New Horizon English Course

1. New Horizon English Course Section AHappy New Year

2. CONTENTS Warming Up Reading Through Exercises Text A Main Idea & Structure Words & Expressions

3. Warming up Activity I Background Information Activity II Spot Dictation Activity Ⅲ Watch and Discuss

4. Background Information • New York City • Times Square

5. It is the largest city in the United States and one of the largest in the world, situated on New York Bay at the mouth of the Hudson River. It comprises (由······组成) five boroughs (行政区): Manhattan (曼哈顿区) (New York co.), the heart of the city, an island; the Bronx (布朗克斯区) (Bronx co.), on the mainland, northeast of Manhattan and separated from it by the Harlem River; Queens (昆斯区) (Queens co.), on Long Island, east of Manhattan across the East River; Brooklyn (布鲁克林区)(Kings co.), also on Long Island, on the East River adjoining Queens and on New York Bay; and Staten Island (斯塔腾岛区) (Richmond co.), on Staten Island. New York City

6. The metropolitan (都市的) area encompasses (包含) parts of southeast New York State, northeast New Jersey, and southwest Connecticut. The port of New York (which is now centered on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River) remains one of the world’s leading ports.

7. It is in New York City. Formed by the intersection of Broadway, Seventh Ave., and 42nd St., this famous square was named for the building there that formerly belonged to the New York Times. The building is located in the center of the square. Times Square and the adjacent (邻近的) area form one of the most concentrated entertainment (娱乐) districts in the nation, featuring legitimate theaters (舞台剧), motion picture houses (电影院), shops, newsstands (报摊), bars, and restaurants. Times Square

8. Broadway at Times Square, jammed with traffic, and illuminated (照明) by a lot of enormous electrical signs, is known as the “Great White Way”. On New Year’s Eve, close to a million people congregate (聚集) there to celebrate.

9. Spot Dictation Directions: The following paragraph is taken from Text A. Listen carefully and fill in the blanks without referring to the original text. You can (1)__________ that after all that (2) __________, many (3) __________ begin the first day of the New Year a little (4) _______. They are (5) __________ quite happy to spend a (6) __________ day at home, (7) __________ the most (8) __________ New Year’s Day (9) __________ on (10) ___________. imagine celebrating Americans usually tired quiet watching popular activities television

10. Watch & Discuss Watch the video clip and discuss the topics below:

11. Brainstorming Discussion: 1. How many holidays have been talked about in this clip? What do you know about these holidays? 2. What do you think about the “survival” of holidays? Reference

12. Holidays 1. How many holidays have been talked about in this clip? What do you know about these holidays? Five western holidays are mentioned in this video clip. They are Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Day. All these holidays are celebrated from October to January successively. Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets. Thanksgiving is a holiday observed in Canada and the United States to give thanks, traditionally to God. Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights celebrated by Jews in early December. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays for almost all the Western nations and has now become popular around the world. January 1, the New Year’s Day, marks the end of the passing year. A lot of celebration activities can be seen on television and in newspapers on this day.

13. Holidays 2. What do you think about the “survival” of holidays? Can you suggest some tips for holiday survival? The holiday season for most people is a fun time of the year filled with parties, celebrations and social gatherings with family and friends. However, for many people, it is a time filled with sadness, loneliness, and anxiety about an uncertain future. Holiday sadness typically arises from tiredness, unrealistic expectations, financial stress, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends. Balancing the demands of shopping, parties, family obligations, and house guests may contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed and increased tension. People who do not view themselves as depressed may develop stress responses, such as: headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating, and difficulty sleeping. To overcome these stresses and survive holidays, some tips are suggested as follows:

14. • Don’t shop blindly－stick to your budget. • Make homemade gifts such as cookies or crafts. • Eat more fruit as a snack instead of high-calorie fast foods. • Balance the holiday treats with nutritious, low-fat meals. • Don’t drink and drive. • Don’t try to solve a year’s worth of family problems during one holiday get-together. • You can’t please everyone, so don’t try. • Keep visits short whenever possible. • Get enough sleep. • Exercise to boost energy. • Don’t skip meals when you’re on the run.

