英语课程计划-Washington's Birthday

In the U.S.A. people celebrate the birthday of their first president, George Washington¹. They don’t always celebrate on his birth date, which is February 22, because if it falls on a weekend, people don’t get the day off. So, on the third Monday in February there is a national holiday. Not everyone agrees on the name or even the reason for the holiday. A 1968 law called it Washington’s Birthday. However, since the 1980s, lawmakers have tried to change the name to Presidents Day. Many people want the holiday to celebrate the birthday of another president, Abraham Lincoln, who was also born in February. Different U.S. states have renamed the day Presidents Day. And in Alabama, they call it "Washington and Jefferson Day".

The holiday honors² George Washington for founding the nation. He is perhaps the most famous face in U.S. history. Up and down America, towns become red, white and blue. People put flags in their windows and hang ribbons³ in their gardens or outside stores. Many children learn about the history of how the United⁴ States came into being. They learn about the civil war and Washington’s role in America’s independence. Various communities stage pageants⁵ and festivals that re-enact the important events in Washington's life. People also eat cherry pies, a food that has become associated⁶ with his birthday. It’s also a good day for shoppers, as many stores hold a sale hoping to attract customers with the day off.

1 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

2 honors   

n.礼仪；荣典；礼节； 大学荣誉学位；大学优等成绩；尊敬( honor的名词复数 )；敬意；荣誉；光荣

参考例句：

• He aims at honors. 他力求名誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We did the last honors to his remains. 我们向他的遗体告别。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 ribbons   

n.带( ribbon的名词复数 )；（打印机的）色带；绶带；带状物

参考例句：

• Her hair was interlaced with ribbons and flowers. 她的头发上编扎着缎带和花。
• Typewriter ribbons may be all black or black and red. 打字机的色带可以是全黑的或黑红色的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

5 pageants   

n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会

参考例句：

• It is young people who favor holding Beauty pageants. 赞成举办选美的是年轻人。 来自互联网
• Others say that there's a fine line between the pageants and sexual exploitation. 其他人说，选美和性剥削之间只有非常细微的界线。 来自互联网

6 associated   

adj.联合的

参考例句：

• the risks associated with taking drugs 与吸毒有关的危险
• I don't want to be associated with your scheme; I'm contracting out. 我不想参与你们的计划，我要退出。