2025届高考英语时文精读课程冬至-CNN旅游频道介绍--20241218-阅读理解+语法填空+词汇拓展 导学案（含答案）
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| 名称 | 2025届高考英语时文精读课程冬至-CNN旅游频道介绍--20241218-阅读理解+语法填空+词汇拓展 导学案（含答案） |  | |
| 格式 | docx | ||
| 文件大小 | 8.8MB | ||
| 资源类型 | 教案 | ||
| 版本资源 | 人教版（2019） | ||
| 科目 | 英语 | ||
| 更新时间 | 2024-12-22 23:32:44 | ||
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2024-2025学年高中英语时文精读课程外刊改编Week 16 阅读+语填
CNN旅游频道介绍冬至
一、阅读理解。（共4小题，每小题2.5分，记10分）（难度：白银——题源：美国有线电视新闻网CNN 2024-12-18 EST12:24 ）
Winter solstice: The shortest day and longest night of the year
冬至：一年中白天最短、夜晚最长的一天 (1292 words, 5 minute read)
By Forrest Brown, CNN, Updated 12:24 PM EST, Wed December 18, 2024
Since the summer solstice back in June, the days have grown steadily shorter and the nights have grown steadily longer in the Northern Hemisphere. But that’s about to reverse itself.
Winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official first day of winter, is on Saturday, December 21, this year (well, for the vast bulk of the world’s population anyway). How the solstices — along with the spring and fall equinoxes — work has fascinated curious people for thousands of years.
It’s a day when science intermixes with ancient traditions around the world.
People visit the Christmas fair in Frankfurt, Germany, on December 21, 2023. Sitting a little over 50 degrees latitude north, this business-oriented city will get just eight hours and three minutes of daylight on winter solstice.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images
Solstices and Earth’s hemispheres
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun appears at its most southerly position, directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn.
The situation is the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere, where only about 10% of the world’s population lives.
There, the December solstice marks the longest day of the year – and the beginning of summer – in places such as Australia, Botswana and Chile.
When exactly does winter solstice occur
Folks gather around a fire during a winter solstice celebration in North Andover, Massachusetts, on December 21, 2021.
Reba Saldanha/Reuters
The solstice usually – but not always – takes place on December 21. The date that the solstice occurs can move forward or back by a day because the solar year (the time it takes for the sun to reappear in the same spot as seen from Earth) doesn’t match up exactly to our calendar year.
If you want to be super-precise in your observations, the exact time of the 2024 winter solstice worldwide will be 9:21 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) Saturday, according to Earthsky.org and the Royal Museums Greenwich.
Below are some examples of when 9:21 UTC will be for various local times around the Northern Hemisphere:
Yokohama, Japan: 6:21 p.m. Saturday
Bangkok, Thailand: 4:21 p.m. Saturday
New Delhi: 2:51 p.m. Saturday
Baghdad, Iraq: 12:21 p.m. Saturday
Helsinki, Finland: 11:21 a.m. Saturday
Lisbon, Portugal: 9:21 a.m. Saturday
Halifax, Nova Scotia: 5:21 a.m. Saturday
Philadelphia: 4:21 a.m. Saturday
Mexico City: 3:21 a.m. Saturday
Portland, Oregon: 1:21 a.m. Saturday
Honolulu: 11:21 p.m. Friday
To check the timing where you live, the website EarthSky has a handy conversion table or plug in your city here in the “Converted Time” box. (Note: Some websites post times that are one or two minutes off from the time set by the Royal Museums Greenwich in England.)
What places feel the effects the most and the least
A child plays against the setting sun on the Indonesian island of Bali. This solstice marks the technical beginning of summer for the tropical island, which is 8 degrees south of the equator. Places relatively close to the equator don't see big swings in the number of hours of daylight.
David Gannon/AFP/Getty Images
Daylight decreases dramatically the closer you are to the North Pole on winter solstice.
People in balmy Singapore, only 137 kilometers or 85 miles north of the equator, could barely notice the difference, with just roughly nine fewer minutes of daylight than they have during the summer solstice. It’s pretty much a 12-hour day, give or take a handful of minutes, all year long there.
Much higher in latitude, London still logs in a respectable seven hours and 50 minutes of daylight to enjoy a chilly stroll along the Thames.
The difference is more stark in frigid Oslo, Norway, where the sun will rise at 9:18 a.m. and set at 3:12 p.m., resulting in a little under six hours of anemic daylight. Sun lamp, anyone
Residents of Nome, Alaska, will be even more sunlight deprived with just three hours and 54 minutes of very weak daylight. But that’s downright generous compared with Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. It sits inside the Arctic Circle and won’t see a single ray of sunshine.
What causes the winter solstice
These three images from NOAA's GOES East (GOES-16) satellite show us what Earth looks like from space near the winter solstice. The images were captured about 24 hours before the 2018 winter solstice.
