英语课程计划-National High Five Day

National High Five Day is on the third Thursday of April every year. This unusual holiday started at the University of Virginia in the USA in 2002. Since then, it has slowly grown in popularity¹ around America. It is also spreading to different countries around the world. The day celebrates one of America’s invented gestures of the twentieth century. It is a common part of life in America today and around the world when people have something they want to jointly² celebrate. You most often see it in sport, when two teammates will raise their arms and give each other’s hands a slap. Television has spread the gesture everywhere and you can see it wherever you go in the world. Both men and women use it to celebrate.

The High Five website speculates³ that the gesture started with an American basketball player called Mont Skeets, one of the greatest players ever to play for Murray State University. Legend has it that when Mont was three years old, his father’s army friends would visit. They were all from the 5th infantry⁴ division. The young Mont didn’t know their names so would greet them by saying “Hi, Five”. The former soldiers replied by slapping Mont’s up-stretched arm. When Mont grew up and started playing basketball, he adapted his greeting to use it with his teammates when they got points. The “Hi, Five” became a “high five” and the celebration became contagious⁵. In a short space of time it had spread throughout the basketball world.

1 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

2 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

3 speculates   

思索，猜测，推测( speculate的第三人称单数 )； 投机

参考例句：

• And then look at the way he speculates in government bonds: huh! 他又要做公债——哼！ 来自子夜部分
• Cameron defends Cole and House speculates that she wants to control him. Cameron保护Cole,House推测她想控制他。

4 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

5 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。