课文 · 精读
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A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.
日本每年举行一次亡灵节。
is held once a year 是节日类说明的标准开头。
This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes.
这个节日是个欢乐的日子，因为据说这一天死者会回到自己的家。
cheerful 和 the dead 放在一起，形成文化理解上的新鲜感。
Food is laid out for them.
人们为他们摆好食物。
lay out food 是祭奠行为的核心动作之一。
Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.
特制灯笼被挂在每家门外，帮助亡灵找到路。
to help... 表示非常明确的仪式目的。
All night long, people dance and sing.
整整一夜，人们都在载歌载舞。
说明这个节日并不阴森，而是公开热闹。
The food is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.
清晨，摆给亡灵的食物被扔进河里或海里，因为活人吃这些食物被认为不吉利。
as it is considered unlucky... 是文化习俗解释。
Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.
成千上万盏灯笼慢慢漂向海上，指引亡灵返回另一个世界。
guiding the dead... 是非常有画面的收束句。
Crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.
成群的人站在岸边，看着灯笼渐渐远去，直到再也看不见。
watching... until... 把送别过程拉得很长，也让结尾更有余韵。
This is a moving spectacle.
这是一个令人感动的景象。
moving spectacle 是作者总评价。
单元概要
本课介绍日本一年一度的亡灵节。重点在于理解这个节日虽然与“死者归来”有关，却被写成 cheerful occasion，并通过 lanterns、food 和 return journey 构成完整的民俗流程。
精读导图 1. 先写亡灵节的基本意义。 2. 再写食物、灯笼、歌舞等仪式过程。 3. 最后写灯笼漂海送别亡灵，形成感人结尾。 精读关注 - be said to return - guide ... on their return journey
单词表
| 单词 | 音标 | 释义 | 精讲 |
|---|---|---|---|
| festival | /ˈfestɪvl/ | 节日 |
|
| cheerful | /ˈtʃɪəfl/ | 欢乐的 |
|
| welcome | /ˈwelkəm/ | 欢迎 |
|
| lay out | /leɪ aʊt/ | 摆放 |
|
| lantern | /ˈlæntən/ | 灯笼 |
|
| unlucky | /ʌnˈlʌki/ | 不吉利的 |
|
| drift | /drɪft/ | 漂流 |
|
| shore | /ʃɔː(r)/ | 岸边 |
|
| spectacle | /ˈspektəkl/ | 景象；场面 |
|
短语
| 短语 | 意思 |
|---|---|
| once a year | 每年一次 |
| be said to do | 据说…… |
| lay out food | 摆放食物 |
| find one's way | 找到路 |
| all night long | 整整一夜 |
| drift out to sea | 慢慢漂向海上 |
| be considered unlucky | 被认为不吉利 |
| the other world | 另一个世界 |
语法点
be said to do
the dead are said to return... 是“据说会……”的正式表达。
相似句：
- He is said to be very rich.
- The temple is said to be over a thousand years old.
be expected to do
the dead are expected to be hungry 体现习俗中的设想和礼待，因此后面才会摆放食物。
相似句：
- Guests are expected to arrive early.
- The train is expected to leave on time.
as 表原因
as it is considered unlucky... 解释为什么食物最终被丢弃。
相似句：
- As it was late, we went home.
- As the road was blocked, we turned back.
现在分词作伴随结果
lanterns drift out to sea guiding the dead... 用 guiding 补充说明灯笼漂流的意义。
相似句：
- She stood there smiling at us.
- The river runs south, carrying leaves away.
读写提示
- 文化说明文要按“意义 - 仪式 - 情感收束”来概括。
- 这课的关键词是 cheerful，不要把它写阴森了。
- lanterns 是全文最重要意象。
- 最后 moving spectacle 一句很适合做主旨总结。
考点
4
考点
4第 1 / 4 题
为什么亡灵节被写成 cheerful occasion？