Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 43 · Where the Festival Lights Went
Audio track 43
Listen first
Listen once before opening the English passage.
Open the English passage and hover for word help
The summer festival ended on Sunday, but the strings of lights were still above the street on Monday morning. I thought the workers had forgotten them. In fact, they were taking them down in sections and checking each one.
Some lights could be used again next year. Broken parts were separated for repair, and the cords were stored in labeled boxes. A volunteer told us that putting lights away carefully took longer than hanging them.
Our class had enjoyed the bright street for one evening. We had not thought about the work before and after it. When I saw the boxes in the town hall, the word “festival” included more than music and food. It included planning, checking, and cleaning up.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
夏日庆典星期天结束了，可到星期一早晨，街上的灯串还挂着。我以为工作人员忘记收了。其实，他们正在分段拆下灯串，一段一段检查。
有些灯明年还能再用。坏掉的部件被单独放好，等待维修；电线则装进贴了标签的箱子。一位志愿者告诉我们，仔细收好灯，比挂上去花的时间还长。
我们班只享受了那一晚明亮的街道，却没想过活动前后的工作。后来在镇公所看到那些箱子时，‘庆典’这个词对我不再只是音乐和小吃，还包括规划、检查与收拾。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- string of lights
- 一串灯饰；庆典后仍挂在街上。
- in fact
- 事实上；工人没有忘记拆灯。
- take down
- 拆下；分段取下灯串。
- section
- 一段；便于逐一检查。
- use again
- 再次使用；完好的灯留到明年。
- broken part
- 坏掉的部件；要单独留待维修。
- separate
- 分开；把损坏部件与可用的分离。
- labeled box
- 贴标签的箱子；用来收电线。
- volunteer
- 志愿者；介绍收灯工作的人。
- clean up
- 收拾；活动结束后的重要工作。
Background notes (Chinese)
一场活动除了当天的热闹，还包括搭建、拆卸、分类、维修和收纳。文章通过灯串的去向，让读者看见那些不容易被注意到的工作。