公共英語(yǔ)三級(jí)英語(yǔ)教材

1、公共英語(yǔ)三級(jí)英語(yǔ)教材lesson1KipKeinoKipchogeKeinoisamodestman，andittakesproddingtogetthegreatKenyanrunnertorecallhowhefeltonOct，20，1968whenhewonhisfirstgoldmedal，inthe1,500metersinMexicoCity.Thedayhadntstartedoutwell，Keinowassufferingfromstomachpainsthatlaterturnedouttobeaseveregallbladderinfection.Hisdoctorsa

2、dvisedagainstrunning；heignoredthem.Duringtherace，KeinowassofocusedoncompetingagainstAmericanaceJimRyunthat，inretrospect，“Withoutwatchingavideo,Iwouldntknowwhathappenedatthefinish.”Hedoesrememberwhathappenednext.“Irananhonorlap.Iranittocelebrateandtoletmybodyrecover.Ifeltovercomebytheexcitement.”Itwa

3、snottheonlymemorableeventinhislifethatday.Backhome,hiswife,Phyllis,gavebirthtotheirthirddaughter,namedMilkaOlympiaChelagatincelebrationofherfathersvictory.Keinowentontowinasilvermedalinthe5,000metersinMexicoCityandagoldandasilverfouryearslaterinMunich.HethenbecameKenyasOlympicrunningcoachfrom1976to1

4、986,furtheringhisnationsdominanceindistanceevents.Kenyanrunnershavecaptured32Olympictrackmedalssince1964andwonthelastsixconsecutiveBostonMarathons.Thissummer,KeinowillbeinAtlantaaschiefofthe120-athleteKenyandelegation,whichcouldincludehissonMartin,23,aformerNCAA5,000-meterchampionatthe1,5000meters.B

5、utKeiosathleticaccomplishmentsarenottheonlyreasonheisaherointhetownofEldoretinnorthwesternKenya.Thirtyyearsago,Keinoandhiswifewhonowhavesevenchildrenoftheirownbegantakingorphansintotheirhome.TheirhousebecamesocrowdedthattheyraisedfundstobuildadormitoryandadininghallonanearbyfarmKeinoowns.Incometosup

6、portthefacilitycomesfromthefarm,hissportsshopandfeeshehasreceivedfromtheKenyangovernmentovertheyears.Today,73childrenandyoungadultsaged2to22liveonthefarm.“IthinkIhavebeenlucky,”Keinosays.“NowwhatisimportantishowIusewhatIhavetohelpothers.”Lesson1?KipKeino克普喬格凱諾是一個(gè)很謙遜的人，要使這位偉大的肯尼亞長(zhǎng)跑運(yùn)動(dòng)員回想起他在1968年10月20日

7、那一天的感受不是一件很簡(jiǎn)單的事情（當(dāng)日他）在墨西哥城參加1500米長(zhǎng)跑比賽中博得了一世中的第一枚金牌。那每日未亮，凱諾忍耐著強(qiáng)烈的胃痛，以后證明他患了嚴(yán)重的膽囊炎。（基于這類特別狀況）他的保健醫(yī)生們都反對(duì)他參加長(zhǎng)跑，但是他卻不予理睬。在賽跑中，凱諾集中精力，傾盡全力與美國(guó)長(zhǎng)跑好手吉木姆潤(rùn)恩比賽，以后他回想說，“假如沒有看實(shí)況錄像，我都不知道比賽的最后時(shí)刻發(fā)生了什么事情?！钡拇_記得下邊的事情，“為了慶賀成功并恢復(fù)體力，我榮耀地跑了一圈，喜悅得精疲力竭?！蹦且惶欤@不是獨(dú)一值得他紀(jì)念的事情，回到家，老婆菲利生了一個(gè)女兒，為了紀(jì)念他的成功，就給她取名為米爾卡奧林匹克克拉哥特。接著，凱諾在墨西哥城

