后大喊，“不请客就捣乱。”人们总是选择请他们吃糖果，而不是接受孩子们的恶作剧。
恶作剧有可能是这样玩的，“如果你不请客，我就把你的垃圾都从垃圾筒里倒出来。”
如今万圣节给孩子们带来很大的乐趣。他们装扮成鬼、巫婆或者可怕的吸血鬼。成年人有时也和他们的朋友玩“不请客就捣乱”的游戏。这时请客的东西经常是一杯酒或是化妆品。

1 prank   

n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己

参考例句：

• It was thought that the fire alarm had been set off as a prank.人们认为火警报警器响是个恶作剧。
• The dean was ranking the boys for pulling the prank.系主任正在惩罚那些恶作剧的男学生。

2 pranks   

n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Frank's errancy consisted mostly of pranks. 法兰克错在老喜欢恶作剧。 来自辞典例句
• He always leads in pranks and capers. 他老是带头胡闹和开玩笑。 来自辞典例句

3 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

4 opting   

v.选择，挑选( opt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• What courses are most students opting for? 多数学生选什么课程？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Wells doesn't rule out opting out and then re-signing with Houston. 威尔斯没有排除跳出合同再与火箭重签的可能。 来自互联网

5 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

6 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。