Oral Workshop: Discussion lesson31-32(Text B) ;
Lesson 31 ;
Thoughts on the Spring Festival Text A ;
My first Spring Festival in north China was a bit of a shock. ;
Where was the spring? ;
There was snow on the ground and ice on the Summer Palace lake ;
and a north-west wind was blowing. ;
In England,where I come from,we think of the flowers that bloom in the spring: ;
the crocuses and daffodils and the flowering tress- purple lilac, ;
yellow laburnum,rosy horse-chestnut,pink and white hawthorn or may. ;
In fact we say"cast not a clout till may is out". ;
That means don't leave off any clothes until the may flower is in bloom. ;
By then it's warm, so you won't catch cold if you shed a garment. ;
Then I had another problem.In Beijing, ;
despite the snow and ice it's often sunny over the Spring Festival. ;
So I liked to go out;to walk in the snow round the Summer Palace lake ;
or to skate on Kunming Lake.Then we'd come home and find that old friends ;
had called on us while we were out. ;
So gradually we learnt the laws of the Spring Festival. ;
The first day(chu yi) is for feasting at home with the family and very close friends ;
the second and third days are for paying and receiving visits. ;
So we changed our holiday life style ;
and stayed at home or called on friends those days. ;
Of course we could still go out on chu yi. ;
These days we don't always stay in Beijing for the Spring Festival; ;
sometimes we go on a trip to some other part of China. ;
Last year we were lucky enough to go to Hainan Island. ;
Instead of skating we went swimming. That was a treat. ;
The water in February was warmer than it is in the middle of the summer in England. ;
That made up for those snowy,icy, windy Beijing springs. ;
1983 was another memorable festival for us. ;
A friend of the Naxi national minority invited us to his home, ;
in the mountains in northwest Yunnan, 2,000 metres above sea-level. ;
What a wonderful place and,what wonderful people, ;
how hospitable despite being far from wan yuan hu! ;
They introduced us to their friends and relatives, ;
as well as to their ancient culture. ;
And it goes without saying that they wined nd dined us with their fiery hot food. ;
One very special meal was a picnic by the graves of the ancestors. ;
This was no English style picnic with a couple of sandwiches and a bottle of beer ;
The Mongolian-style hotpot was carried up into the hills ;
and there was a regular feast for all three generations. ;
But the first cup of wine was placed by the grave of the clan ancestor. ;
Why shouldn't he join the fun along with his descendants? ;
Of course there was the usual exchange of gifts. ;
The most precious one I received was a granddaughter- ;
or at least a god-granddaughter nearly one year-old. ;
I had nothing of comparable value to offer in return. ;
In 1981 we went to Jiangxi and Fujian. ;
The high point was walking in the Wu Yi Mountains, ;
on the border of the two provinces. ;
These mountains are not high by Chinese standards, ;
though they are higher than any in Britain. ;
But they are ideal for hiking,even when it snows, as it did when we climbed them ;
The lower slopes are planted to tea bushes; ;
above them tower spectacular crags, ;
sheer precipices and massive rocks cleft by narrow paths. ;
You can scarcely squeeze through them-especially ;
after the continuous banqueting which is hard to avoid during the Spring Festival. ;
But the biggest banquets are not always the best. ;
Years ago,I remember,as the festival approached, ;
there would be a dance in the students' dining hall, ;
to which we teachers were invited.Then there was the finest feast of all: ;
great buckets and cauldrons of steaming laba zhou, ;
a thick,sweet porridge of glutinous rice full of green beans, ;
candied fruit, peanuts and lotus kernels. ;
It wasn't these ingredients alone which made the laba zhou delicious. ;
It was the jolly atmosphere,with students,teachers, ;
cooks and cadres all enjoying themselves together. ;
In 1980 we spent the Spring Festival in Chengdu and there I got another shock. ;
On the first day of the lunar new year- we visited a famous temple. ;
The street outside the main gate was lined with sellers of incense. ;
People were queuing up by the hundred to buy it ;
and burn the incense and chant and bow, even to kowtow, ;
as they made the rounds of the temple statues.At first I felt sad. ;
Here we were,over 30 years after Liberation,in a socialist country, ;
and people were still doing this! ;
We discussed it and concluded that it had its good side. ;
It takes time to create a scientific world outlook ;
and these ancient practices and beliefs had evidently never been rooted out. ;
They had simply gone underground, ;
especially during the days of the Gang of Four. ;
Now,four years after the gang's overthrow the people felt free and unafraid, ;
to do in the open what had been hidden in their hearts and homes. ;
In any case,these incense burners were not a cross-section of the people. ;
They were mostly old ladies with little bound feet, ;
who'd been deprived of education.But then with them were their grandchildren, ;
some wearing red scarves.That seemed terrible. ;
Young Pioneers worshipping idols! In the end I realized ;
