《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词3500》Unit 2 父亲节的故事

　　Unit 02
The Story of Father's Day
Father's Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers¹ sell more cards. In fact when a "father's day" was first proposed² there were no Father's Day cards!
Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor³ her father, William Smart. William Smart was a Civil War veteran⁴. His wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a farm. it was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.
The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in towns and cities across America other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.
Everyone has got a story of his father's love. Here is one told by Bert Clompus.
... After Mom died, I began visiting Dad every morning before I went to work. He was weak and moved slowly, but he always had a glass of fresh orange juice on the kitchen table for me, along with a note saying, "Drink your juice." Such a gesture, I knew, was as far as Dad had been able to go in expressing his love. In fact, I remember, as a kid I had questioned my Mom: "Why doesn't Dad love me?" Mom asked, "Who said he doesn't love you?" "Well, he never tells me," I complained. "He never tells me either," she said, smiling. "But look how hard he works⁵ to take care of us, to buy us food and clothes, and to pay for this house. That's how your father tells he loves us. Do you understand?" I nodded slowly. I understand in my head, but not in my heart.
Many years later, after drinking the juice Dad prepared for me, I walked over and hugged him and said, "I love you, Dad." From then on I did this every morning. My father never told me how he felt about my hugs. Then one morning I hugged him extra hard, and said what I'd always wanted to. "You've told others you love me, but I never heard it from you." Dad looked uncomfortable. He seemed about to speak, then he shook his head. "Tell me!" I shouted. "All right! I love you!" Dad finally blurted⁶. In that instant something occurred that I had never seen before: His eyes glistened⁷, then overflowed⁸.
I stood silent. Finally, after all these years, my heart joined my head in understanding. My father loved me so much that just saying so made him weep, which was something he never did in front of family. Mom had been right. Everyday Dad had told me how he loved me by what he did and what he gave...

1 manufacturers   

制造商，制造厂( manufacturer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The manufacturers in some countries dumped their surplus commodities abroad. 一些国家的制造商向国外倾销过剩产品。
• Colour TV has been more aggressively promoted as more manufacturers have joined the competition. 由于更多的厂商参与竞争，推销彩色电视机的宣传更为激烈了。

2 proposed   

被提议的

参考例句：

• There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
• an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议

3 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

4 veteran   

n.老兵；经验丰富的人，老手

参考例句：

• My grandfather is a veteran of the Second World War.我祖父是二战时的老兵。
• We often asked the veteran workers for advice.我们常常向老工人求教。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 blurted   

v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止，她已脱口而出。
• He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相，说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 glistened   

v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Pearls of dew glistened on the grass. 草地上珠露晶莹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Her eyes glistened with tears. 她的眼里闪着泪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 overflowed   

溢出的

参考例句：

• Plates overflowed with party food. 聚会上的食物碟满盘盈。
• A great throng packed out the theater and overflowed into the corridors. 一大群人坐满剧院并且还有人涌到了走廊上。 来自《简明英汉词典》