讀文章記單詞備戰(zhàn)英語六級
Unit 1 In Another Worm 另一個世界
Here I am, in China, half way around the world from home. As I look at my clock and calculate the time back home I realize that half a world away, people are busy getting ready for a wedding. The bride is my niece, a person I first met when she was three days old.
I think back to the first time I had the opportunity to become acquainted with my niece. As my sister cradled her in her arms, the infant girl clasped her mothers outstretched finger. My intuition told me that her temperament would be a sunny disposition, a joy to people around her.
As she grew, the cute little girl had an infectious laugh that started as a small grin, then became a giggle and grew louder and louder until it triggered a response from all the people around her and they joined in.
As an adolescent, she studied hard and enjoyed well deserved success in secondary school as she interacted with her peer group. After receiving her high school diploma, she chose nursing as her career.
From the beginning of the young couples romance it was evident that they were compatible and were completely intrigued with each other. The couple had an engagement party when I was at home in Canada a few months ago. The party was in the form of a picnic in a beautiful rose garden. To celebrate and to toast their future, we drank champagne. As they posed under an arch covered with climbing roses, we snapped pictures for their photo album.
The couple decided on a fall wedding. Plans for the wedding day were activated immediately. The decisions about the forthcoming event were shared by the whole family. A close friend of the family was contacted and invited to sing a solo just prior to the ceremony. The day before the ceremony, a rehearsal would take place so that the remainder of the details could be looked after and attended to. The planning that takes place beforehand for one of these events and all the work that the big day entails, with many people collaborating to make the event run smoothly, are immense. The conscientious attention to detail will be evident to the spectators of this event.
I can imagine the excitement and emotions of the family today. The time is near. The ceremony will begin in 3 short hours. The bride will be radiant as she comes down the aisle escorted by her father. She will wear her grandmothers pearls as an accessory. Her veil will be the same one as her cousin wore last year. As is customary, under her garments she will wear a blue garter. As part of the tradition of Canadian weddings, she will be wearing something old , something new , something borrowed and something blue . As the first chords of the wedding march are played , the congregation will rise. Gasps will be heard as they catch a glimpse of the bride in her gorgeous wedding gown. The mother of the bride will calmly view this whole event, though tears will blur her vision. She will be overcome with sentiment at her daughters apparent happiness. The picture will be one that will embody hope for the future of humanity.
As the couple exchange wedding vows they will be affirming their love and making a commitment to each other. All the spectators are there to wish them well.
As the time approaches, I think back to other family weddings over many years. My older sisters were all married in the same church and as brides they carried a white Bible decorated with tiny roses. The receptions for their weddings were all held in the same church basement, as there was no large banquet hall in the local area. The feast was usually catered by a group of church members.
Todays wedding reception will be held in an arena that will be decorated with just the right amount of fall flowers in wonderful arrays to give it dignity yet a touch of glamour. The table decorations will be a masterpiece. One of the table decorations will be small pumpkins, used as containers for flowers that were collected from family gardens, surrounded by a large wreath made from long stalks of wheat. There will be a few coloured leaves placed inside the wreath. Maybe they will use oak and maple leaves to show the splendour of the autumn colours. The colour of the outfits that the bridesmaids are wearing will be fall colours as well. The ingenious decorations will be appreciated by the many guests attending the festivities. At each place setting there will be a special paper napkin with the bride and grooms name printed on it and the date of their wedding. It will be carefully folded placed on top and of a linen napkin. This will be one of the souvenirs the guests will have to commemorate the special wedding day. Also at each place will be a few after dinner mints for the guests. A miniature tree will also be placed at each persons place. The intent is for the guests to take the little tree home and transplant it to a special place. In this way, our environment is also improved and the tree will become a living tribute to the young couple.
The groom will carry her across the threshold as is customary for a young couple as they begin their new life together. The honeymoon plans will take them to the west coast of Canada. They will have a week of privacy far away from friends and family. They will inhabit a condominium in the town of Whistler, British Columbia, in the Rocky Mountains. They will feel as if they are royalty living in a mansion in this little bit of paradise on earth. Thereafter, they will return home to Ontario where they will reside.
Their original plan to spend their honeymoon on board a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea was abandoned when world circumstances dictated that our country Canada was a safer choice.
Earlier this month, as I thought about the forthcoming marriage, and knew that I would be unable to attend, I decided to write a message to the young couple. The intent was that the message would be read aloud during the wedding reception. In the message, I wished them well and urged them to cherish each other every day. (1083 words)
UNIT 2
Lets Dress Up--Its Halloween
From early childhood getting dressed up is connected with a special pastime in North America, called Halloween. Halloween is celebrated on the last night of October, when the air is crisp and snow is not far off. Every young child is acquainted with this exciting tradition.
