董亚芬大学英语精读(第三版)第1册教案Unit3.docVIP

Unit 3 The Present I. Background information 1. Traditional Birthday Celebration in Western Countries In the West, it is customary to hold a party in celebration of a person’s birthday. The guests will come to the party with birthday presents and say “Happy Birthday” to the birthday person. The guests then watch him or her open the presents and he or she thanks them for the presents they have brought. At the party drinks and food are served. Toward the end of the dinner the lights in the room are turned off, and someone comes in from another room with a cake on which are lighted candles, one for each year. At the sight of the cake the guests begin singing “Happy Birthday to You” and the birthday person makes a wish before he or she blows out the candles on the cake. It is said that the wish will come true if all the candles go out in one puff. After that, the cake is cut in slices usually by the birthday person, one piece for each guest. When the party comes to an end, the guests wish the birthday person “Happy Birthday” again and leave. 2. Important birthdays in the West At 21, the age of majority (now lowered to 18 in many countries), one becomes an adult. Usually the family has a big party for the new adult and a major present—an expensive watch or a car—is given him or her. The present, of course, various from family to family. Any birthday past 70 is celebrated in a special way by family members just because the birthday person is getting old and may die before another birthday comes round. That is why the author of The Present says “eighty was a special birthday”. And then, 100—the centennial birthday—is generally regarded as an unusual occasion because few people reach it. The centenarian may even receive a telegram or a letter of congratulations from prominent political figures, such as the Prime Minister and the Queen if the anniversary is celebrated in Britain. Again the family may hold a party attended by relatives and surviving friends as well. Among o