that the children didn't believe the idols controlled their fate. ;
They were looking after their grannies, ;
helping them over the temple thresholds and showing them the way. ;
So I thought,that's what they'll do as they grow up. ;
They'll show their grannies the way into a modernized, socialist China. ;
Text B Christmas Day ;
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on the twenty -fifth of December. ;
The Christian calendar starts in the year in which Jesus was born. ;
The letters A.D.with a year mean "Anno Domini" or "in the year of Our Lord". ;
Christmas Day is a very happy day for many boys and girls. ;
Before the term ends in some schools,the children act a nativity ;
or "birth"play, showing how Jesus was born in a stable. ;
Many of the celebrations at Christmas are old customs. ;
Some fathers dress up in a red cloak and put on a long white beard. ;
They pretend to be Father Christmas,or Santa Claus, ;
and put presents by the beds of their children. ;
The words Santa Claus are a way of saying Saint Nicholas, ;
a good man who helped poor people and gave presents to them ;
more than 300 years after Jesus was born. ;
To most Christians in Europe and America, ;
Christmas Day finishes the year, ;
although there are still a few days left after it. ;
Shop windows are decorated with Christmas trees some months before December ;
and notices are put up saying"68 shopping days to Christmas" ;
or "21 shopping days to Christmas". ;
Cotton wool is stuck on to the shop windows to look like snow, ;
and holly and mistletoe are hung up. ;
Parents buy presents for their children. ;
Then they have to hide them in the house to stop the children from ;
finding out what "Father Christmas" is going to bring them. ;
On the twenty-fourth of December,all children are very excited. ;
Usually they are sent to bed early so that their parents can get the presents ready. ;
The younger children think that Father Christmas will come down the chimney ;
or fireplace,so they hang up a sock for him to put presents in. ;
The greedy ones even hang up a pillow- case or a sack ;
to try to get more presents.Later that night, ;
Father or Mother will put presents inthe sock, ;
and leave others at the side of the bed. On Christmas morning, ;
the children wake up very early.Some even turn on the light at two o'clock, ;
and most of them are awake by six o'clock although it is not light in England ;
for another hour or two at this time of the year. ;
Children look for their presents, ;
and the young ones play while the dinner is prepared. ;
At about one o'clock in the afternoon,the Christmas dinner is brought in. ;
The turkey or chicken is quickly eaten. ;
Children search in their Christmas pudding for new coins which are hidden in it ;
The rest of the day is full of games and eating ;
until the happiest of all Christian holidays comes to an end. ;
Additional Information ;
Now that the Spring Festival is over,I only have school to look forward to. ;
It's really funny,I find myself looking forward more and more to school. ;
As usual I can get little work done during the winter vacation. ;
For one thing,the Spring Festival is always a big distraction, ;
and for days before and after nobody can get any work done. ;
It's all right if you really have a nice time,as I used to. ;
But now I find myself enjoying it less and less. ;
I stopped enjoying fireworks and firecrackers years ago. ;
The firecrackers especially get on my nerves. ;
I really think we should stop making them, ;
as every year many children have their eyes hurt or even blinded. ;
Even worse sometimes fires are started and whole buildings get burned down. ;
Still I suppose we'll continue to make them as long as there is a market for them. ;
And the food! People spend days queuing and buying. ;
The result-too much and too rich food which does nobody any good. ;
Chicken,duck,fish, pork,beef,mutton,-- name what you will. ;
What's more they become tasteless too. ;
Too much of a good thing,as we say.And this visiting business too. ;
It's all right for a few really good friends to get ;
together and chat over some tea or drinks.But mere acquaintances ;
and the usually not too neighbourly neighbours dropping in to say hello-well ;
I suppose these are well-intended gestures, ;
but I find them a pain in the neck. ;
Usually there is nothing to talk about except some meaningless platitudes ;
Mum is looking very tired,and no wonder Dad too,I think, ;
found the whole thing a strain. ;
The only two who really enjoyed the Spring Festival are Granny ;
and Xiao Hong.Still Spring Festival comes only once a year. ;
Oh yes,I did enjoy myself skating on the nearby lake quite a few times. ;
The ice is not too good now and getting very thin. ;
I stopped going before the Spring Festival. ;
But there are people who are either too reckless or too ignorant or both, ;
and we hear about people falling through thin ice every year. ;
Lesson 32 ;
Do You Know Your Own Character? Text A THE OX ;
You're a hard and conscientious worker if you were born in the year of the Ox ;
and you set about everything in a methodical and determined manner. ;
You're a strong leader-tough and uncompromising. ;