On the last day of October when dinner is finished, children hurry to dress up in a costume. Darkness comes early at this time of year and caution must be practiced, foremost by the children who are going from house to house, trick or treat. Parents warn their children not to dart out in front of cars. In all the excitement it is easy for children to become distracted and ignore safety rules.
Planning what your costume will be, ahead of time, is part of the fun of the evening. Many mothers will spend time fabricating outfits for their little girls who suddenly turn into circus clowns, beautiful ballet dancers or weird colorful bugs. Fathers may help their sons construct a costume of foil armor. Little boys often enjoy pretending they are in the army so on Halloween it is possible to see squads of lieutenants and sergeants marching along in the dark. We affiliate this celebration with the supernatural so some children may choose to wear a skeleton costume bearing a skull and crossbones, or even a monster costume. The choice of wardrobe for the evening is really limitless. Witches can be seen riding on broomsticks across well-illuminated intersections. Earlier in the evening they may have concocted a witchs brew to quench their thirst for their arrival home. Ghosts can be heard groaning and moaning while they glide along city streets. Beautiful butterflies flutter by on their way to a party. Pirates carrying swords and pistols roam about, patches over one eye. Small aliens search for a new home here on Earth. Wearing a cape and mask allows a child to become Superman for a few hours and enter the world of fantasy. An ethnic flavor is introduced as a band of gypsies dance along under a bright full moon. Of course you can always see a certain number of Native American costumes, the buckskin jackets and dresses decorated with fringe and beads.
Some youngsters choose to decorate only their faces with grease paint instead of wearing masks. In many ways this is safer for a child, making visibility clearer. At the same time a mask allows them to remain anonymous to all but their closest friends.
Usually, on the night before Halloween, family members gather together to carve a pumpkin. On Halloween night the candle lit face of the pumpkin shines from each home welcoming the little ghosts and goblins to call. Parents usually escort small children around their own neighborhood helping to keep them safe. Small children only visit random houses, their parents friends mostly, while older children knock at every door.
Crowding onto the front porch of the house the children rap at the door and chant the refrain trick or treat. Householders distribute candies, apples, peanuts, or any edible treat into decorated wooden six quart baskets, or plastic bags. They may be asked to recite a poem or sing a song before receiving their treat. Some lucky children may receive cookies from a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies. On arriving home the children will dump all the junk candy out onto the floor to examine their loot. Usually there is a great racket as brothers and sisters compare what goodies they have collected.
Adults, too, like to join in Halloween celebrations by attending small house parties or large group gatherings at halls or arenas. They may play the old traditional games such as bobbing for apples, which float in tubs of water, telling ghost stories and visiting a haunted house. Everyone seems to get enjoyment from being slightly afraid.
If you live in the country the hooting of an owl or even the howl of a wolf underlines the spooky atmosphere of Halloween evening. Clouds scuttle across the face of the moon and the flap of a birds wings can be heard as it settles on the bare branches of a tree. Eyes gleam in the night as a black cat crosses your path. Bats swoop about in the dark startling those who are nervous.
On this evening it is not necessary to be extravagant to have a good time. A little imagination and a sense of fun will create a memory of Halloween night for many years. (751words) UNIT 3
Gardening
One of the quiet joys of life in the southern part of Ontario, Canada, is gardening. Whether pursued as a hobby or solely to improve the esthetic value of ones home, the pleasure derived is only exceeded by the therapeutic benefit. The exercise involved in working in a garden is helpful in keeping people in good physical condition.
It has become a ritual for homeowners to spend late winter weekends browsing through seed catalogues while sitting on their couch. They make lists of items they wish to purchase and often make notations right on the catalogue as they make decisions about this years garden.
If they order early, there is usually a discount coupon, allowing a percentage of the cost to be deducted from the price. Often the coupon needs to be detached from the catalogue and mailed to the company along with the order. This is an extra bonus for the consumer. The investment cost required is nominal when the amount of pleasure generated is considered. The seed companies will usually warrant the plants, and often a refund is offered if the plants do not thrive. The shipment from the seed companys warehouse is awaited with eager anticipation. Its appearance means that spring will soon arrive.
The glossy pages of the catalogues provide a preview of the visual delights that can be grown. Pictures show an array of flowers that dazzle the eye. There are monochromatic displays as well as others that are a fusion of the complete spectrum of the rainbows colors. Also included in the publication are pictures and descriptions of vegetables, shrubs, and trees.
Avid gardeners subscribe to magazines that specialize in articles and ads about this enjoyable pastime and people literally read each issue from cover to cover.
