Columbus Day 哥伦布日.docVIP

Columbus Day 哥伦布日 　　What is Columbus Day？ 　　This day commemorates1 Italian great sailor Christopher Columbus’ landing in the New World on October 12， 1492. Most nations of the Americas observe this holiday on October 12 each year， but in the United States， observances2 take place on the second Monday in October. The major celebration of the day takes place in New York City， which has a huge parade3 each year. 　　什么是哥伦布日？ 　　这一节日旨在纪念伟大的意大利水手克里斯多弗?哥伦布于1492年10月12日发现美洲新大陆。大多数的美洲国家都在每年的10月12日庆祝这一节日，但是美国的纪念活动却在每年10月的第二个星期一举行。每年这一天纽约市都会进行盛大的游行并举行大型的庆祝活动。 　　What’s the day’s background information？ 　　Christopher Columbus was a great explorer long， long ago. He traveled across a big ocean with three ships. These ships traveled together so that if one had trouble， the others could help. At night， Columbus used stars to find his way. In the daytime， he used a tool called a compass4. 　　Once， after sailing a long time， Columbus and his men thought they had landed in India. Columbus called the people he met there Indians. But he wasn’t in India at all. He was in America. The year was 1492 and the date was October 12. He landed on an island now known as San Salvador. 　　In 1934 President Roosevelt declared5 October 12 as Columbus Day. It is now celebrated throughout the Americas， Central and South America， Puerto Rico and Canada. 　　此?日有何背景知识？ 　　克里斯多弗?哥伦布是很久以前有个伟大的探险家。他率领着三艘船越过宽阔的海洋， 　　这些船只之所以一起航行，是因为如果一只船遇到了麻烦，其他船只可以提供帮助。晚上，哥伦布利用星星辨认方向；白天，他使用一种叫指南针的工具。 　　一次，在航行很长一段时间后，哥伦布和随行人员以为他们已经到达了印度。哥伦布称呼他所遇到的人为“印第安人”。但他并不在印度，他是在美洲。这一天就是1492年的10月12日。他当时登陆的是现在被称为“圣萨尔瓦多”的一个岛屿。 　　1934年，罗斯福总统宣布10月12日为哥伦布日。现在整个美洲、中美洲、南美洲、波多黎各和加拿大等地都庆祝这一节日。 　　How is Columbus Day observed6？ 　　Columbus Day is thought as a national holiday in the United States， with most banks， some financial7 markets， some agencies， most state government offices and many schools closed for the day. 　　Columbus Day is a great time for a family. For preschoolers8， it can be as simple as learning about maps or treasure hu