必克VOA新闻：美国感恩节

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Thanksgiving In America

The fourth Thursday in November is a national day of thanksgiving in the United States. The tradition is a very old one, dating to the arrival of the first English settlers in North America in the 17th century who, after their first successful harvests, paused to celebrate their bounty and give thanks for surviving their first terrible winter in what was then a wilderness.

Falling in the autumn, Thanksgiving has much in common with harvest holidays in other nations and cultures, such as Vietnam’s Trung Thu [[CHOONG TWO]] celebration and Homowo, the annual yam festival in Ghana. Still, with its turkey dinners, family gatherings, football games and parades, there’s something about the day that is distinctively American. Together with July 4th, when the U.S. marks its independence from Great Britain, it’s a truly national holiday that includes all citizens in a common purpose, regardless of religious, political or ethnic persuasion.

It also is a time for people to look back at the year, take stock and think about the future. With our nation dealing with crises in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and West Africa, the looming uncertainties of 2015 likely will be on many minds today. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the first official Thanksgiving amid similar serious circumstances, the American Civil War.

But like their colonial ancestors, Americans are essentially an optimistic people. Surrounded by friends and family, today as in the past, they will enter into the spirit of the day, giving thanks for life’s blessings and the promise of the future living in a free land.

词汇解析

impression

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.印象；感觉；模仿

n.印迹；印刷

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Her gentleness has given me a deep impression.

她的亲切给我留下了很深的印象。

The first edition of this dictionary has an impression of 10,000 copies and the total price is 1,000,000 yuan.

这部词典第一版印刷一万册，码洋为一百万元。

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available

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.可利用的；可得到的；有空的；有效的；<贬>【政】有资格的，适合的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The Prime Minister was not available for comment.

首相无暇作出评论。

The round trip ticket is available for two months.

返程票两个月有效。

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storage

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.保管；贮藏；仓库；保管费；[计]存储器

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The best place for storage of money is a bank.

银行是存钱最好的地方。

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petroleum

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.石油

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Indonesia is abundant in petroleum deposits.

印尼的石油蕴藏量丰富。

Any new source of energy will be welcome, as there is a shortage of petroleum.

由于石油短缺，任何一种新能源都会受欢迎。

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outlook

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.景色；前景；展望；观点

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

From my study window I have a pleasant outlook over mountains and valleys.

从我书房的窗子我看到了高山和峡谷宜人的景色。

As prices have dropped lower and lower, the outlook looks black for many companies in the city.

当价格一再下跌，对市内许多公司来说前景大为不妙。

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defend

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.防守；防护；辩护

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

Some players are better at defending.

有些运动员较擅长打防卫。

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altitude

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.高度；海拔；高地

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

We are flying at an altitude of 20000 feet.

我们的飞行高度是20000英尺。

 

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