8、舉行的5000米長(zhǎng)跑比賽中博得一枚銀牌，而四年后在慕尼黑的比賽中又博得一枚金牌和一枚銀牌。1976到1986年，他成為肯尼亞奧運(yùn)長(zhǎng)跑教練，使得肯尼亞持續(xù)在長(zhǎng)跑比賽中保持絕對(duì)的優(yōu)勢(shì)地位。自1964年以來，肯尼亞長(zhǎng)跑運(yùn)動(dòng)員已經(jīng)獲取32枚奧運(yùn)田徑獎(jiǎng)牌，并且在波士頓馬拉松比賽中博得了六連冠。今年夏季，凱諾將以120名肯尼亞運(yùn)動(dòng)員代表團(tuán)團(tuán)長(zhǎng)的身份去亞特蘭大，代表團(tuán)中包含他的兒子馬丁。馬丁，23歲，亞利桑那州大學(xué)的全美大學(xué)生運(yùn)動(dòng)會(huì)5000米前冠軍，有希望在1500米長(zhǎng)跑比賽中獲勝?？墒?，凱諾的運(yùn)動(dòng)成就不是他成為肯尼亞西北方埃爾多雷特市鎮(zhèn)英豪的獨(dú)一原因。30年前，凱諾和他的老婆開始收養(yǎng)孤兒，此刻她已經(jīng)是七個(gè)

9、孩子的母親。他們的房屋變得這樣擁堵，致使它們?cè)趧P諾自己的農(nóng)場(chǎng)鄰近集資建筑了宿舍和餐廳。保持這些設(shè)備的經(jīng)費(fèi)來自他的農(nóng)場(chǎng)、體育用品商鋪以及多年從肯尼亞政府獲取的酬勞。今日，仍有2到22歲不一樣年紀(jì)段的73個(gè)孩子和年青的成年人持續(xù)生活在農(nóng)場(chǎng)?！拔蚁胛沂呛眠\(yùn)的”，凱諾這樣說道，“此刻重要的是如何用我所擁有的去幫助其余人?！盠esson2AGiftofNewLifeFirstcameaboyweighing3pounds14ounces:RobertJaredScrews.AfterRobertJaredcamehisthreesisters:BrianniaRae,3pounds1ounce;Brin

10、kleyFaye,3pounds13ounces;andBuckleyLenay,4pounds2ounces.Allweretiny,buttheywerestrong,healthybabies.Inthehallwayoutsidetheoperatingroom,friendsandrelativesweptandcheeredasthequadwheeledthemby,onebyone,intheirincubators.Thebabiesstayedinthehospitalaboutamonth.Keithwenttheretoo,formorechemotherapy,and

11、thenursestookoneortwobabiesatatimetohisroomforavisit.Thatseemedtohelphimmorethanthemedication.Thencameawonderfulsurprise.Whenwewerereadytogohome,welearnedthataphysiciansfundhadprovidedabrand-newvanforus,completewithfourinfantcarseats.Keithwaswaitingforusathone,frailmowandinconstantpain,butalsoveryha

12、ppy.ThewholecommunityofSwainsboroandsurroundingtownsunitedintryingtohelpus.Countlesswomenofferedtobaby-sit.MembersofKeithshighschoolclassprepareddinnersforustwiceaweek.Allsortsoffund-raisingeventswereorganized.AKrogerstoreonWilmingtonIslandnearSavannahdonatedayearssupplyofdiapersandotherbabyneeds.Th

13、athelped,becausethequadsrequired40to50diapersaday!AmannamedRickyStevenscametomeasureourfarmhouseforcentralair-conditioning,butwentawayconcernedthatthehousewastoosmallforsixpeople.Thatnighthecouldnotsleep.Heconsultedafriendinrealestate,KenWarnock,andthetwooftheminvitedagroupofSwainsborobusinessmentol

14、unch.BythetimeLunchwasover,theyhadenoughpledgestobeginbuildinganewhouse.Therewasasiteonourlandwithaviewofthepastureandgrazingcattle.Ournewhousewouldbebuiltthere,aspacioushomewithfivebedrooms-amasterbedroomandoneforeachofthequads.AsspringcametoGeorgia,Keithshealthcontinuedtodecline.Still,hetookgreatd

15、elightinhisfourbabies.Inthemorningshewouldholdthemandplaywiththemandhelpfeedthem.Hegottobegoodathandlingtwobottlesatatime.Beforewelefthomeforachemo-treatmentordoctorsappointmentKeithwouldspendtimealonewitheachbaby.Laterinthespringanotheroperationwasnecessary,andcomplicationsfollowed.Itbecamedifficul

16、tforKeithtotalkorbreathe,andatlastconsciousness.Hisfinalwordstomewere,“Iloveyou.”Thedoctorsputhimonarespirator,buttheysaiditwasonlyasmatterofhours.Isatbesidehimholdinghishandandwhispering,“Beatpeace.Beatpeace.”Andfinally,onJune11,peacedidcome.Hewas32yearsold.Lifewenton.Groundwasbrokenforthenewhouseo