NOAA
Because Earth is tilted on its rotational axis, we have changing seasons. As the planet moves around the sun, each hemisphere experiences winter when it’s tilted away from the sun and summer when it’s tilted toward the sun.
Scientists are not entirely sure how this occurred, but they think that billions of years ago, as the solar system was taking shape, the Earth was subject to violent collisions that caused the axis to tilt.
1. According to the article, which of the following statements about the winter solstice is true
A. It always occurs on December 21.
B. The exact time of the winter solstice can vary by a day due to the difference between the solar year and the calendar year.
C. The winter solstice marks the longest night in the Southern Hemisphere but not in the Northern Hemisphere.
D. The winter solstice is celebrated more widely in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. The underlined word “stark” in Paragraph 14 is closest in meaning to _____.
A. significant B. slight C. unusual D. strange
3. Which place experiences the least change in daylight hours around the winter solstice
A. Yokohama, Japan B. Bangkok, Thailand C. Singapore D. Oslo, Norway
4. What is the main cause of the changing seasons on Earth
A. The Earth’s rotation around the sun. B. The Earth’s tilt on its rotational axis.
C. The distance between the Earth and the sun. D. The shape and size of the Earth.
二、语法填空。（共2节，每节10小题，每小题1.5分，共记30分）（重难点-并列连词/定语从句/派生/介词搭配/冠词/非谓语作状语和定语/特殊句式，难度：1.钻石 2.黄金——题源：美国有线电视新闻网CNN 2024-12-18 EST12:24 ）
Winter solstice traditions
An Indigenous man performs the Palo Volador (Flying Pole) in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, on December 20, 2023. Palo Volador is a pre-Hispanic tradition in Guatemala to help welcome the winter solstice.
Emmanuel Andres/AFP/Getty Images
It’s no surprise 1 many cultures and religions celebrate 2 holiday – whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa 3 pagan festivals – 4 coincides with the return of longer days.
Ancient peoples 5 survival depended on a precise knowledge of seasonal cycles marked this first day of winter with elaborate ceremonies and celebrations. Spiritually, these celebrations symbolize the opportunity for 6 (renew).
“Christmas takes many of its customs and probably its date on the calendar 7 the pagan Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Kalends,” Maria Kennedy, assistant teaching professor in the Department of American Studies at Rutgers University, told CNN Travel in an email.
Saturnalia started on December 17 and Kalends started on January 1, said Kennedy, who specializes in Christmas studies.
8 (cite) academic research, Kennedy said early founders of the Christian church condemned the practices of these holidays, 9 their popularity endured. Christian observance of Christmas eventually aligned around the same time in the calendar even though there’s no specific date 10 (set) in the Gospels for the birth of Jesus.
Here’s more on a few of those ancient customs:
Alban Arthan
A group sings and dances as the sun rises during the winter solstice at Newgrange, Ireland, on December 21, 2023. Newgrange, a 5,200-year-old “passage tomb,” was built so that direct sunlight enters the monument through a small opening on winter solstice, illuminating an inner chamber for 17 minutes.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
In the Welsh language, “Alban Arthan” means for “Light of Winter,” according to the Farmers’ Almanac. It might be the oldest seasonal festival of humankind. Part of Druidic traditions, the winter solstice is considered 1 time of death and rebirth.
Newgrange, a prehistoric monument 2 (build) in Ireland around 3200 BC, 3 (associate) with the Alban Arthan festival.
Saturnalia
In Ancient Rome, Saturnalia lasted for seven days. It honored Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture.
The people enjoyed carnival-like festivities 4 (resemble) modern Mardi Gras celebrations 5 even delayed their war-making. Slaves were given temporary freedoms, and moral restrictions were eased. Saturnalia continued 6 the third and fourth centuries AD.
Dongzhi
Tourists receive free dumplings in celebration of the winter solstice, or Dongzhi, at a ski resort in Fukang City in northwestern China.
Xinhua/Shutterstock
It’s not just ancient Europeans 7 marked the annual occasion. The Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival has its roots in ancient Chinese culture. The name translates roughly 8 “extreme of winter.”
They thought this was the apex of yin (from Chinese medicine theory). Yin represents darkness and cold and 9 (still), thus the longest day of winter.
Dongzhi marks the return of yang — and the slow ascendance of light and warmth. Dumplings are usually eaten 10 (celebrate) in some East Asian cultures.
