Let's read the conversations and guess the meaning of the following expressions.
It's up to you. | A: What would you like for dinner tonight? B: I'm not sure. What do you want? A: It's up to you. Whatever you want, we will have. |
In your dreams! | A: Guess what? This weekend, I caught a fish this big. B: No way. A: Yeah, it was huge! B: In your dreams! It's impossible that you caught a fish that big. |
Play it by ear. | A: Hey, what do you want to do this weekend? B: I don't know. Maybe we can go to see a movie or have dinner. Why don't we play it by ear? A: Sure. Let's decide as we go along. |
Keep my fingers crossed. | A; Hey, How are you? B: Hey, I am doing great. I did well in a job interview yesterday. I really hope to get the job. A: Oh, have you heard back from them? B: No, not yet. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully they'll ca11 me today. |
Miss the point | A: Okay. So now do you understand? B: I'm not sure. Can you explain it again? I think I missed the point. A:. All right. I'll explain it one more time. |
Every country has its own popular sports. The most popular sport in the USA is baseball. Soccer is popular, too. People in the USA also like American football. A football in America is not round. It is oval-shaped. Baseball is more popular than soccer or American football. Almost everyone in the USA loves baseball. It is the favorite sport of the nation.
People in Mexico like baseball too, but soccer is more popular there. Soccer is also very popular in other countries. It's the most popular sport in the world. Soccer fans say soccer is faster and more exciting than baseball.
Most American families are smaller than the families in other countries. Most American families have one or two parents and one or two children each.
Children in the US will leave their parents' home when they grow up. They usually live far from their parents because they want to find good jobs. They often write to their parents or telephone them. And they often go to visit their parents on holiday. Parents usually let their children choose their own jobs. Americans think it important for young people to decide on their lives by themselves.
Children are asked to do some work around their house. And in many families, children are paid(支付) for doing some housework so that they learn how to make money for their own use.
Your mom tells you to put on your hat and gloves. But as the cold winter season gets closer, it's so cold that even mom's advice does not work.
That means it's time to put on your qiuku! This is a kind of "thermal underwear(保暖内衣)" or long underpants that keep people warm in the coldest months of the year.
In Western countries, qiuku is usually known as long johns but they aren't popular. Long johns in the US are usually two pieces, a long-sleeved(长袖的) shirt and long pants, worn under other clothing or sometimes even used as pajamas(睡衣).
Long johns first appeared in England during the 17th century. We call them long johns because the US boxer John L. Sullivan wore them while he boxed. But this is not a historical fact.
In the US, it gets quite cold and snowy in many places. And while parents often push kids to wear more clothes and long underwear, it's very special when young people actually(实际上) put them on.
Part of the reason might be because it's not very fashionable(时尚的) and another reason might be because people don't spend much time outside during the cold months. So they just deal with the freezing(冰冻的) temperatures when they have to leave the warm building. But in their parents' eyes, staying warm is more important than looking nice.
Dear Malia and Sasha,
I know that you've both had a lot of fun these two years. You have been to many picnics and had all kinds of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you eat. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom. So now I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me—about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with those smiles and suddenly, all my big plans didn't seem so important any more. I soon found that the greatest happiness in my life was that you were so happy. And I realized that my own life wouldn't mean much if I couldn't make you two happy. In the end, girls, I ran for(竞选)President: Because of what I want for you and for every child in the US.
I want all our children to go to school so that they can learn and grow. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even though their parents don't have enough money. And I want them to get good jobs.
I want us to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our earth cleaner and safer. And I want us to see no difference of different colors and areas because we are all equal.
I hope both of you will start to give others the chances you've had. You know, this country has given our family so much, so you have to, and really should, give something back. When you are doing something larger than yourself, you will realize how helpful you are.
These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world in which you can make your dreams come true. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and get what you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.
I am so proud of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am thankful every day because you behave so well when we get ready to start our new life together in the White House.
Love,
Dad
Quince, a restaurant in San Francisco, is serving a dish called "A Dog in Search of Gold" on an Apple iPad that's playing a video of a dog hunting for truffles (松露). If you're wondering about the connection, the dish is composed of white truffle croquettes (油炸丸子).And in case you're not into truffles, Quince also serves frog legs on top of iPads playing videos of frogs in a pond.
"The idea is simply about taking the guest on a voyage," Michael Tusk, who runs the restaurant, told Inside Scoop SF. "Living in San Francisco for over twenty years, I have seen the technological development, and I want to combine (结合) food industry with technology and a Me bit of education." Local chef Richie Nakano attracted the attention of social media after showing a photo of the UA Dog in Search of Gold" that a friend had ordered. Some people complained about the high price of the dish, but most wondered whether it was healthy.
Tusk said, "We asked local wood worker Luke Bartels to create a housing (防护外壳) for the iPad — a glass cover that protects the screen. The food does not directly sit on top of the iPad. The cover is washed after every use."
Interestingly, Quince is reportedly the first U.S. restaurant to use iPads as plates, but definitely not the first in the world. The Daily Mail reports that restaurants in the UK have been using them for the last two years.
Dragon Boat Festival is very popular in China. It usually comes in May or June. On that day, people eat special food " rice dumplings. It is known for the dragon boat race. The dragon hoar race is the most popular activity during the festival. A dragon boat looks like a dragon, and is painted red, white, yellow or black. Usually, a dragon hoar is 20 to 40 metres long, and needs 20 people to row. Boatmen row the boat in cadence(节奏) with the drumbeats(鼓声), and a man in the front of the boat waves a small flag to help coordinate(使动作协调) the rowing.
The dragon boat race becomes a popular activity in. South China. The international(国际的) dragon boat race is held in Guangzhou and Hong Kong every year.