You know what you want and don't let anything stand in your way! ;
You take responsibilities very seriously ;
and place a great deal of trust in friends and colleagues. ;
But if you feel someone has let you down,you'll erupt! ;
You're a loner who cherishes your independence. ;
You can be stubborn and obstinate. ;
You're a poor loser who takes setbacks badly As an Ox, ;
you're often rather studious and not renowned for your sense of humour. ;
You love tradition and are suspicious of anything new. ;
Your home is very important to you- it's your private sanctuary. ;
You make sure that members of your close-knit family ;
do their share of the work!You're neat and well-organised, and very punctual. ;
Nothing infuriates you more than being kept waiting. ;
Yes,you are a hard task-master! ;
Given the opportunity, ;
you'd live in the country and spend hours pottering around a large garden. ;
Not surprisingly, Oxen do well in agriculture or politics. ;
You are also very gifted in the arts and music ;
and many of you enjoy considerable success as musicians and composers. ;
Female Oxen are caring and kind. ;
You're a loving parent and excellent organiser. ;
You're very determined and often get what you want in life! ;
Sincere,loyal and unpretentious,Oxen are very down-to- earth characters. ;
You can,however,be rather reserved and some may see you as distant and aloof. ;
Underneath that quiet nature,though, you're strong-willed and ambitious. ;
So you have the courage of your convictions and are ;
often prepared to stand up for what you believe. ;
THE TIGER ;
Born under the sign of courage, ;
you're charismatic and usually have firm views and beliefs. ;
You do everything with energy and enthusiasm. ;
A highly original thinker,you're nearly always brimming with new ideas. ;
You adore a challenge and love getting involved. ;
At least once in a lifetime you'll throw caution to the wind and ;
go off and do your own thing. With your restless nature, however, ;
your enthusiasm can soon wane. ;
You're impulsive and sometimes regret your actions-you need to think things through. ;
Fortunately,you're lucky in most enterprises but, ;
when things don't work out,you suffer bouts of depression. ;
Although your life is a series of ups and downs you're very adaptable. ;
With your restless spirit,you rarely stay in one place for long. ;
You're open and honest and hate hypocrisy. ;
So you can be rebellious at times, which can lead you into conflict. ;
You're never one to shrink from arguments.Tigers are natural leaders ;
and you should rise to the top of your profession, ;
though you don't like bureaucracy and hate obeying orders. ;
And despite your great leadership qualities,you can be indecisive and ;
overly sensitive to criticism. Tigresses are lively and witty, ;
and you're great hostesses. ;
You take care over your appearance and are good with children. ;
You have great teaching qualities, too. ;
You have a very caring and generous nature. ;
Tigers have many commendable qualities ;
and you are often an inspiration for other people. ;
You'll have full and satisfying lives ;
-provided that you can curb those wild excesses! ;
THE RABBIT ;
Intelligent and well-mannered, ;
rabbits prefer a quiet existence so you hate any sort of unpleasantness ;
and will try to steer clear of arguments and disputes. ;
You're a pacifist and tend to have a calming influence on those around you. ;
With your wide inter- ests you appreciate the arts and finer things in life. ;
You know how to enjoy yourself ;
and gravitate to the best restaurants and night spots. ;
You're a witty and intelligent speaker ;
and love being involved in a good discussion, ;
when your views and advice are often sought. ;
You rarely raise your voice in anger and will even turn a blind eye to matters ;
which displease you just to preserve the peace. ;
You can be a sensitive soul and take any form of criticism badly. ;
A quiet,efficient worker,you have an extremely good memory. ;
You're often astute in business and finance ;
but hate making quick decisions. ;
You're a planner who doesn't like to take risks. ;
Because you're conscientious you will do well in your chosen profession- ;
you're an excellent diplomat and would make a good lawyer or shopkeeper. ;
You're a great collector, ;
and many Rabbits derive pleasure from stamps or antiques. ;
Your home is important to you ;
and you spend time and money on maintaining and furnishing it. ;
Female Rabbits have caring,considerate natures ;
and you do everything in your power to keep your home happy and loving. ;
You're sociable and enjoy entertaining. ;
With your great ability to get the maximum out of your time, ;
you involve yourself in numerous activities ;
but always find time for a chat.The Rabbit is usually lucky in life. ;
You often have the happy knack of being in the right place at the right time! ;
You're talented and quick witted ;
but sometimes put pleasure before work! ;
THE DRAGON ;
You're a proud, lively character born under the Dragon- ;
and you have tremendous self-confidence. ;
Dragons are highly intelligent and you're quick to take advantage of ;
any opportunities that occur.You're a perfectionist ;
who sets yourself high standards- you won't suffer fools gladly. ;
