1、英语口语畅谈世界文化之加拿大:Maple Leaf枫叶M: Man W: WomanM：男人 W：女人M: Well, Susan, it seems that you have gone green!M:哎，苏珊，你好像很环保嘛！Yes, Im trying to redecorate using a natural theme. You know, trees, plants and flowers.W:是的，我想试着用自然的主题重新装修，就是用树木、植物和花。M: Have you thought of using the maple leaf?M:你有没有想过用枫叶？W: Isnt t
2、hat on the Canadian flag? Oh, thats why you suggested it. Because you are Canadian!W:是加拿大国旗卜的枫叶吗？哦，因为你是加拿大人，所以才会这么建议。M: Thats true. But the maple leaf has a very special history. Its more than just our flagM:你说得没错。不过枫叶的历史很特别，不只是跟我们的国旗有关。W: OK, what else is it used for? Just maple syrup, which we put
3、 on our breakfast pancakes？w:好了，那它还有什么用？就是我们早餐配煎饼吃的那种枫蜜吧？M: Not only that. Well before the coming of the first European settlers, Canadas native People had discovered the food properties of maple sap, which they gathered ever spring. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a C
4、anadian symbol as early as 1700M:不只这些。在第一批欧洲移民者来到这儿之前，加拿大的当地人就发现了枫树液的食用特性，他们每个春天都去采集。根据很多历史学家的说法，早在1700年枫叶就成了加拿大的标志。W: Thats a long time ago. I read that in 1957, the colour of the maple leaves on the arms of Canada was changed from green to red, one of Canadas official colours.w:那是很早以前的事r。我了解过1957年
5、加拿大国徽上的枫叶从绿色改为红色，这是加拿犬官方使用的颜色之一。M: Yes, so nowadays we have a red maple leaf The maple leaf used to appear on all of our coins too, but nowadays its only on the PennyM:没错，如今我们有了红色的枫叶。过去枫叶也出现在我们所有的硬币上，但现在只印在分币上。W: Yes, I still have some of the Canadian coins you gave me. The modem one-cent piece has
6、two maple leaves on a common twig.W:是的，我还有一些你给我的加拿大硬币。现在一分的硬币图案是一个枝权上的两片枫叶。M: Thats right. They havent really changed that one in years, its been the same since 1937, I think。M:是这样。真的，这些年一分硬币没有什么变化，我想从1937年以来一直就没有变。W: What about the National Anthem? I mean, in England we sing about our Queen, do you
7、 sing about the maple leaf?w:那国歌呢？我是说在英国我们歌颂女王，你们歌颂枫叶吗？M: We do indeed. Alexander Muir wrote The Maple Leaf Forever as Canadas confederation song in 1867; it was regarded as the national song for several decades.M:的确是这样。1867年，亚历山大缪尔写了一首歌1：永远的枫叶作为联邦歌曲，人们把这首歌当作加拿大国歌长达数十年。W: Oh, I see. It seems funny t
8、o sing about a leaf though. But nowadays you sing O, Canada ! Dont you?w:哦，我明白了。可足，歌唱枫叶似乎有点奇怪。不过现在你们唱啊，加拿大！是不是？M: Yes, we do. I guess sin9ng about a leaf is a little strange.M：是的，我们是唱这首歌。我觉得歌唱一片枫叶的确有点不可思议。W:Well, I think I like the original green one better and the colour blends well with the others
9、 Ive used. Thanks for the great decorating tip, I will use the maple leaf for sure.W：好了，我想我更喜欢原本的绿色，这个颜色和我用过的其他颜色搭配得非常好。谢谢你给我提了这么好的装修建议，我肯定会用枫叶的。【单词词组讲解】Go green变得环保seems funny似乎很奇怪，滑稽maple syrup枫蜜maple up枫树液blends well搭配得好【背景介绍】枫树是加拿大的国树，也是加拿大民族的象征，代表了加拿大人对枫叶的喜爱。加拿大境内多枫树，每到秋天，满山遍野的枫叶或呈橘黄，或显嫣红，宛如一堆堆燃烧的篝火，因此加拿大有“枫叶之国”的美誉。加拿大国旗上的枫叶代表了加拿大人对枫叶的钟爱。加拿大国旗称为枫叶旗，法文叫做单叶。国旗本身是由红白二色组成。中间的白色代表的是加拿大广阔无垠的国土，两侧的红色代表的是东西两岸相邻的大西洋及太平洋。中间的红色枫叶则是象徵生活在加拿大富饶国土上辛勤努力的人民 。