At Christmas, different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. Here are some interesting activities in different countries.
Australia
⒈Read poems and stories with Australian Christmas themes.
⒉List the traditional food eaten at Christmas at home.
⒊Ask five people what they think the meaning of Christmas is and record their answers.
Germany
⒈In German kitchens, lots of desserts are baked for the holidays!
⒉Traditionally on Christmas Eve, the father decorates the tree alone in the morning. The mother spends the morning decorating the home and cooking a small meal. Some choose to serve a salad or a potato salad with some meat.
⒊The family goes to church in the morning and comes home to have their Christmas dinner. Friends or relatives are often invited to join them. Those who could not be invited the day before can then come on this day to celebrate with the family.
Canada
⒈When you hear Christmas songs in public, smile and sing along.
⒉Put Christmas lights on your house. Hang mistletoe(槲寄生) and some flowers in the doorway.
⒊Go with your family to the local Christmas tree farm to cut down your own or buy a Christmas tree. Pick out a Christmas tree that fits your house.
There are so many different kinds of music in America. Compared with others, jazz is much younger. Americans loved it, and soon, so did people all over the world. Jazz was a truly American creation (创造) some even say that it is the only truly American art form.
Even though jazz seemed brand new (崭新的) in the 1920s, it had actually been developing over many years. In the early 1900s, African-American blues along with music from other traditions combined (结合) with a New Orleans style of band music was played for processions (游行) . The result of that combination was a brand new sound—jazz. Jazz is seen by many as "America's classical music". Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become a major form of musical expression.
New Orleans was home to some of the original Jazz masters. Louis Armstrong, the famous jazz trumpet (小号) player; Jelly Roll Morton, the famous pianist; and Joe "King" Oliver, the famous cornet (短号) player, all called New Orleans home. Louis Armstrong was popular for his trumpet and cornet playing and for his famous gravelly (沙哑的) singing voice. In the 1920s, he played in "King" Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. Jelly Roll Morton was a great jazz composer (作曲家) , as well as a piano player.
Thanks to the ancient Silk Road, the lands of Italy and China have been connected for more than 2,000 years. Tourists from China and every corner of the world come to visit Italy every year. Here are four famous cities of Italy.
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Rome Coliseum | Rome is the birth place of science, culture and of course, art in Europe. It is the perfect combination (结合) of the modern and the classical. When one walks around the city, one can see many museums. Of course, Rome is also considered as the fashion (时尚) center of the world now. The Rome Coliseum is today considered one wonder (奇迹) of the modern world. | ||
| Pisa is a small city. It is famous for the leaning tower of Pisa. If you think that Pisa has only one leaning tower, you may just be wrong. This city has three leaning towers. Home of the famous scientist Galileo, Pisa is also known for its universities because the city is home of some of the most important universities in Europe. | Leaning Tower | ||
| David | Florence is one of the most important provinces around Italy. Shopping here, you'll find David, the most famous statue (雕像) of Michelangelo. If you are planning to spend a couple of days in Florence, you likely will not want to lose the chance to see and enjoy Arnolfo Tower, it will be open on Sunday and Monday from 9am to 6 pm. (closed in case of rain) . | ||
| Venice is a city over a hundred islands. You can visit most interesting places of the city by walks or by the famous gondolas. Art exhibitions, film festivals and famous carnival (狂欢节) make Venice a place that can be visited any time of the year. | gondolas | ||
Happy, Happy Chinese New Year by Demi Hitz
In a book that is itself a celebration, Demi explains the ideas behind the Chinese New Year festival. The last 15 days of the old year are spent cleaning and preparing (Wash your hair and get a new haircut. Pay the debts that you owe and collect what is owed to you!).On the eve of the new moon, a special feast is prepared…The first 15 days of the New Year are spent celebrating with lion dances, firecrackers, and other activities.
Demi has long been interested in Eastern art and philosophy, which inspired her to create this book about the Chinese New Year celebration. She has written and illustrated more than 20 books for children, including The Empty Pot, Gandhi, and Kites:Magic Wishes that Fly Up to the Sky.
Chinese New Year for Kids by Cindy Roberts
Chinese New Year for Kids is a full color book with beautiful, Chinese illustrations. This is a hands-on workbook for parents and teachers, written for children from ages 3 to 12 years old, for use in the classroom or at home. Children will enjoy the Chinese New Year party ideas, dragon dances, lion dances, art projects, and Chinese games.
The art projects for Chinese New Year are designed to be easy, as well as inexpensive to reproduce for large groups. All the activities in this book have been tested in the classroom, with very successful results, and have caused lots of enthusiasm from children and teachers alike. Music, physical movement, art, and food all add to the ambiance of taking an imaginary trip to China during the Chinese New Year.
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Clark Library The Clark Library is a welcoming place for students, providing them with computers and books and spaces to study and work together. The main floor Service Desk is a central place to get help. |
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Hours and Contact Information Regular Fall and Spring Hours Monday-Thursday 7:00 am-2:00 am Friday 7:00 am-9:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am-9:00pm Sunday 10:00 am-2:00 am |
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Contact Us Service Desk:(503)943-7111 or (800)841-8261 Research Desk:(503)943-7788, 24/7, Library Chat Digital Lab Desk:(503)943-7796 Website: /library. up. edu Fax: (503)943-7491 |
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Services and Resources Study and Learning Spaces: The main and upper floors are areas with a variety of seating options. The lower floor is the Quiet Floor for focused study. There are 20 group study rooms that can be reserved online. |
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Technology: The main floor lab has 50 Windows computers, along with printers and copier/scanners. The Digital Lab on the upper floor has 16 Mac computers, scanners, a large format printer, a 3D printer, plus equipment that can be borrowed. The main floor Service Desk also checks out laptops and chargers (充电器). |