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?Lesson?96:The?dead?return?亡灵返乡

AFestivalfortheDeadisheldonceayearinJapan.Thisfestivalisacheerfuloccasion,foronthisday,thedeadaresaidtoreturntotheirhomesandtheyarewelcomedbytheliving.Astheyareexpectedtobehungryaftertheirlongjourney,foodislaidoutforthem.Specially-madelanternsarehungoutsideeachhousetohelpthedeadtofindtheirway.Allnightlong,peopledanceandsing.Intheearlymorning,thefoodthathadbeenlaidoutforthedeadisthrownintoariverorintotheseaasitisconsideredunluckyforanyonelivingtoeatit.Intownsthatarenearthesea,thetinylanternswhichhadbeenhunginthestreetsthenightbefore,areplacedintothewaterwhenthefestivalisover.Thousandsoflanternsslowlydriftouttoseaguidingthedeadontheirreturnjourneytotheotherworld.Thisisamovingspectacle,forcrowdsofpeoplestandontheshorewatchingthelanternsdriftingawayuntiltheycanbeseennomore.

festivaln.节日

lanternn.灯笼

spectaclen.景象，壮观，场面

Lesson95Afantasy?

WhentheAmbassadororEscalopiareturnedhomeforlunch,hiswifegotashock.Helookedpaleandhisclotheswereinafrightfulstate.

Whathashappened?sheasked.Howdidyourclothesgetintosuchamess?

Afireextinguisher,mydear,answeredtheAmbassadordrily.UniversitystudentssettheEmbassyonfirethismorning.

Goodheavens!exclaimedhiswife.Andwherewereyouatthetime?

Iwasinmyofficeasusual,answeredtheAmbassador.Thefirebrokeoutinthebasement.Iwentdownimmediately,ofcourse,andthatfool,Horst,aimedafireextinguisheratme.HethoughtIwasonfire.Imustdefinitelygetthatfellowposted.

TheAmbassadorswifewentonaskingquestions,whenshesuddenlynoticedabigholeinherhusbandshat.

Andhowcanyouexplainthat?sheasked.

Oh,that,saidtheAmbassador.Someonefiredashotthroughmyofficewindow.Accurate,dontyouthink?Fortunately,Iwasntwearingitat