Unique Traditions from UK

Boxing Day

This holiday, which is observed on Dec. 26, is a unique part of the Christmas season in Great Britain, as well as other Commonwealth nations. Boxing Day comes from a tradition that began in the Middle Ages more than 800 years ago. On this day, English churches would open their “alms box” and distribute its contents to needy members of the community. It was also a day for servants to celebrate the holidays with their families, having usually worked the day before. Today, Boxing Day is one of the twenty-two paid holidays received by most working Brits. Most people now spend Christmas Day with their family and reserve Boxing Day for exchanging gifts with friends. Although the government shuts down for the day, cinemas and theatres are open.

Queen’s Telegram

In the United States, if you make it to the ripe old age of 101 or 102, Willard Scott will wish you happy birthday on national television. In England, the queen herself will send her congratulations. This fairly new custom is known as “the Queen’s Telegram” and assures centenarians (people at least 100 years old) that they will receive a birthday telegram from the queen on their one-hundredth birthdays. The telegram is so longed for by some Brits that one 98-year-old woman was recently proved to have faked her age by two years just to receive the telegram.

High Tea

High tea was first enjoyed by the English working class during the 1700s. This tradition began as a practical attempt to hold off hunger pains between breakfast and supper, as eating just two daily meals was common at the time. It was called “high” tea because it was usually taken sitting on top of stools in a tea shop or standing at a counter or buffet table. Today, high tea has become a more elegant and popular tradition that is practiced in fine hotels and restaurants around the world.

Public Houses

Visiting a pub is one of Britain’s oldest forms of entertainment. The idea for the first public houses was brought to Britain thousands of years ago by the conquering Roman army. The first pubs served wine, but after the discovery of hops (啤酒花) in the 14th century, pubs began to serve mainly beer and ale (麦芽酒), as they do today.

British pubs operate between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day except Sunday, when they must close at 10:30 p.m.

The drinking age in Britain is eighteen, but fourteen-year-olds may enter a pub unaccompanied if they order a meal.

Unique Traditions from UK

第二节   

1.       The President’s state visit aimed at          expanding relations between the two countries is scheduled in November, 2011.

2.       According to the research, over 30% of the middle-aged people will have suffered from the mortgage problem by the time they retire.

3.       I am tired of being picked on     . Why are you always treating me in that way?

4.       I have to point out that his thinking goes against      all logic, which will probably be a big obstacle for him to cooperate with others.

5.       I wish you’d stop beating about the bush and tell me what you really want.

6.       There is proof that up to now the program has had impact on   our community as supposed.

7.       With the sense of failure eating away at     his self-esteem, John was thinking about giving up the project.

8.       Finally we reached an agreement that the situation called for         prompt action.  

9.       Students’ dropping out      of university has long been an issue concerning the principals.

10.   I insist that the problem needs to be worked out / working out as soon as possible.

Now I would like to talk about movies. There are many kinds of movies,   48   action movies, comedies, romance and so on. I like war movies the most   49   war movies educate us about the horrors of war.

War is the worst way   50    resolve differences between countries. There are movies about the two world wars. I like them, too. They taught me how the wars started, and   51   they ended. My favorite movie is Saving Private Ryan,   52   talks about America’s war with Germany.  53   American soldier almost lost all his brothers in the war, and the American government wanted to let his mother have at least one son. So they sent soldiers to save   54   remaining son, Ryan.

There are many war movies in the world,   55   I like this movie the most because this movie is very heart-warming.

 请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。注意：每空格1个单词。

    Some people believe that greed and selfishness has become the basis of modern society, and we should return to the old traditions of family and community then we will have a better life. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?

    In this fast-paced world, many values are undergoing major changes. While people traditionally prioritize caring, sharing and generosity in life and work, modern people seem to be more self-absorbed and self-concerned.

    Modern people act selfishly to survive the harsh competition of life. They say that it is a jungle out there. To survive, you have to fight with whatever means that come handy. Obviously greedy and selfishness go perfectly well with such ideas. In a company, employees do everything they can to get better pay and higher position, even at the cost of colleagues. We are in any way advocating any selfish conduct. It is just that people are pressured to act in a certain way due to outside influences.

    In spite of common practice, it is hard to conclude that modern society is built on greed and selfishness, both of which are not newly invented vocabulary. In ancient times people also did greedy and selfish things though such behaviors were more condemned then. But we can not ignore the fact that people in the past lived a relatively more isolated life and faced less pressure compared with their modern counterparts.

    Are we happier to share with others and be generous to them? There is no fixed answer either. Some people take great pleasure helping and giving to others while others feel happy doing the opposite. But I personally think that people should not be too selfish. Caring for others can actually encourage the development of a mutually beneficial relationship.

In conclusion, modern people appear to be more self-centered than those in the past due to strong outside pressure. However, we should encourage people to know the importance of being caring and generous and to build a mutually beneficial relationship with others.

Are Modern People Becoming More Selfish?