In sixteen twenty-one, a big celebration took place(1) at Plymouth Colony in what is now(2) the state of Massachusetts. European settlers(3) known as(4) the Pilgrims(5) were celebrating their autumn harvest(6) after a winter(7) of struggle(8).
Other colonists held(9) earlier (10) ceremonies of thanks. But the Pilgrims’ three-day feast(11) is often called the nation’s first Thanksgiving(12). President Abraham Lincoln declared a national holiday(13) in eighteen sixty-three during(14) the Civil War.
Today families and friends gather(15) on the fourth(16) Thursday in November. And, thanks to(17) the United States Census Bureau(18), here are some facts about where their Thanksgiving meal(19)comes from. The main dish(20) is traditionally a turkey(21). About two-thirds(22) of the nation’s turkeys are produced in Minnesota and five other states.
Producers(23) are expected to raise(24) two hundred forty-eight million birds this year, two percent more than last year.
Popular side dishes(25) include cranberries and sweet potatoes(26). Last year North Carolina grew(27) more sweet potatoes than any other(28) state. Wisconsin is expected to be the top cranberry producer this year. People often finish the meal with pumpkin pie(29).
Last year Illinois grew the most(30) pumpkins. California, New York and Ohio were also(31) major(32) pumpkin producers.
Thanksgiving is a big event, but buying a traditional holiday meal can be a struggle for the poor. so charity(33) groups often hold(34) food drives(35). In Denver, Colorado, volunteers(36) were collecting donated(37) items to fill(38) fifteen hundred Thanksgiving baskets(39).
Rodney Cunningham has been helping the group Volunteers of America for three years. He says this year the demand was greater than ever(40):
“One of the reasons why(41) it’s really important is because the economy is pretty bad(42) and a lot of people have a need for extra food. They don’t have any food at all(43).”Jim White, community affairs(44) director at Volunteers of America, says people donated a lot of food.
“These individuals donated over(45) one hundred forty-eight tons(46) of food, but it takes(47) a huge amount(48) of food as you can imagine to do fifteen hundred food baskets complete with stuffing(49) and cranberries and pumpkin and fresh produce(50), and then they are all topped off(51) with a fifteen-pound(52) frozen(53) turkey.”Mr. White says volunteers come from all over Denver to help.
“Thanksgiving should be(54) viewed as a verb not a noun(55), and what better way(56) to give thanks(57) than to help somebody out that you know is struggling right now(58)?”
For VOA Special English, I’m Alex Villarreal. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 22Nov2011)
VOCABULARY
01. took place = aconteceu
02. in what is now = no que é agora
03. settlers = colonizadores
04. known as = conhecidos como
05. Pilgrims = peregrinos
06. autumn harvest = colheita de outono
07. winter = inverno
08. struggle = luta, esforço
09. held = realizaram
10. earlier = anteriores
11. feast = banquete
12. Thanksgiving = dia de ação de graças
13. Holiday = feriado
14. During = durante
15. Gather = reunem-se
16. Fourth = quarta
17. thanks to = graças a
18. Census Bureau = agencia do recenseamento
19. Meal = refeição
20. main dish = prato principal
21. turkey = peru
22. About two-thirds = aproximadamente dois terços
23. Producers = produtores
24. Raise = criar
25. side dishes = pratos complementares
26. sweet potatoes = batatas doces
27. grew = cultivou
28. than any other = do que qualquer outro
29. pumpkin pie = torta de abóbora
30. the most = a maioria
31. also = tambem
32. major = importante
33. charity = caridade
34. hold = realizar
35. food drives = campanha de alimentos
36. volunteers = voluntarios
37. donated = doados
38. fill = encher
39. baskets = cestas
40. greater than ever = maior do que nunca
41. reasons why = razões pelas quais
42. pretty bad = bastante mal
43. at all = absolutamente
44. community affairs = assuntos da comunidade
45. over = mais de
46. tons = toneladas
47. it takes = é necessário
48. huge amount = imensa quantidade
49. stuffing = recheio
50. fresh produce = produtos frescos
51. topped off = completado com
52. pound = libra (aprox. 0,5 kg)
53. frozen = congelado
54. should be = deveria ser
55. noun = substantivo
56. better way = melhor forma
57. give thanks = dar graças
58. right now = neste momento, agora