英语课程计划-National Tooth Fairy Day

February 28 is National Tooth Fairy Day. This day celebrates one of childhood’s make-believe visitors. Others include Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. The Tooth Fairy comes in the middle of the night after a child loses a milk tooth. Parents tell the child to put the tooth under his or her pillow and in the morning they will find some money from the Tooth Fairy. Of course, in reality, parents sneak¹ into the room and replace the tooth with the cash. This part of growing up makes children worry a little less about losing a tooth. They are more excited about the Tooth Fairy’s visit and how much money she’ll leave. National Tooth Fairy Day is also a good day to make sure children understand the importance of brushing their teeth regularly.

No one knows the real origins of the Tooth Fairy. It started in Europe hundreds of years ago and spread around the world. There are different traditions in other countries for when a child’s tooth falls out. In Japan, children throw a lower baby tooth up onto the roof so the next tooth grows healthily upwards²; an upper tooth goes under the house so the new adult tooth grows downwards³. Korea and Vietnam have similar customs. In parts of India, children wrap their milk teeth in cotton and offer it to the sun. In many parts of Europe, a fairy mouse takes away the teeth. This may be because mice have strong teeth that never stop growing. What happens in your country when a child loses a tooth?

1 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

2 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

3 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。