17、nablue-and-golddayinDecember.Thequadswereoldenoughtostand,andeachwasoldenoughtostand,andeachwasgivenalittlegildedshoveltomarktheoccasion.Manyfriendsandneighborswerethere,andthemayorofSwainsboroputourfeelingsintowords:“Wehopethatwhenthesebabiesaregrown,theywilllookatthishouseandunderstandhowmuchtheir

18、fatherwasrespectedandadmiredbyeveryonewhoknewhim.”Ihavegonebacktoteaching.DevotedfriendsandrelativesandfullyqualifiedhelperstakegoodcareofthequadswhileIamaway.WithoutKeithsillnessweneverwouldhaverecognizedtheamazinggoodnessthatliesinpeople.Theoutpouringofloveandcompassionandcaringthathassurroundedus

19、isalmostbeyondbelief.Onelifewastakenawayfromme,butfourotherlivesweregiventometosustainandtocomfortme.FacingdeathwithKeithmademerealizehowpreciouslifeis.Icherishitandamgratefulforiteverysingleday.lesson3TheCauseoftheElNinoPhenomenonElNinoistheSpanishnameforthebabyJesus.Thephenomenonisso-calledbecause

20、warmwatermovingacrossthePacifictraditionallyreachesSouthAmericaaroundChristmas.ScientistshavenowappliedthetermElNinotothemajorwarmingepisodesoverlargeSouthAmericancoastalareasandwesternlyalongtheequatorandtheDatelinearea.ScientistsnotedtheElNinohasareturnperiodoffourtofiveyearsandlastsbetween1218mon

21、ths.Inthelate1960s,itbecameapparentthattheyear-to-yearvariationsintheseasurfacetemperatureandconsequentlyElNinoevents,werecloselylinkedtotheSouthernOscillation,arelationshipbetweenatmosphericpressureoverthesoutheasternPacificandIndianOcean.WhenpressureishighinthePacificOcean,ittendstobelowintheIndia

22、nOceanfromAfricatoAustralia.Theseconditionsareassociatedwithlowtemperaturesinboththeseareasandrainfallvariesinthedirectionoppositethepressure.Thus,thecombinationofElNinoandSouthernOscillation（ENSO）isthelinkageatmosphericandoceaniceventsandinvolveschangesincirculationsoftheatmosphereandoceansacrossth

23、ePacificBasin.ThestrongestElNinothiscenturyoccurredin19821983andresultedindroughtsanddisastrousforestfiresinIndonesiaandAustralia,wreakingeconomicdamageofatleastUS$8billion.AmajorwarmingoftheoceanwatersacrosstheeasternandcentraltropicalPacificOcean,knownasENSO,hasdevelopedsinceMarch1997.TheElNinodev

24、elopedveryrapidlyduringAprilstrongintensitybyJune.ThiseventiscurrentlycomparableinmagnitudeandextenttotheMay,andreached1982/1983episode.lesson4OurChangingDietWhatdomostAmericansandCanadiansusuallyeat?ManypeoplethinkthatthetypicalNorthAmericandietconsistsoffastfood-hamburgers,hotdogs,Frenchfries,pizz

25、a,friedchicken,andsoon.TheythinkAmericansandCanadiansalsoeatalotofconveniencefoods,usuallyfrozenorcaned,andjunkfood-candy,cookies,potatochips,andotherthingswithoutmuchnutritionalvalue.Unfortunately,thisdescriptionismottotallyinaccurate.TheAmericandietisgenerallyhighinsugar,salt,fat,andcholesterol,an

26、dthesesubstancescancausehealthproblems.However,somepeopleseatinghabitsarechanging.Theyarebecomingmoreinterestedingoodhealth,andnutritionisanimportantpartofhealth.NorthAmericansareeatinglessredmeatandfewereggs,andtheyareeatingmorechickenandfish.Chickenandfishcontainlessfatthanmeatandeggs.Manypeoplear

27、ealsobuyingmorefreshvegetablesandeatingthemraworcookedquicklyinverylittlewaterinordertokeepthevitamins.Restaurantmenusarealsochangingtoreflectpeoplesgrowingconcernwithgoodnutrition.The“typical”NorthAmericandietnowincludesfoodfrommanydifferentcountries.MoreethnicrestaurantsareopeninginbigcitiesintheU