Descriptions of plants include implicit instructions on whether to plant them in sun or shade. Specification as to the amount of irrigation required is also stated. Elaborate irrigation systems are sometimes installed or a trench for improving the water flow is used. Controls are needed on irrigation systems because if the ground becomes too saturated the soil in the garden will be too muddy to allow anyone to work in it until it dries out. If there is too much water constantly, the garden will become a swamp and impossible to cultivate.
Geographic location is important for plants. Certain plants are only suitable for propagation close to the equator. Others need to be several degrees of latitude away from the equator. Longitude is also a factor and most companies clearly state the conditions that will provide the optimum chances for the plants survival. Canadians grow tulips imported from Holland and they do well in the Southern Ontario climate.
Because it is late spring before plants can survive outdoors in Southern Ontario, it is common for people to start their plants indoors. Seeds are planted in small containers and continue to grow indoors until the appropriate size is achieved. Sometimes ultraviolet light is used to encourage plant growth. When the mercury rises and the danger of frost is past, the plants are then transplanted to the garden or to a flowerbed.
Plants are nourished from the soil, but to provide optimum food, fertilizer can be applied to encourage vigorous growth. Sometimes fertilizer is diluted with water while other kinds are dispersed with a spreader that flings the fertilizer granules in a small radius around the plants. The water soluble fertilizer will then be absorbed into the soil the next time it rains. Just as people need minerals, such as calcium and zinc, to be healthy, plants also need minerals but phosphorous and nitrogen are better food for them.
Some gardeners plan their garden with meticulous attention to detail. They choose colors that will complement each other and design their garden as if they were painting on a canvas. Others are more spontaneous and simply visit a nursery and purchase plants that appeal to them. Often gardeners have a trademark plant that is their specialty. Perhaps they enjoy the velvet texture of the leaves, or maybe the flowers color attracts them.
The varieties of gardens are endless. Terrace gardening has become popular. With a herbal garden, cooks enjoy being able to use fresh herbs from their garden to add zest to their favorite dishes. They simply visit their garden and clip a few pieces of the herb they wish to use.
Every garden is as individual as its owner. Gardens come in all shapes and sizes. Some are in the shape of a rectangle, while others are circular or irregular in shape. Some gardeners like the appearance of an asymmetrical shape while others work to achieve symmetry in their gardens. For vegetable gardens, the most popular shape is rectangular and vegetables are usually planted in a linear fashion. This method makes it easier to cultivate between the rows of plants. You could mistake some gardens for a meadow when the gardener chooses to include only wildflowers as a choice of vegetation. Including a pond in a garden is popular too.
Entrepreneurs are always looking for innovations and gadgets that will attract the attention of devoted gardeners and induce them to spend their money. It has become a huge industry in the last few years, as the baby boomers reach retirement age and have more time to pursue hobbies such as gardening. There are new products patented every year to tempt the gardener.
It is possible to buy a kit that contains a complete set of tools needed by the home gardener. Unfortunately, often the quality is poor and the product is a fraud. Instead of having something good to work with, the purchase turns out to be junk.
If you want to flatter a gardener, and boost their ego at the same time, summon up the courage to simply ask if you can swap plants. Of course, it will give them a thrill if you also compliment them on the hardiness of their plants as compared to yours. They might even try to console you on your lack of competence as a gardener because your plants are not as sturdy as their plants.
Irrespective of the competence of the gardener, anyone who augments the number of plants grown is helping to conserve our planet by averting erosion. This pays great dividends for everyone as it also serves to protect the ozone layer.
Some people erect barricades to keep small animals from attacking the plants. Squirrels love to dig up flower bulbs. They find them a tasty treat.
It is common to see ceramic fixtures or figurines in a garden. Even the untrained eye can tell that the imitations are a fake, yet properly placed, they add to the intrinsic beauty. A rain gauge, attached by a bracket to a fence, is a common sight and is used to enable the gardener to diagnose the moisture level of the soil around the plants and determine if they need more water. If nature does not provide enough rain, then the gardener will use a plastic or rubber hose to provide more irrigation. With a twist of a knob, or by moving a lever, the thirst of the plants for moisture can be quenched.
What greater pleasure, than to work in your garden and as you clip the overgrown plants back to size or prune branches of fruit trees, hear the buzz of bees? You know that they are enjoying your garden as they extract the pollen from the blooms. You relish the feeling that you are one with nature. The hum of insects as they share the garden is more pleasurable than music from a stereo or a symphony to a devoted gardener. In addition, the scent of the flowers is an integral part of the joy of spending time working in a garden.
