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　　The beginning of American literature

　　American has always been a land of beginnings. After Europeans “ discovered” America in the fifteenth century, the mysterious New World became for many people a genuine hope of a new life, an escape from poverty and persecution, a chance to start again. We can say that, as nation, America begins with that hope. When, however, does American literature begin?

　　American literature begins with American experiences. Long before the first colonists arrived, before Christopher Columbus, before the Northmen who found America about year 1,000, Native Americans lived here. Each tribe's literature was tightly woven into the fabric of daily life and reflected the unmistakably American experience of lining with the land. Another kind of experience, one filled with fear and excitement, found its expression in the reports that Columbus and other explorers sent home in Spain, French and English. In addition, the journals of the people who lived and died in the New England wilderness' tell unforgettable tales of hard end sometimes heartbreaking experiences of those early years.

　　Experience, then, is the key to early American literature. The New World provided a great variety of experiences, and experiences demanded a wide variety of expressions by an even wider variety of early American writers. These writers included John Smith, who spent only two-and-a-half year: on the American, continent. They included Jonathan Edwards and William Byrd， who thought of themselves as British subjects, never suspecting a revolution that would create a United States of America with a literature of its own.
American Indians, explorers,Puritan ministers, frontier wives, plantation owner一they are all the creators of the first American literature.

　　练习：

　　1) What does “that hope”in the first paragraph refer to?
　　A)The hope that America would be discovered.
　　B) The hope to start a life.
　　C) The hope to see the mysteries of the New World.
　　D) The hope to find poverty here.

　　2. When did American literature begin?
　　A) Before the American natives lived there.
　　B) When Columbus and other explorers gent reports back home..
　　C) When tire Northmen found America in about 1,000.
　　D) Long before the year 1,000.

　　3. What can we learn from the literature of the tribes of the native Americans?
　　A) About the everyday fife of the native Americans.
　　B) About the arrival of Columbus
　　C) About the experience of the first European settlers
　　D) About the experience of those who died in the New England wilderness.

　　4. The main purpose of the last paragraph is to tell the readers that
　　A) in the early days most American writers were from Great Britain.
　　B) people with rich life experience became writers.
　　C) there were many writers in the early days of American history
　　D) early-day experience provided the foundation for American literature.

　　5. According to the last paragraph, which of the following statements is true about America literature?
　　A) Some British writers started American literature.，
　　B) Early-day American literature is a reflection of the boring life then.
　　C) Some British writers had doubts about the future of American literature.
　　D) Some British writers had great confidence in the future of American literature.

　　Feast On Turkey and Good Wishes at Thanksgiving

　　Four weeks ago US children dressed as monsters and asked for sweets.That wasHalloween.‘In a few weeks American houses will be red and green and filled with presents.For Christmas.

　　As if all this isn’t enough，on Thursday this week，America will enjoy another festival—Thanksgiving.

　　Children will have two days off school，shops will close and houses will be filled with families enjoying mountains of food.

　　Every year, in Gainesville，Florida，all entire class celebrate Thanksgiving together.The class dresses up and puts on plays for their families.After the plays the families share a feast of traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey and pumpkin pie.

　　Dean Foster, an 1 1-year-old boy will take part in this celebration.He said：‘I love Thanksgiving because it means time off school，lots of nice food and a happy family.’’

　　His brother Ben，nine，said：‘the best thing about Thanksgiving，is that when it is finished，it is time to start Christmas.’

　　But behind the food and the large amount of money spent there is another message.On Thursday evening，Dean and Ben’s family will make a basket and put it on the table as they eat their evening meal.

　　Each of them will write a 1ist of things that they are thankful for and place the paper in the basket.The family will read the pieces of paper and take time to thank God and each other for providing them with comfortable and happy lives.

　　Thanksgiving is a traditional festival that started in 1621，when the first pilgrims arrived in the US to start a new life.After a hard year, they had a big autumn harvest.They held a feast and invited the native American Indians along to thank God for giving them enough food.

　　Many countries celebrate Thanksgiving.They often fall after the fields have been harvested and the crops collected for winter.

　　词汇：
　　turkey n.火鸡
　　pumpkin n.南瓜
　　pilgrim n.朝圣者
　　1.Thanksgiving：感恩节(11月的第四个星期四)
　　2.Halloween ：10月3 1日之夜(据传此时可见到鬼)
　　3.Christmas：圣诞节(12月25日)