28、nitedStatesandCanada.FoodsfromChina,Japan,Korea,Thailand,IndiaandtheMiddleEastareverypopular.Evenfast-foodplacesnowoffer“l(fā)ean”（low-fat）hamburgers,broiledorroasted（insteadoffried）chicken,andsaladbarswithawidevarietyoffreshfruitsandvegetables.Howarewegoingtoeatinthefuture?Becausewenowknowabouttheimpor

29、tanceofnutrition,wewillprobablycontinuetoeatmorefishandvegetablesandlessmeat.Wewillstillbuyconveniencefoodsinsupermarkets,butfrozenfoodsmaybemorenutritiousandcannedfoodsmayhavelesssaltandsugar.Ourjunkfoodwillnotbe“junk”atallbecauseinsteadofcandybarswewilleat“nutritionbars”withalotofvitaminsandprotei

30、n.Inthefuture,ourdietwillprobablybeevenmoreinterestingandhealthfulthanitisnow.IntheUnitedStatesandCanada,foodisaverycommontopicofconversation.Peoplearealwaysdiscussingnewdishes,restaurants,dietplans,andideasaboutnutrition.Theargumentsaboutthebestdietsandfoodswillcontinue:Arevegetablesbetterthanadiet

31、ofcookedfoods?Isalittlealcoholgoodforrelaxation,orisallalcoholharmful?Issomecaffeinegoodforenergy,oriscaffeinealwaysbad?Canyellowvegetablesreallypreventcancer?Willeatinggarlichelpavoidheartattacks?Onethingwedoknowforsure:thekeytogoodnutitionisbalance.Howdoweachievethatbalance?Wecanchoosefoodsfromava

32、rietyofsources,controlthequantitiesthatweeat,limitfats,andexercise.lesson5IDidIt“Ididit.”Thisiswhatnewly-crownedOlympicgymnasticschampionLiXiaoshuangwantedtosaymostafterhisvictoryhereonSundaynightatthe25thOlympicGames.Liscored9.925pointsbysuccessfullycompletinghissomersaulttuck,becomingthefirstmaleg

33、ymnastevertoexecutethismaneuverintheoptionalapparatusfinals.Theprogramwasextremelydifficult.Failurecouldhavebeenmetbyhisheadslammingthemat.FormerSovietValeryLiukinhadoncedonethistuckintheteamcompetition.“allthegymnastsbeforemehadprettyhighscoresandthiswastheonlywayoutforme,”saidLi.“IknewIcouldendupe

34、itherfirstorlast.”Lialsowonabronzeintheringswitha9.862.GrigoriMisutinoftheUnifiedTeamscored9.875pointstosharesecondplacewithJapaneseYukioIketani.Rightafterhissafelanding,LirushedtohiscoachandformerworldparallelbarschampionHuangYubing.Thetwobrokeintotearsandembracedeachotherafterthefinalgymnast,Vital

35、iScherbooftheUnifiedTeam,failedtosurpassLi.LisgoldwasChinasfirstinthefloorexercisessince1984,whenLiNingwonattheLosAngelesOlympicGames.Untilthe1987WorldChampionshipsinAmsterdamwhereLouYunwonthefloorexercise,theeventwasdominatedbytheformerSovietUniongymnasts.“Thoughthefloorishisspecialty,Listillperfor

36、medabovehisnormallevel,”saidcoachHuang,whoshedfromtheawardceremonyandwatcheditonTVatthebackofthegymnasium.“Itsnotaneasyjob,”Lisaid.“Itstheresultofmyhardtraining.AndthatthreebackwardsomersaultswasthefirstrimethatIhavedoneitsuccessfully.”“IwanttothankmyparentsandespeciallymycoachHuangwhocontributedgre

37、atlytomysuccess.”Lijoinedthenationalteamattheendof1989andhishighestinternationalachievementwasfirstplaceinthefloorexercisesoftheBeijingAsianGames.AtlastyearsIndianapolisWorldChampionships,hewasthebestnon-Sovietgymnastintheall-aroundcompetition,placingfourth,thoughhefailedtoscorehigherthan9.75pointsi

38、nanyapparatus.Hewasonlysixthinthefloorcompetition.Hewasstillsolittle-knownthatevenwithhisWorldChampionshipachievementhereattheOlympics,computerstatisticserroneouslylistedhimashavingdonebadlycompetingintwowomensevents,theunevenbarsandthebalancebeam.LisaidhelearnedalothereinBarcelona,bothingymnasticsa

