ENGLISH
CLASSROOM 40英文教室四十
Learning English is easy, so please follow me
every day.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday. It
commemorates the American men and women who have died serving their country in
the military. It holds an important place in the hearts of Americans as they
remember sacrifices made for their freedom. It is observed on the last Monday
of May. It first started to honour the Union soldiers who died during the
American Civil War. It took on greater importance after American losses in
World War I. The U.S. government decided the day would remember American
casualties in any war, conflict or military action. People visit cemeteries and
war memorials on this day. A special ceremony takes place at Arlington Cemetery
in Washington D.C. All around the country, flags fly at half-mast until lunch
time.
There is quite a history to Memorial Day. A Yale
University professor said it was first celebrated in 1865 by freed slaves in
South Carolina. The slaves buried dozens of Union soldiers in individual
graves. They all died in prison. Waterloo, New York claims to be the official
birthplace of Memorial Day, observing it every year from 1868. The name
“Memorial Day” came about in 1882 but was not widely accepted until after World
War II. The name became official in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. Congress decided
the day should be part of a three-day weekend. The last change came in 1971,
when the government moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. It took a few
years after that for all U.S. states to follow.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted
sites.
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
|
men and women who have died
|
a.
|
the American Civil War
|
2
|
Union soldiers who died during
|
b.
|
memorials on this day
|
3.
|
American losses
|
c.
|
serving their country
|
4.
|
remember American
|
d.
|
half-mast
|
5.
|
People visit cemeteries and war
|
e.
|
casualties
|
6.
|
flags fly at
|
f.
|
in World War I
|
Paragraph 2
1.
|
There is quite a
|
a.
|
by freed slaves
|
2
|
it was first celebrated in 1865
|
b.
|
three-day weekend
|
3.
|
New York claims to be the
|
c.
|
years after that
|
4.
|
The name “Memorial Day” came
|
d.
|
history to Memorial Day
|
5.
|
part of a
|
e.
|
official birthplace
|
6.
|
It took a few
|
f.
|
about in 1882
|
Song of the day: You're A Grand Old Flag Sing A Long Version For Kids
*The answers are coming on 5/25.
paragraph 1:
1q.c
2q= a
3q. f
4q e
5q b
6q d
paragraph 2:
1q. d
2q a
3q e
4q f
5q b
6q c
Comments
Post a Comment