新西兰英语 558 Leap Year

 　　Babies born today will have to wait another four years before they have a real birthday. However, most will choose to celebrate their birthday on February 28th or March 1st.

　　Four years ago, 190 babies were born on February 29th in New Zealand. Nearly 3,000 people in New Zealand celebrated¹ their birthday today. One woman in Hamilton, who has lived for 84 years, celebrated her 21st real birthday. A 21st birthday in New Zealand is a special birthday because, many years ago, a young person became a legal adult on that day. These days, young people are adults at 18. This is the age when they can vote, drink alcohol² and get married without permission from their parents.

　　The chances of being born on 29th February are one in 1461.

　　One tradition says that it is a chance for a woman to propose³ to a man instead of waiting for the man to propose to her on 29th February.

　　Vocabulary

　　propose – ask someone to marry him or her

　　Questions

　　?What is leap year called in your language?

　　?Do you know why we have a leap year?

　　?When is a person a legal adult in your country?

1 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。

2 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

3 propose   

v.提出，建议；提名，推荐

参考例句：

• Did he propose marriage to you?他向你求婚了吗？
• I propose resting for an hour.我建议休息一小时。