39、ndmanhood.Hesaidintheteamall-aroundcompetition,herepeatedlygotlowscores,anddidnotgettheamountofpointsheshouldgetforthedegreeofdifficultyandexecutionofroutines.Buthekeptthecomplaintstohimself.Yethisexecutioninthefloorfinalwassoperfectthatnobodydoubtedhewasthegoldmedalwinner.The18-year-oldHesaidtohims

40、elffromHubeiProvincesaidthathisregularthreetimes,“Startandleap,acceleratetrainingandland,wasnotonlytechnicalbutalsomental.”whichhesaidwascrucialinwinning.Lialsotookpartinthe1990SeattleGoodwillGamesandfinishedsecondinthefloorexercises,andisnowregardedastheChineseteamsbestall-aroundgymnast,especiallya

41、fterformerbestLiNingmissedbothinthepommelhorseandhighbarfinalsSundaynight.lesson6OurChangingLifestyles:TrendsandFadsThesedaysurbanlifestylesseemtochangeveryfast.Itismorethanjustclothingandhairstylesthatareinstyleoneyearandoutofdatethenext;itsawholewayofliving.Oneyearpeoplewearsunglassesontopoftheirh

42、eadsandwearjeansandboots;theydrinkwhitewineandeatsushiatJapaneserestaurants;forexercisetheyjogseveralmilesaday.However,thenextyeareverythinghaschanged.Womenwearlongskirts;peopledrinkexpensivewaterfromFranceandeatpastaatltalianrestaurants;everyoneseemstobeexercisingathealthclubs.Then,suddenly,ithasch

43、angedagain.Peoplewearonlynaturalfabric（safefortheenvironment）;theydrinkgourmetcoffeeandeatThaifood;forbothleisureandexercise,theygorollerblading.Almostnothinginmodernlifeescapestheinfluenceoffashion;food,music,exercise,book,slangwords,movies,furniture,placestovisit,evennamesgoinandoutoffashion.Foraw

44、hile,itseemsthatallmewparentsarenamingtheirbabiesHeather,Dawn,Eric,orAdam.Thesenamesare“in.”then,suddenly,thesenamesare“out,”andTiffanyandJasonare“in.”Itsalmostimpossibletowriteaboutspecificfadsbecausetheseintereststhatpeopleenthusiasticallyfollowcanchangeveryquickly.IntheUnitedStates,evenpeoplecanb

45、e“in”or“out.”Likepeopleinanycountry,Americansenjoyfollowingthelivesofcelebrities:moviestars,sportsheroes,famousartists,politicians,andthelike.ButAmericansalsopayalotofattentiontopeoplewhohavenospecialabilityandhavedonenothingveryspecial.In1981,forexample,anunknownelderlywomanappearedinaTVcommerciali

46、nwhichshelookedatavarysmallhamburgerandcomplainedloudly,“Wheresthebeef?”Thesethreewordsmadeherfamous.SuddenlysheappearedinmagazinesandnewspapersandonTVshows.Shewasimmediatelypopular.Shewas“in.”In1987,anexterminatorinDallas,Texas,decidedthathewouldbeveryhappyifhecouldfindmorecustomersforhissmallbusin

47、ess;heneededmorepeopletopayhimtokilltheinsectsandratsintheirhouses.HeputanunusualadvertisementinaDallasnewspaper.Heofferedtopay$1,000tothe?personwhocouldfindthebiggestcockroach.Thisstrangeoffermadehimsuddenlyfamous.Therewerestoriesabouthimnationwide-fromNewYorktoCalifornia.Hewas“in.”However,thiskind

48、offamedoesnotlastlong.Suchpeoplearefamousforaveryshorttime.Thisistheessence,thecentral,quality,ofafad.Itdoesntlastlong.Somefadsdisappearbeforewehaveallevenheardofthem.HowmanypeoplerememberGreenpeaceswimsuits?Theychangedcolortoindicatepollutedwater.Andthentherewasoneloaf.Itwasmadewhileclassicalthat“b

49、readdoesntlikerockmusic.“BeethovenBread.”PopularinJapanin1994,itwasexpensive-$20formusicplayedinthekitchen.Thewomanwhocreatedthisbreademphasized”Apersonwhoparticipatesinfadsshouldrememberthattheycomeandgoveryfast,andtheyoftencomebackinstyleafter10to15yearsofbeing“out.”Itmightbeagoodideanevertothrowa

