托福备考之关于美国劳动节的5件事

　又要到五一小长假了，你的假期准备怎样度过呢？游玩的同时，也要兼顾学习哦~新东方网托福频道为同学们准备了托福备考资料之关于美国劳动节的5件事。

　　Monday is a federal holiday in the United States, but Labor¹ Day is much more than that.Labor Day has a rich history centered around workers. This year, it has particular meaning as hundreds of thousands Americans try to get back to work. The latest jobless rate numbers show that unemployment went up from 9.5 to 9.6 percent in August.

　　在美国，劳动节所在的那个周一是公共假日，不过它的含义远不止于此，它见证了工人为自己权益奋斗的过程。今年的劳动节很特别，因为成千上万的美国人会在那天工作。八月的最新失业数据表明失业率从9.5%上升到了9.6%。

　　1. Canadian Origin?

　　起源于加拿大？

　　While most Americans likely consider Labor Day a uniquely American experience, but in all reality, Labor Day has its origins in Canada. Stemming from 1870’s labor disputes in Toronto, in 1872 a parade was held in support of a strike against the 58 hour workweek. As a result, 24 union leaders who were responsible for organizing the event were arrested under anti-union laws.

　　很多美国人会认为劳动节是美国的传统节日，但实际上，劳动节起源于加拿大。19世纪70年代在多伦多有很多劳务纠纷，很多工人被迫长时间工作，1872年，不堪剥削的工人罢工游行，反对一周58小时的工作时间。结果，负责组织这次游行的24位带头人因违法反法律被抓。

　　2.Social Traditions

　　社会习俗

　　Labor Day festivities included "speeches, a picnic, an abundance of cigars... mounted in every conceivable place."

　　劳动节那天会有演讲、野餐、足量雪茄……而且这些随处可见，整个美国充满了节日的氛围。

　　3. America's 1st Labor Day

　　美国首个劳动节

　　The first Labor Day celebration in the United States can be traced to Sept. 5, 1882. It was designed as a way to appease² city workers after numerous strikes and in some cases even violence.

　　美国的首个劳动节是在1882年的9月5号。当时，这个节日是在不计其数的罢工甚至是暴力活动后，作为抚恤身心俱疲的工人的一种措施。

　　4. Always On Monday

　　节日总是定在周一

　　Labor Day has been celebrated³ on the first Monday of September every year since President Grover Cleveland declared that day Labor Day in 1894. The extended weekend helps Americans who choose to travel.

　　自从美国总统格罗弗?克利夫兰在1984年宣布劳动节成立后，每年的劳动节都在9月第1个周一庆祝了。这样周末就延长了一天，很多美国人可以借此机会去旅游放松。

　　5. Summer Farewell

　　夏季告别日

　　Originating as a celebration for the working class, Labor Day has also evolved into the unofficial end of the summer season and for many school districts the beginning of the academic year again.

　　劳动节本来是工人阶级的节日，不过现在逐渐变成夏季的收尾，也是很多学校拉开新学年序幕的一天。

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。