英语听力精选进阶版 6036

It’s October the 31st, and across Britain and the USA, thousands of children are dressing¹ up as monsters,ghosts and witches and going to their neighbours’ houses to ask for sweets or to play tricks on them if they refuse.

Many houses have lanterns made from pumpkins³ in their windows. These lanterns have frightening faces cut into them.

What is the reason for all of this? It’s Halloween! To an outsider, this may seem a strange festival, but it is a very popular one and an important part of the culture in Britain and the USA. But how did it start?

The holiday once had a religious significance. November the 1st is All Saint’s Day, and October the 31st was believed to be a day when all the spirits came back to the world of the living. In modern times, this has changed to be a day when children dress up as monsters, ghosts and witches.

Once they are dressed up children go to their neighbours’ houses. They knock on the door and shout ‘Trick or treat!’ Good neighbours, of course, give ‘treats’. These are usually sweets or chocolates.

Bad neighbours, however, may give nothing. If so, then the children play a ‘trick’ on them. This may be a simple practical joke. However, naughty children may do something worse, like throwing rubbish in the neighbour’s garden. Nowadays, of course, most neighbours always give a treat. After all, it’s fun for the children.

Another tradition is to make lanterns from pumpkins. First, the inside of the pumpkin² is removed. Then, a face is cut into the pumpkin, traditionally a smiling, devil⁴ face. Finally a candle is placed inside, and the lantern is put at the front of the house to keep evil⁵ spirits away.

There are many traditional games on Halloween, but the most common is ‘apple-bobbing’. It’s simple to play. Several apples are put floating in water. Children then have their hands tied behind their backs. They then have to try to pick the apples out of the water using only their mouths. Of course, people get very wet and it is very funny to watch.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

dressing up乔装打扮；穿上盛装

monsters 怪物；妖怪  

ghosts 鬼；幽灵

witches 巫师 

neighbours' 邻居

sweets 糖果  

tricks 恶作剧；诡计  

lanterns 灯笼    

pumpkins 南瓜

frightening 令人恐惧的  

outsider 外人；局外人   

spirits 幽灵；鬼魂   

treat 招待；请客

practical joke 恶作剧    

naughty 淘气的 

rubbish 垃圾

devil 魔鬼 

floating 漂浮着 

evil 邪恶的 

tied 栓着的，捆着的

1 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

2 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

3 pumpkins   

n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊

参考例句：

• I like white gourds, but not pumpkins. 我喜欢吃冬瓜，但不喜欢吃南瓜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they cut faces in the pumpkins and put lights inside. 然后在南瓜上刻出一张脸，并把瓜挖空。 来自英语晨读30分（高三）

4 devil   

n.魔鬼，恶魔

参考例句：

• It is easier to raise the devil than to lay him.召鬼容易驱鬼难。
• Susie,you're a determined little devil.苏茜，你真是个坚决的小家伙。

5 evil   

n.邪恶，不幸，罪恶；adj.邪恶的，不幸的，有害的，诽谤的

参考例句：

• We pray to God to deliver us from evil.我们祈求上帝把我们从罪恶中拯救出来。
• Love of money is the root of all evil.爱钱是邪恶的根源。