常春藤生活英语【145】Having Fun with Pumpkins 百变南瓜趣

Having Fun with Pumpkins 百变南瓜趣

Pumpkins are a big part of North American culture. As food, they are used in pies, soups, and other dishes. Today, people don't eat as much pumpkin as they used to, but this fruit is still a part of two important holidays—Thanksgiving and Halloween. Pumpkins are harvested in autumn, around the times when Halloween and Thanksgiving are celebrated. This is the reason they are used for fun events and activities during these times. The most popular pumpkin activity that crosses everyone's mind instantly is of course pumpkin carving.

At Halloween time, many people carve faces into pumpkins. A carved pumpkin is called a jack-o-lantern. Traditionally, lit candles are placed inside pumpkins so that the faces glow. However, if carving or eating pumpkins isn't for you, there are still other ways to enjoy them. For instance, in Delaware, US, there is a three-day festival called World Punkin' Chunkin' Championships. The goal of the event is to throw a pumpkin as far as possible. This competition has nothing to do with people's arm strength, though. Competitors build machines that throw the pumpkins into the air. The machines that people build are both bizarre and amazing. Pumpkin chucking is very popular, with regular championships being held in the US and Europe. One of the few rules is that the pumpkin has to stay whole until it lands. If it explodes in mid-air, it is called "pumpkin pie in the sky."

南瓜在北美洲的文化里占有很重要的地位。它们作为食物时，可以用来制成派、浓汤、以及其它料理。现今的人们不像以往会吃那么多南瓜，但这种蔬果仍旧是两大节日－－感恩节与万圣节的一部份。南瓜于秋天收成，也就大约是庆祝万圣节和感恩节的时节。这就是为什么每年在这些时刻的许多趣味活动中都会运用到南瓜。一提到最受欢迎的南瓜活动时，每个人脑海中立即浮现的则非雕刻南瓜莫属。

万圣节时期，许多人会在南瓜上头雕刻脸孔。一颗雕刻好的南瓜称为南瓜灯笼（或称杰克南瓜灯）。传统上，南瓜里会放置点燃的蜡烛好让脸孔发光。但如果您不太喜欢雕刻或吃南瓜，仍有其它方式可以享受它们带来的乐趣。举例来说，在美国德拉瓦州，有一个为期三天的节庆叫做World Punkin' Chunkin' Championships。此活动的目标是要把南瓜扔得越远越好。不过这个竞赛和人们的臂力倒没什么关联。竞赛者而是得建造机器来把南瓜扔向空中。人们建造的机器可说是无奇不有、惊人无比。投掷南瓜的活动相当盛行，美国与欧洲各地都固定会举行这类的锦标赛。比赛的少数规则之一就是在南瓜落地前都要保持完整无缺。如果南瓜在半空中就爆裂开来，便称作『空中南瓜派』。 
 
Building Your Vocabulary  

1. harvest　vt. 收获，收割
I harvested the fruit before it was too ripe.
我赶在水果过熟以前将它们采收起来。
2. instantly　adv. 立即，马上
The lifeguard saved the little girl instantly.
那名救生员立即救起了那个小女孩。
3. carve　vt. 雕刻 （本文中亦以过去分词作形容词用）
The statue was carved out of marble.
那座雕像是用大理石雕刻而成的。
4. light　vt. 点燃（本文中以过去分词作形容词用，三态为：light, lit, lit。）
Samuel lit a candle during the blackout.
山缪在停电时点了一根蜡烛。
5. glow　vi. 发光
We saw a light glowing in the house.
我们看见屋内有盏灯亮着。
6. land　vi. 落下；降落，着陆
A helicopter just landed in our schoolyard.
一架直升机刚刚降落在我们学校的操场上。 

Phrases for Learning  

1. cross + 所有格 + mind　　（某人）脑海中想到
It never crossed my mind that Eason might say bad things about me.
我从没想过伊森会说我的坏话。
2. For instance, 主词 + 动词　　例如……
Ted is a responsible person. For instance, he always completes his work on time.
泰德很负责任。譬如说，他总是能如期完成他的工作。 

1. cross + 所有格 + mind　　（某人）脑海中想到
It never crossed my mind that Eason might say bad things about me.
我从没想过伊森会说我的坏话。
2. For instance, 主词 + 动词　　例如……
Ted is a responsible person. For instance, he always completes his work on time.
泰德很负责任。譬如说，他总是能如期完成他的工作。 

参考字词  

1. jack-o-lantern　n. 南瓜灯笼
2. championship　n. 锦标赛，冠军赛
3. bizarre　a. 奇异的，古怪的
4. chuck　vt. 抛，扔
5. mid-air　n. 半空中 

SENTENCE PATTERN  

...throw a pumpkin as far as possible.
（……把南瓜扔得越远越好。）
as + 副词∕形容词 + as possible
= as + 副词∕形容词 + as + 人 + can
（某人）尽可能……
You should finish your work as soon as possible.
= You should finish your work as soon as you can.
（你应该尽快完成你的工作。）
Sam made his speech as short as possible.
= Sam made his speech as short as he could.
（山姆使他的演讲尽可能地精简。）

本课程选自常春藤免费电子刊物。若对您英语学习有所帮助，请支持购买常春藤英语相关正版教材。