世界节假日博览 第74期:全国击掌日

 National High Five Day is on the third Thursday of April every year. This unusual holiday started at the University of Virginia in the USA in 2002. Since then, it has slowly grown in popularity¹ around America. It is also spreading to different countries around the world. The day celebrates one of America's invented gestures of the twentieth century. It is a common part of life in America today and around the world when people have something they want to jointly² celebrate. You most often see it in sport, when two teammates will raise their arms and give each other's hands a slap. Television has spread the gesture everywhere and you can see it wherever you go in the world. Both men and women use it to celebrate.

每年4月份的第三个星期四为全国击掌日。2002年，这一特殊节日始创于弗吉尼亚大学。自此以后，该节日逐渐在美国传播开来。范围还波及了许多其他国家。20世纪，美国首创了这一“手势”，随即设立了这一节日。当人们要欢呼庆祝时，人们会举手击掌，不论是在美国还是其它地区，它已经成为了人们生活的一部分。你通常会在运动场上看它，队友高举臂膀，举手击掌。电视使它传播到了世界各地，它随处可见。男女通用。

The High Five website speculates³ that the gesture started with an American basketball player called Mont Skeets, one of the greatest players ever to play for Murray State University. Legend has it that when Mont was three years old, his father's army friends would visit. They were all from the 5th infantry⁴ division. The young Mont didn't know their names so would greet them by saying “Hi, Five”. The former soldiers replied by slapping Mont's up-stretched arm. When Mont grew up and started playing basketball, he adapted his greeting to use it with his teammates when they got points. The “Hi, Five” became a “high five” and the celebration became contagious⁵. In a short space of time it had spread throughout the basketball world.

据“击掌”网站推测，这一手势始创于美国篮球运动员蒙特·思齐特，他是莫瑞州立大学有史以来最出色的运功员。传说那年蒙特三岁，父亲的战友前来拜访。他们均来自第五步兵师。小蒙特不知道他们的名字，所以把他们统称为“你好，五”。士兵击打了小蒙特高举的臂膀。自从蒙特打篮球以后，他会与队友用这种手势庆祝得分。“你好，五”变成了“举手击掌”，庆祝动作一传十，十传百。不久，举手击掌在篮球界迅速蔓延开来。

1.adapt to 适应

例句：I suggested he should adapt himself to his new conditions.

我认为他应该使自己适应新的情况。

2.spread to 传播

例句：If Greece defaults⁶ on its debts, she said, then the effects would quickly spread to other euro zone countries. 

如果希腊债务违约，她说，那么它造成的影响将很快蔓延到其它欧元区国家。

3.start with 从…开始

例句：My speech started with the situation analysis.

我以形势分析开始了我的演说。

4.grow up 成长

例句：All plants like to grow up towards the sunlight.

所有植物都喜朝阳生长。

1 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

2 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

3 speculates   

思索，猜测，推测( speculate的第三人称单数 )； 投机

参考例句：

• And then look at the way he speculates in government bonds: huh! 他又要做公债——哼！ 来自子夜部分
• Cameron defends Cole and House speculates that she wants to control him. Cameron保护Cole,House推测她想控制他。

4 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

5 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

6 defaults   

弃权( default的名词复数 )； 默认； 违约； 食言

参考例句：

• Now suppose the State defaults on its part of the bargain. 现在，设想国家单方违约。 来自哲学部分
• If Ares defaults, you will have to take his place under the net. 要是阿瑞斯说话不算数的话，你可就要代替他呆在网里了。