Celebrating American Independence|美国人的大日子

by Brian Foden

Parades and fireworks help Americans have fun on July 4.

　　If there's anything more American than apple pie and the Statue of Liberty, it is the Fourth of July. As the holiday also known as Independence Day suggests, it is essentially linked _(1)_ America's fight against the British for independence. It was on July 4, 1776, during the American Revolution, that the Declaration of Independence was _(2)_, two days after Congress voted in secret for the 13 colonies to formally split from Great Britain.

　　While the Fourth of July is a _(3)_ national holiday today, it was not until nearly a century after the Declaration of Independence was signed that the day was actually established as a holiday. In 1870, employees of the federal government were given the day off, but it was an _(4)_ holiday at first. Seven decades after that, in 1941, the Fourth of July was transformed _(5)_ a paid holiday for all government workers.

　　Given the history behind the American holiday, it is no wonder that it has developed into a bold display of patriotic _(6)_, with many homes and buildings proudly showing off US flags. Common activities on July 4 include fireworks displays, parades, barbecues, concerts, watermelon and hot dog eating _(7)_, tug-of-war contests, baseball games, and other sporting events. _(8)_, the celebrations are observed on July 3 when July 4 falls on a Saturday. Similarly, whenever July 4 lands on a Sunday, Independence Day festivities are held on Monday, the 5th of July. _(9)_, schools, government offices and most businesses are closed on those days as well. Although the political _(10)_ of Independence Day may have waned over the centuries, it still remains a fun and patriotic holiday for Americans.

(A) festive (B) passion (C) to (D) Occasionally (E) into

(F) importance (G) unpaid (H) competitions (I) published (J) Accordingly

大多数美国人会享用一顿大餐来庆祝感恩节。

美国人的大日子

游行和烟火都有助于美国人在七月四日玩得开心。

　　如果有任何事物比苹果派和自由女神像更能代表美国，那就是独立纪念日。就像这个节日另一个为人所知的名称『独立日』（Independence Day）所暗示的，它基本上是和美国对抗英国的独立战争有关。1776 年七月四日，当时正值美国革命的期间，国会在秘密投票通过十三个殖民地正式脱离英国的两天之后，发布了独立宣言。

　　虽然现今的独立纪念日是人们会庆祝的国定假日，但一直到独立宣言签署后将近一世纪，这一天才真正被列为假日。1870 年，联邦政府的员工在这天会放假，但它一开始是不支薪的假日。七十年后的 1941 年，独立纪念日对所有政府员工而言才成了支薪的假日。

　　有鉴于这个美国节日背后的历史，难怪它已经发展为一股爱国情操的大胆展现，许多家庭和大楼都会骄傲地展示美国国旗。七月四日这天常见的活动包括了烟火表演、游行、烤肉、演唱会、吃西瓜和热狗比赛、拔河比赛、棒球赛和其他运动赛事。有时候，七月四日适逢星期六时，这些庆典就会在七月三日举行。同样地，当七月四日落在星期天，那么独立纪念日的庆祝活动就会在七月五日星期一举行。因此，学校、政府机构和大部份的企业也都会在这一天放假。虽然独立纪念日在政治上的重要性可能已随着几个世纪过去而逐渐降低，但它对美国人而言仍是一个有趣而充满爱国心的节日。

答案： 1. C 2. I 3. A 4. G 5. E

6. B 7. H 8. D 9. J 10. F