You're blunt and forthright,though occasionally gullible. ;
When crossed,you can take quite a long time to forgive and forget. ;
You enjoy being in the limelight ;
and you're at your best when confronted by sticky problems. ;
In some respects you're a showman, and you rarely lack an audience. ;
Your views are highly valued ;
and you invariably have something interesting to say! ;
Dragons have considerable energy ;
and you're often prepared to work long and unsocial hours. ;
You can,however, be rather impulsive ;
and don't always consider the consequences of your actions. ;
As you tend to live for the moment, delays irritate you more than anything. ;
You rely tremendously on your own judgment ;
and can be scornful of others' advice. ;
You cherish your independence to such a degree ;
that you may remain single throughout your life. ;
However,Dragons often have lots of admirers ;
who are attracted by your flamboyance and your striking good looks. ;
The female Dragon knows what she wants in life, ;
and sets about things in a very determined manner. ;
No job is too small for you and you're often prepared to work extremely hard, ;
though you hate being bound by routine You do tend to speak your mind,too. ;
If you're an adventurous Dragon ;
you'll love to go travelling off the beaten track. ;
Though you're rather demanding, ;
you have many friends and you're nearly always the centre of attention. ;
Text B WHAT'S AHEAD - THE OX ;
It's going to be a busy and immensely satisfying year for you, ;
during which hard work will pay off- in a big way! ;
One turn of events may be resented at first,but this will work out well. ;
Generally,it will be a ear of surprises during which you should ;
seize opportunities which present themselves, ;
branching out into new areas. ;
The year won't be without awkward problems,though, ;
and you may find yourself having to deal with something distasteful. ;
You should be wary of acting without the backing of others. ;
Failure to do so could leave you feeling isolated. ;
Family matters will keep you busy ;
and you'll also be involved in major home improvements- ;
these could be much bigger than you first realised. Financially, ;
it will be a very lucky year and you should think seriously about ;
starting a long term savings policy as a shrewd investment in years to come. ;
Generally,1988 will be a good year and if you follow your own judgment, ;
it will be very fulfilling for you indeed. ;
WHAT'S AHEAD - THE TIGER ;
Tigers are going to be very lucky in many ventures. ;
You'll find yourself in demand.You need to resist distractions however ;
and concentrate on one thing at a time. At home you should tread carefully. ;
Someone close to you may sometimes resent being kept out of your activities. ;
Time spent with your family will be enjoyable and rewarding ;
and more friends will come into your circle. ;
You'll have a very busy social life this year ;
and several influential people will help your career. ;
It's highly romantic year,too,and you may become engaged or married. ;
Financially,you need to restrain your spending ;
and should seek professional advice before committing any money. ;
Over-exertion could lead to headaches ;
and you'll need time for recreational activities, ;
with a few short breaks every now and then.Even Tigers need a rest! ;
Generally,you'll be very pleased with your achievements during 1988. ;
WHAT'S AHEAD - THE RABBIT ;
New and more demand- ing responsibilities lie ahead for Rabbits ;
when you'll consolidate recent gains. ;
Although generally quiet souls, ;
you should not be afraid of making your views known. ;
You are also going to be successful in financial matters ;
but should avoid becoming overconfident ith investments. ;
However,you will make several fortunate purchases. ;
You will experience a few difficulties in your home life ;
and these can best be sorted out by being open and frank. ;
To keep healthy, you should stick to a balanced diet ;
and take plenty of exercise. ;
You'll be spending a lot of time at home carrying out alterations. ;
Generally,Rabbits will be pleased with any accomplishment this year. ;
You may not be at ease with everything around you ;
but you'll make lots of progress. ;
WHAT'S AHEAD - THE DRAGON ;
As a Dragon you're going to enjoy the next 12 months- after all, ;
it is your year! Never one to let the grass grow under your feet, ;
you'll realise some of your cherished ambitions. ;
Almost straight away there will be news of a promotion or a better job. ;
It promises to be an exciting,innovative year ;
and you will have to take full advantage of the opportunities ;
At home you'll be busy,too,with a possible addition to the family. ;
You may have to spend time with someone who is not in the best of health- ;
you are renowned for your kindness and devotion.But try not to overdo things. ;
In this busy year, though,you'll visit places you've longed to see. ;
With your tendency to speak your mind, ;
you also should guard against entering into ;
controversial discussions and making tactless remarks. ;
Neither should you rush into any home move. ;
Financially,you should have few problems, ;
but avoid"get rich quick" schemes. ;