50、nythingaway.MickeyMousewatchesandNehruJacketsmaysoonbe“in”again!lesson7CompulsiveSpendersAreyouacompulsivespender,ordoyouholdontoyourmoneyaslongaspossible?Areyouabargainhunter?Wouldyouratherusechargeaccountsthanpaycash?Youranswertothosequestionswillreflectyourpersonality.Accordingtopsychologists,our

51、individualmoneyhabitsnotonlyshowourbeliefsandvalues,butcanalsodevelopfrompastproblems.Expertsinpsychologybelievethatformanypeople,moneyisanimportantsymbolofstrengthandinfluence.Husbandswhocomplainabouttheirwivesspendinghabitsmaybeafraidthattheyareloosingpowerintheirmarriage.Wives,ontheotherhand,mayw

52、astehugeamountsofmoneybecausetheyareangrywiththeirhusbands.Inaddition,manypeopleconsidermoneyasymboloflove.Theyspenditon?theirfamiliesandfriendstoexpresslove,ortheybuythemselvesexpensivepresentsbecausetheyneedlove.Peoplecanbeaddictedtodifferentthings,forexample,alcohol,drugs,certainfoods,oreventelev

53、ision.Theyarecompulsiveintheiraddictions,thatis,theymustasatisfytheseneedstofeelcomfortable.Inthesameway,accordingtopsychologists,compulsivespendersmustspendmoremoney.Forthosewhobuyoncredit,furthermore,chargeaccountsareevenmoreexcitingthanmoney:inotherwords,thesepeoplefeelthatwithcredittheycandoanyt

54、hing.Theirpleasureatspendingenormousamountsisactuallygreaterthanthepleasuretheygetfromthethingstheybuy.Thereisevenaspecialpsychologyofbargainhunting.Tosavemoney,ofcourse,mostpeoplelookforsales,lowprices,anddiscounts.Compulsivebargainhunters,however,oftenbuythingsthattheydontneedjustbecausetheyareche

55、ap.Theywanttobelievethattheyarehelpingtheirbudget,buttheyarereallyplayinganexcitinggame:whentheycanbuysomethingforlessthanotherpeople,theyarewinning.Itisnotonlyscientists,ofcourse,whounderstandthepsychologyofspendinghabits,butalsobusinesspeople.Stores,companies,andadvertisersusepsychologytoincreaseb

56、usiness.Theyconsiderpeoplesneedforlove,powerorinfluence,aswellastheirvalues,beliefsandopinions,intheiradvertisingandsalesmethods.Psychologistsoftenuseamethodcalled“behaviortherapy”tohelpindividualssolvetheirpersonalityproblems.Inthesameway,theycanhelppeoplewhofeelthattheyhaveproblemswithmoney.Theygi

57、vethem“assignments.”Ifapersonbuyssomethingineverystorethatheenters,forinstance,atherapistmightteachhimself-disciplineinthisway.Onthefirstofhistherapy,hemustgointoastore,forfiveminutes,andthenleave.Onthesecondday,heshouldstayfortenminutesandtrysomethingon.Onthethirddayhestaysforfifteenminutes,asksthe

58、salesclerkaquestion,butdoesnotbuyanything.Soonhewilllearnthatnothingbadwillhappentohimifhedoesnsbuyanything,andhecansolvetheproblemofhiscompulsivebuying.lesson8StoriesofChristmasInmanycountriesoftheworld,ThecelebrationofChristmasonDecember25thisahighpointoftheyear.FromNovemberonward,itisimpossibleto

59、forgetthatChristmasiscoming.Coloredlightsdecoratemanytowncentersandshops,alongwithshimmydecorationsandartificialsnowpaintedonshopwindows.Instreetsandshops,“Christmastrees”（realorplasticevergreenconifertrees）willalsobedecoratedwithlightsandChristmasornaments.ShoppingcentersbecomebusierasDecemberappro

60、achesandoftenstayopentilllate.Bymid-December,mosthomeswillalsobedecoratedwithChristmastrees,coloredlightsandpaperorplasticdecorationsaroundtherooms.Thesedaysmanymorepeoplealsodecorategardentreesorhousewallswithcoloredelectriclights,ahabit,whichhasbeenlongpopularinUSA.Inmanycountries,mostpeoplepostCh