本書充分吸收和借鑒了國內外優秀教材的特點，語言知識與語言技能并舉，為英語口語的學習營造了真實豐富的語言環境，在提供生動多元的文化背景知識的同時，設計了形式多樣的教學活動，寓教于樂。本書共分兩個部分，各包含16個單元，每一單元中包括課前熱身(學習導入問題)、語音知識(分為元音、輔音和字母組合的讀音規則、句子重讀等)、精選對話(七個不同方面的對話對章節進行全覆蓋)、詞匯、口語短句(近百條日常口語表達句式)、口語練習(著眼對章節內容的復習和常用口語的操練)、文化背景知識和課堂游戲(游戲方法新穎，適合課堂操作)。
本書可供高職高專公共英語教學使用，也可供意欲培養和提高英語口語交際能力的具有一定英語基礎的自學者、專業技術人員、出國人員以及涉外工作者學習使用。
本書是為了滿足高職高專英語教學改革的需求，根據教育部頒發的《高職高專教育英語課程教學基本要求》(以下簡稱《基本要求》)編寫而成。本書可供高職高專公共英語教學使用，也可供意欲提高英語口語交際能力的具有一定英語基礎的自學者、專業技術人員、出國人員以及涉外工作者學習使用。
本書在編寫過程中，嚴格遵守《基本要求》中的“實用為主，夠用為度”原則，力求教學內容新穎，突出學生實訓演練和實際應用。
Unit 1 Holidays
Lead-in
What's the customary way to spend a special holiday? Discuss them with your partner. You may use the following examples for help.
It's customary to...in ...holiday. /To celebrate the...holiday, we usually....
Warm-up Activities
I. Read the following words and pay attention to the pronunciation of "ur" .
1. [?:] fur blur hurt turn purchase
2. [?] assure pastureland insure resurrect
II. Read the material below and pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation.
How Chinese Spend Their Holidays
People have adopted a new concept of rest and entertainment for their holiday. They now have a wide range of options to help them enjoy their week off to the fullest extent, from parties at home to travelling on organized tours.
In the past, most Chinese people chose to use their time off to strengthen their relationships by visiting families and friends. This is still a popular way to spend the holiday today. But growing numbers of people are packing their bags and setting off to explore the beautiful scenic spots scattered around the country.
Others are choosing to spend their time at the gym, a sign of the growing health consciousness across China. A number of women have flocked to take yoga classes at fitness clubs over the holidays. Some literary folk prefer to spend their holidays recharging their batteries through reading.
As well as all the above-mentioned, there are quite a few homebodies who prefer to stay at home and catch up on TV episodes or much needed sleep.
Dialogues
Dialogue 1
Monica: So, Dennis. What are you going to do for Thanksgiving?
Dennis: I'm going to have dinner at my parents' house. What about you? Any plans?
Monica: Yeah. I'm going to cook dinner with some friends. We're going to make fish soup.
Dennis: Hmm. That's unusual. We always have turkey, mashed potatoes and so on.
Monica: I know. Every year, my friends and I make something different.
Dennis: That sounds like fun. Well, have a happy Thanksgiving.
Monica: Thanks. You, too.
Dialogue 2
Amy: Do you know something about the origin of Valentine's Day？
Sue: Yeah. Valentine's Day is named for Saint Valentine. He was an early Christian Churchman who reportedly helped young lovers. Valentine was executed for his Christian belief on February14th more than 1,700 years ago. To memorize this hero, people took this day to be the Valentine's Day.
Amy: How did the lovers celebrate the Valentine's Day at that time？
Sue: Girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container. Boys reached into the container and pulled one out. The girl whose name was written on the paper would become his lover or sweetheart for a year.
Amy: Oh, it's so interesting.
Dialogue 3
Jason: Merry Christmas, Professor Li!
Prof. Li: Oh! Hi. Merry Christmas to you, Jason.
Jason: There are a lot of people here.
Prof. Li: Yeah, every year is just like this. You know, I'm in a hurry. I've got to buy several gifts today.
Kate: Hello, Professor Li! Season's greetings!.
Prof. Li: Yes, this is the season to be jolly.
Kate: Yes, but it's hard to be jolly in a crowded department store like this.
Prof. Li: Oh, sorry. I'm afraid I must be going now. You guys have a good holiday.
Jason & Kate: The same to you.
Dialogue 4
A: Happy Easter. How are you going to spend it? Are you ready to go to watch the parade?
B: Uh, not yet, I don't know what I should wear at the parade.
A: Here, I bought an extra Easter bonnet for you to wear.
B: I thought dressing up for Easter was weird for me.
A: What's wrong? Don't you like my bunny costume?
B: It's very...stupid. Hah!
A: Come on, Jim. Where's your Easter spirit? Didn't you celebrate Easter as a kid?
B: Actually, yeah. I'd get an Easter basket full of candy and a big chocolate bunny.
A: Did the Easter bunny, I mean your folks, hide your basket?
B: Uh-huh, always in a different spot - the fireplace, the dryer, and the dishwasher...
A: And what about Easter egg hunts? They sound like so much fun.
B: They are. Our family has one for the young ones every year.
A: That's great. Can I go?
B: Sure. After the parade, I am going to go anyway. Easter is like family reunion time for my family.
Dialogue 5
A: What's the biggest holiday in China?
B: Spring Festival. That's the Chinese Lunar New Year, about one month or so later than the western calendar, you know, which is just as important as the Christmas in your country.
A: That's fascinating. How do you celebrate it? Are there any special traditional customs?
B: Well, as it's the right time for family reunions, everyone seems to stay at home with his families, having the big feast on the Eve, watching CCTV Spring Festival Gala, and setting off firecrackers, etc.
A: Amazing! It's really a great holiday.
B: Definitely! Especially for children, for they all dress up in their best, and they can get gift money from the adults.
A: Well, sounds interesting!
Dialogue 6
(Elaine and Li Hong are talking about the coming Mid-autumn Festival.)
Elaine: Hong, what holidays do you have in China?
Li Hong: Well, there are so many. We almost have holidays in each month. Like the Mid-autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival, is just in this month.
Elaine: Yes, I have heard about it a lot these days. I was told that moon cakes are traditional food for that day, because they're little round cakes shaped like a full moon.
Li Hong: Exactly! Chinese people enjoy moon cakes during this feast just as they eat rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival.
Elaine: Oh, that sounds interesting!
Li Hong: Yep! It is believed that the moon is the brightest and roundest at that night, and that's why it is called the Moon Festival.
Elaine: Oh, really poetic! I can't wait to enjoy the moonlight!
Li Hong: Moreover, there's an interesting legend about this great day.
Elaine: Wow, great! Tell me something about it. I can't wait!
Li Hong: It is said that there's a great archer named Hou Yi, who shot down nine extra suns that had suddenly appeared in the sky and thus kept the earth from being scorched. For this, he was rewarded with a pill containing the elixir of immortality. His beautiful wife, Chang Er, discovered and swallowed the pill and soared to the moon. That's why when people appreciate the moon at that night, they will look for the beautiful figure there.
Elaine: Wow, that's impressing! I enjoy this story very much.
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