15. Reading Through

16. Text A Happy New Year New Year’s Eve is the world’s oldest celebration. In fact, ancient people celebrated the New Year even before they had ways of measuring time. New Year’s Eve is celebrated in many countries all over the world. In some countries, it is the most important celebration of the year, but this is not true of the United States or Europe. One reason may be that Christmas comes just one week before the New Year, and it is the Western World’s biggest holiday. Many people give this celebration even more importance than people in East Asia give the Spring Festival. Chinese Text A Para. 1

17. The most popular way to bring in the New Year in the United States is with a big party. Some parties are at private homes. In recent years, though, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or restaurant on the night of December 31st. There, they can eat, drink and dance until the early hours. Chinese Text A Para. 2

18. Most New Year’s parties have some things in common: first of all, they are usually noisy; this tradition of noise-making is believed to be centuries old. People thought that loud sounds would drive away the evil spirits of the old year, before the New Year began. In the USA, the biggest and noisiest party takes place in Times Square in New York City. Thousands of people gather there every year. Some of them ring bells or let off fireworks. At midnight, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building. Chinese Text A Para. 3

19. For more than twenty years, millions of Americans have been able to watch the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square on television. It has become so popular that many American hotels and restaurants put up big screens so that their guests can watch it, too. At midnight, everyone stops talking and dancing to join in the television broadcast from New York. Chinese Text A Para. 4

20. You can imagine that after all that celebrating, many Americans begin the first day of the New Year a little tired. They are usually quite happy to spend a quiet day at home, watching the most popular New Year’s Day activities on television. Chinese Text A Para. 5

21. Last but not least, have you ever heard the term “to make a New Year’s resolution”? It is something that Americans and Europeans promise to do in the coming year, usually involving giving up bad habits (e.g. giving up smoking or sleeping too much). Experts say that the most common New Year’s resolution in America is to eat less! Sadly, experts have also found that fewer than ten percent of Americans carry out their New Year’s resolutions. Chinese Text A Para. 6

22. 1 New Year’s Eve is the world’s oldest celebration. Meaning: It is the oldest custom for people all over the world to welcome the coming of the New Year on the night before the New Year’s Day. Meaning of the Sentences

23. 2 One reason may be that Christmas comes just one week before the New Year, and it is the Western World’s biggest holiday. Meaning of the Sentences Meaning: Onereason why New Year’s Eve is not the most important celebration in the United States or Europe may be that Christmas comes just one week before the New Year, and that Christmas is the Western World’s biggest holiday.

24. 3 Many people give this celebration even more importance than people in East Asia give the Spring Festival. Meaning:Manypeople pay much more attention to the celebration of Christmas than people in East Asia do to the Spring Festival. Meaning of the Sentences

25. 4 The most popular way to bring in the New Year in the United States is with a big party. Meaning:The Americans’ most common way of welcoming the New Year is to have a big party. Meaning of the Sentences

26. 5 Most New Year’s parties have some things in common. Meaning: Most parties in celebration of the new Year are similar in some ways . Meaning of the Sentences

27. 6 This tradition of noise-making is believed to be centuries old. Meaning: It is believed that the custom of making loud sounds has existed for hundreds of year. Meaning of the Sentences

28. 7 People thought that loud sounds would drive away the evil spirits of the old year before the New Year began. Meaning: People believed that loud sounds would make harmful things of the old year go away before the New Year began. Meaning of the Sentences

29. 8 At midnight, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building. Meaning:At midnight, they shout happily when an electric sign that looks like a red apple gives out light on the top of a tall building. Meaning of the Sentences

30. 9 It has become so popular that many American hotels and restaurants put up big screens so that their guests can watch it, too. Meaning:Watching the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square on television has become such a common practice that many American hotels and restaurants put up big screens so that their guests are also able to watch the television broadcast from New York. It=watching the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square on Television big screens=big TVs (watch) it=(watch) the television broadcast from New York (which is mentioned in the next sentence) Meaning of the Sentences

31. 10 At midnight, everyone stops talking and dancing to join in the television broadcast from New York. Meaning:At midnight, all the people no longer speak or dance; they watch the television program showing the celebration in New York. Meaning of the Sentences

32. 11 You can imagine that after all that celebrating, many Americans begin the first day of the New Year a little tired. Meaning:You may know that after celebrating the New Year this way, many Americans are a little tired when they begin the first day of the New Year. Meaning of the Sentences

33. 12 They are usually quite happy to spend a quiet day at home, watching the most popular New Year’s Day activities on television. Meaning:Generally speaking, they are quite happy to have a quiet day at home to watch the television broadcasts of the most popular things people do on the New Year’s Day. Meaning of the Sentences

34. 13 Last but not least, have you ever heard the term “to make a New Year’s resolution”? Meaning:The last, and also important point I’d like to mention is: have you heard the expression “to make a New Year’s resolution”? Meaning of the Sentences

35. 14 It is something that Americans and Europeans promise to do in the coming year, usually involving giving up bad habits (e.g. giving up smoking or sleeping too much). Meaning:“ To make a New Year’s resolution” is something that Americans and Europeans promise to do in the coming new year. This “something” usually has something to do with giving up bad habits, such as not smoking or sleeping too much. It=to make a New Year’s resolution Meaning of the Sentences

