专题06 文化百科类（2）-备战2019年中考英语提分必背美文100篇

11月的最后一个星期四是感恩节，这是美国人民独创的一个古老节日，也是美国人合家欢聚的节日，因此美国人提起感恩节总是倍感亲切。在传统的感恩节餐桌上，烤火鸡是不可缺少的菜式，那么这一传统的由来是什么？请带着这个问题走进本文吧！

Why People Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving

Of all the symbols of thanksgiving, the turkey is most familiar and widespread. ①It is considered to be the most famous example, perhaps due to its sharp features, bright hues and majestic appearance. Turkey is a common breed and a native of northern Mexico and the eastern United States. Now it is being raised in large numbers and some of the commonplace species that are popular are Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, and Bourbon Red. ②Though there is no evidence that Turkey was available to the pilgrims, Massachusetts from where the practice originated, has a legend that it was served in the first Thanksgiving Dinner.

③In a book written by the Pilgrim’s Governor Bradford, he mentions wild turkeys while another Pilgrim describes in a letter sent to England how the governor sent ‘four men out fowling’ who returned with turkeys, ducks and geese for the feast. Though no accurate reports were found, a tale goes where turkey was their original choice but they could not find it. They cooked crow instead and served the local Indians. ④As a part of tradition, turkey remains of central importance in the Thanksgiving menu surrounded by several other delicious dishes. During the dinners, the family members may also utter a few lines of thanks or chant a special prayer.

感恩节为什么要吃火鸡

在所有的感恩节的象征物中，人们最熟悉、流传最广泛的是火鸡。它被当作最著名的代表，也许是由于其轮廓分明、颜色鲜艳、外表庄严。火鸡是墨西哥北部和美国东部的一种常见物种，也是那些地方的本地物种。现在，人们大量养殖火鸡，一些常见的、受欢迎的种类包括＂Bronze＂，＂Narragansett＂，＂White Holland＂和＂ Bourbon Red＂。尽管没有证据表明清教徒们可以获得火鸡，但是在这一习俗起源的马萨诸塞州流传着一个传说，那就是在第一个感恩节宴会上火鸡就被端上了餐桌。

在清教徒总督布拉德福德写的一本书中，他提到了野火鸡，而另一位清教徒在一封寄往英格兰的信中描述到：总督派了四个人外出捕禽，他们为宴会带回了火鸡、鸭子和鹅。尽管没有找到确切的记载，有一个这样的故事流传着：火鸡是他们的最初选择，但是他们却找不到它，于是他们烹煮乌鸦作为代替，并招待当地的印第安人。作为风俗习惯的一部分，火鸡在感恩节菜单中保持着重要地位，环绕在它的周围的是几种其他的美味佳肴。在宴会期间，家庭成员们也会说出几句感恩之词或者吟唱一段特别的祷告语。

1. widespread [ˈwaɪdspred] adj.分布广的，广泛流传的

2. hue [hju:] n.色彩，色调

3. majestic [mə’dʒestɪk] adj.宏伟的，庄重的

4. breed [bri:d] n.种类，类型

5. species [‘spi:ʃi:z] n.物种，种类

6. available [əˈveɪləbl] adj.可得到的，可利用的

7. originate[ə’rɪdʒɪneɪt] v.起源于，产生

8. accurate [ˈækjərət] adj.精确的，准确的

9. utter [‘ʌtə(r)]  v. 发出声音，说

10. chant [tʃɑ:nt] v.吟唱，咏唱

1. It is considered to be the most famous example, perhaps due to its sharp features, bright hues and majestic appearance.

它被当作最著名的代表，也许是由于其轮廓分明、颜色鲜艳、外表庄严。

这是一个简单句。be considered to be意为＂被当作＂；due to意为＂由于＂。例如：

The man was considered to be very kindhearted due to his helping the little girl.

人们认为那个男子很善良，因为他帮助了那个小女孩。

2. Though there is no evidence that Turkey was available to the pilgrims, Massachusetts from where the practice originated, has a legend that it was served in the first Thanksgiving Dinner.

尽管没有证据表明清教徒们可以获得火鸡，但是在这一习俗起源的马萨诸塞州流传着一个传说，那就是在第一个感恩节宴会上火鸡就被端上了餐桌。

这是一个复合句，evidence后跟其同位语从句；from where the practice originated为Massachusetts的定语从句，legend后面的that从句是它的同位语从句。originate from意为＂＂。例如：

It is a fact that she has tried her best.

她已经尽力了，这是一个事实。

In addition, she must be sure that the information really does originate from Bob.

此外，她必须确定信息确实是发自鲍勃。

3. In a book written by the Pilgrim’s Governor Bradford, he mentions wild turkeys while another Pilgrim describes in a letter sent to England how the governor sent ‘four men out fowling’ who returned with turkeys, ducks and geese for the feast.

在清教徒总督布拉德福德写的一本书中，他提到了野火鸡，而另一位清教徒在一封寄往英格兰的信中描述到：总督派了四个人外出捕禽，他们为宴会带回了火鸡、鸭子和鹅。

这个复合句中成分复杂：written by the Pilgrim’s Governor Bradford 为过去分词短语作定语；while引导的部分表示对比，其中，sent to England也是过去分词短语作定语，how the governor sent ‘four men out fowling’为describes的宾语从句，who又引导一个定语从句修饰four men。例如：

The beautiful house finished last year is now our office.

去年完工的漂亮房子现在已成为我们的办公室。

4. As a part of tradition, turkey remains of central importance in the Thanksgiving menu surrounded by several other delicious dishes.

作为风俗习惯的一部分，火鸡在感恩节菜单中保持着重要地位，环绕在它的周围的是几种其他的美味佳肴。

这个长难句是一个简单句，surrounded by several other delicious dishes为过去分词短语作伴随状语。（be）surrounded by/with意为＂被……所环绕＂；＂of+抽象名词＂相当于抽象名词对应的形容词。例如：

Surrounded by so many green trees, the small village looks very beautiful.

被那么多绿树所环绕，那个小村庄看上去很美丽。

My dictionary is of great value to me.

=My dictionary is very valuable to me.

我的词典对我来说很有价值。