Holidays mean decorations for Americans 佳節應景裝飾
Americans enjoy making their homes look beautiful for holidays by Ruth Devlin
No matter what holiday it is, many Americans love to make their homes look festive. People put up decorations both indoors and out. Lawn displays are very popular at Christmas. And at Easter, people decorate trees in their yards with colored eggs.
Decorations can be simple or expensive. In these do-it-yourself days, many people enjoy making their own decorations, especially children. They make pictures and posters, knickknacks or window displays
Decorations are not strictly limited to single homes. Some neighborhoods work together to create a neighborhood effect. This is particularly popular at Christmastime. A street may call itself "Candy Cane Lane" for the Christmas holidays. Every house on the block will have candy canes along with other decorations in its yard.
Some communities even hold contests and give prizes for the best-decorated houses. In some areas, people buy tickets to tour decorated homes. The money from the ticket sales goes to a charity or another good cause.
Simple or extravagant, to many Americans, decorations make the holidays.
Conversation A:
"Hi, Jack, Please put this box of Halloween decorations in the basement."
"Where in the basement?"
"With all the other holiday decorations. And you can bring up the Thanksgiving decorations while you're at it."
"Where are they?"
"In the box marked "Thanksgiving decorations" of course!"
"We have way too much boxes of different decorations if you ask me."
"Oh, lighten up, Jack."
"Holiday decorations help get everyone in the mood to celebrate."
"I know, And when you're finish decorating, the house looks great. But we have so many decorations! And you buy more when they're on sale!"
"On can never have too many decorations!"
Conversation B
"There, That's the last string of Christmas lights."
" Thanks, Jack. I can't wait until dark so we can turn them on and see how they look!
"They're going to look great. We must have put 60,000 lights on the house."
"We didn't hang that many!"
"OK, probably not. But we still have a lot. I'm glad these lights don't use much electricity or our bill would be sky-high this month!"
"Tonight after dark, let's drive around and look at the Christmas lights."
"Ok, we'll drive into the Westport neighborhood. All the houses there have really fancy decorations."
"I know, The whole neighborhood gets into the act."
Grammar
We have way too many boxes of different decorations,if you ask me.
"if you ask me” = "in my opinion"
We have way too many boxes of different decorations, in my opinion.
If you ask me, he has had too much coffee today.
She should have applied for the job, if you ask me.
Vocabulary
unalterable-
Mr. Sparks had one unalterable rule in his classroom. You had to show respect to everyone.
lawn (n)- None of the houses on this street have lawn decorations.
poster (n)-Jim put up posters of his favorite cars in his room.
strictly (adv)-仅仅的, 完全的
The number of people able to attend the dinner party is strictly limited to 11.
*These parking lots are strictly for the use of our VIPs.仅供VIP 成员使用。
*We discussed strictly business.仅只于谈公事。
*The use of cameras is strictly prohibited in this area.
particularly (adv.)-特别地,尤其是.This house is particularly nice looking, don't you think.
*Bobby loves to be with children, particularly the toddlers.幼童
*The company is particularly interested in developing new technology.对发展新科技（尤其）特别感兴趣。 particular (adj)-特别的,特殊的.
extravagant - 过度浪费的,奢侈.
*The extravagant lifestyle of the young star is the focus of the paparazzi.狗仔队
*Cathy considers eating out to be extravagant.奢侈的
knickknacks-small decoration- make out of paper or plastic.
festive- very joyful and merry.
lawn-a pasture of green grass.
poster-large printed picture that give out some information.
lighten up (phr v)-放轻松，别担心relax. lighten-变轻，变明亮。
Oh, lighten up, Don't be so serious all the time.
*Lighten up! I was just joking.
*Everything will be alright! Lighten up and stop worrying!
*After talking to his best friend, Tim lightened up a bit.
mood (n)-I wouldn't talk to Amber right now. She's in a bad mood.
string (n)- Anne's mom is wearing a beautiful string of pearls around her neck.
sky-high (adj)-非常高的。Max can't afford to live in this neighborhood because rents are sky-high.
*The boy hit the ball sky-high, it was a home-run!
*The price of oil went sky -high today and many industries suffered.非常昂贵的，受到冲击。
*Very few can afford the sky-high rent in Manhattan.
get into the act- (V. idiom) （动词片语）参与某种活动。，get in and join and participate in something. act-行动
*The whole class got into the act and competed in the Science Fair and won the title.参与。科学竞赛比赛
*Everyone wants to get into the act of saving more money. 加入省钱族
Chat Room
Every holiday involve "eat"
summer time activities--may take a trip to a cabin on the mountain or to a ocean for fishing or camping.小木屋
grill (n)-烤肉的架子.cooking on the grill.
grill (v) out-户外烧烤.got outside and grill out. B.B.Q.
the 4th of July -是一个大节日,美国人会有家庭聚会或 at night to watch fire works.
bonfires-秋天点燃大型的营火来庆祝,同时用这营火烤好吃的东西.
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winter time activities--Many people would like go ski, or sled (n)雪橇 sledding 滑雪橇。
Thanksgiving holiday is celebrating of God's blessing. Family gather around and eating turkey with other type of food and thankful for God's blessing and protection for this whole year.
Christmas- family gathering and gift sharing. also celebrate the birth of Christ.
Thanksgiving and Christmas these two holidays are for family gathering. American would like to back home, family get together and celebrating and enjoy each other.
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