36. 15 Meaning:According to the experts, the most popular New Year’s resolution in America is to eat less (as so many people are overweight)! Experts say that the most common New Year’s resolution in America is to eat less! Meaning of the Sentences

37. 16 Meaning:It is a pity, but experts have found that fewer than ten percent of Americansfulfill the promises they make on the New Year’s Day. Sadly, experts have also found that fewer than ten percent of Americans carry out their New Year’s resolutions. Meaning of the Sentences

38. Main Idea The text chiefly deals with New Year’s Eve, the oldest, and most important celebration in many countries and places throughout the world. The most common way for Americans of bringing in the New Year is holding great parties. In recent years, however, it has also got more and more popular for Americans to join in the festivities outside their homes. For example, they go to the biggest and noisiest celebration in Times Square, New York City. Americans and Europeans make New Year’s resolutions, but sadly, only few people carry them out. MainIdea & Structure

39. Part I:Para. 1 Part II: Para. 2-5 Part III:Para. 6 Main idea: New Year’s Eve is many countries’ oldest and most significant celebration. Main idea:Americans and Europeans make New Year’s resolutions, but sadly, few people carry them out. Main idea:The most common American way to welcome the New Year is having grand parties. Structure MainIdea & Structure

40. Words & Expressions New Words eve celebrate ancient measure common tradition evil gather cheer resolution involve imagine

41. Words & Expressions Expressions give importance to bring in have… in common drive away take place let off light up in the shape of put up join in carry out

42. eve n. 【1】[U] the night or day before the stated religious day or holiday（宗教节日或假日的）前夜；前夕 e.g. We’re giving a party on Christmas Eve. 【2】[the + singular (of)] the time just before an important event（ 重大事件发生的）前夕； 前一刻 e.g. On the eve of the election, no one was confident enough to predict the result. New words

43. celebrate v. mark (an event or special occasion) by enjoying oneself, publicly or privately庆祝；举行（仪式、庆典） e.g. We celebrated her birthday with a party by going out to a restaurant. celebration n. [C; U] the act of celebrating 庆祝；庆祝会 e.g. The party was in celebration of their parents’ golden wedding anniversary. New Words

44. ancientadj. 【1】in or of times long ago 古代的 e.g. The story took place in ancient Greece. 【2】having existed for a very long time 古老的；旧的 e.g. In Rome, we visited some ancient temples. New Words

45. measure V. 【1】show or record (length, temperature, etc.) 量出或记 录（长度、温度等） e.g. A clock measures time. 【2】find the size, length, amount, degree, etc. of (something) in standard units 度量（大小、长短、数 额、程度等） e.g. He measured the height of the cupboard. n. 【1】(plural) an action taken to bring about a certain result 措施；方法 e.g. The government has promised to take measures to help the unemployed. 【2】[C] an amount or unit in a measuring system 量度单 位 e.g. Hour is a measure of time. Back New Words

46. Please pay close attention to the usage of the word “reason”: The reason for my absence was that I was ill. (Correct) The reason for my absence was because I was ill. (Wrong) Also, study the following, as they are both correct: The reason he was driving so fast was that he would be late for an important meeting. The reason why he was driving so fast was that he would be late for an important meeting. Grammar

47. Practice give importance to + n. 重视 e.g. People give importance to this celebration. 人们重视这项庆祝活动。 • 1. 应该更加重视英语学习。 • Even/Still more importance should be given to • English study. • 2. 学外语得到了重视。 • Importanceisgivento learning foreign languages. Expressions

48. Practice 1. 他比哥哥高, 而弟弟比他更高。 He is _____ than his elder brother; his younger brother is _________ than he (is). 2. 李林的分数比王华的高, 而张雪的比李林的高。 Li Lin got ______ marks than Wang Hua; Zhang Xue got __________ marks than Li Lin. e.g. People give this celebration even more importance. 人们更加重视庆祝这个节日。 even/still + a./ad.比较级 更加······，作程度状语。 taller eventaller better stillhigher Grammar

49. Practice bring in 把……带进；引入 e.g. The most popular way to bring in the New Year in the United States is with a big party. 美国最流行的迎接新年的方式就是举行盛大会。 • 1. 他介绍了几个客户。 • He has broughtin some customers. • 2. 他们带来了不同的风俗和文化。 • They broughtin different customs and culture. Expressions

50. Practice though adv.然而 （前面或后面有逗号，用在口语中）; conj.虽然 （后接从句或省略句。可与although互换） e.g. Though, it has become more and more common. 不过，这变得越来越普遍。 C • 1. ___ he is ill, yet he comes to class. • A. Though B. Although C. A or B • 2. He is sick, he still comes to attend class, ___. • A. though B. although C. A or B • 3. The rooms, _____ small, were pleasant and airy. • A. though B. although C. A or B A C Grammar