【参考答案】
一、阅读理解
1. B 根据文章第二段，“The solstice usually – but not always – takes place on December 21. The date that the solstice occurs can move forward or back by a day because the solar year (the time it takes for the sun to reappear in the same spot as seen from Earth) doesn’t match up exactly to our calendar year.”可知，冬至通常但不总是在12月21日发生，日期可能会提前或推后一天，因为太阳年（太阳从地球上看到的同一位置再次出现所需的时间）与我们的公历年并不完全吻合。因此，B选项是正确的。
2. A 在第八段中，“stark”用来形容奥斯陆与新加坡等地日照时长差异的显著性，因此最接近的意思是“显著的”（significant）。
3. C 根据文章倒数第四段，“Places relatively close to the equator don't see big swings in the number of hours of daylight.”以及后文提到的新加坡，可以推断出靠近赤道的地方在冬至时日照时长变化最小，因此C选项“新加坡”是正确的。
4. B 根据文章最后一段，“Because Earth is tilted on its rotational axis, we have changing seasons.”可知，地球在其自转轴上的倾斜是季节变化的主要原因，因此B选项是正确的。
二、语法填空
1. that a or that/which whose
renewal from Citing but set
2. a built is associated resembling and
into who/that as stillness to celebrate
【长难句分析】
It’s no surprise that many cultures and religions celebrate a holiday – whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or pagan festivals – that coincides with the return of longer days.
1. 主句
主语：It（形式主语，真正的主语是后面的that从句），谓语：is， 表语：no surprise
2. 从句
2.1 主语从句（that从句）
引导词：that（无实义，仅起连接作用），主语：many cultures and religions，谓语：celebrate，宾语：a holiday，这个that从句是句子的真正主语，它说明了“不令人惊讶的是什么”。
2.2 定语从句（that从句的宾语a holiday的修饰语）
先行词：a holiday，引导词：that或which（在这里作为关系代词，指代先行词a holiday），从句主语：（省略了的关系代词that，即a holiday），从句谓语：coincides，从句宾语：with the return of longer days。这个that从句作为定语修饰a holiday，说明了这些节日的一个共同特点，即它们都与白天变长的时间相吻合。
3. 插入语
插入语：whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or pagan festivals
这个插入语是对a holiday的进一步说明，列举了不同文化和宗教庆祝的节日。注意，这里的whether it be是一种口语化的表达，换成whether it is没有问题。但在这个语境中，whether it be更为常见和口语化，传达了一种文学化的语气。这种结构在诗歌、散文或一些正式的演讲中尤为常见，因为它能够以一种优雅而流畅的方式表达多个选项。
4. 句子意义
这个句子的意思是：“许多文化和宗教都庆祝与白天变长相对应的节日，这并不令人惊讶。”它强调了不同文化和宗教在庆祝节日时的一个共同特点，即这些节日往往与自然界的变化（如白天变长）相关联。
5. 写作借鉴
句子以It's no surprise that开头，这是一个常见的句型，用于表达某件事情是显而易见的或不出所料的，可以作为非常好用的一个高级句型用在应用文写作的开头。类似的名词性从句还有：
It is clear that…(很清楚...)【清】
It is obvious that…(很明显...)【明】
There is no doubt that…(毫无疑问...)【疑】
No one can deny that…(不可否认…)【否】
Needless to say…(不用说…)【不用】
It goes without saying that…(不用说…)【走】
【词汇巩固】
重点核心高考高频词汇
to grow steadily shorter
the Northern Hemisphere
reverse
solstice
equinox
fascinate
intermix
latitude
business-oriented
the most southerly
southerly
overhead
the Tropic of Capricorn
occur
spot
super
precise
observation
coordinate
universal
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
handy
conversion
conversion table
plug
plug in
convert
one or two minutes off from
the setting sun
equator
swings
the number of
dramatically
the North Pole
barely
notice the difference
roughly
a handful of
all year long
log
log in
respectable
chilly
resulting in
resident
generous
sit in/inside
the Arctic Circle
ray
satellite
capture
rotate
rotational
axis
entirely
take shape
be subject to
violent
collision
It’s no surprise that...
whether ...or...
survival
marked ...with...
ceremony
Spiritually
renewal
takes ... from...
specialize
specialize in
cite
condemn
practice v. n.
practical adj.
endure
eventually
monument
mean for
rebirth
associate
be associated with
last for
carnival
resemble
delay
temporary
freedom
restriction
continue into
resort
occasion
to have one's roots in...
translate vt. vi.
extreme
represent
still adj.
stillness
to grow steadily shorter
音标: /tu ɡro sted li t r/
释义: 逐渐变短
例句: The days are growing steadily shorter as winter approaches.
the Northern Hemisphere
音标: / n r rn hem sf r/
释义: 北半球
例句: The Northern Hemisphere experiences winter during the southern summer.
reverse
音标: /r v rs/
释义: 反转；颠倒
例句: The car reversed into the parking space.
solstice
音标: / sɑ lst s/
释义: 至点（指冬至或夏至）
例句: The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
equinox
音标: / i kw nɑ ks/
释义: 春分或秋分
例句: The equinox marks the point when day and night are equal in length.
fascinate
音标: / f s ne t/
释义: 使着迷；使感兴趣
例句: The ancient ruins fascinated the tourists with their history and beauty.
intermixes (注意通常使用“intermix”的第三人称单数形式时，结尾加-es，但更常见的是直接使用“intermix”)
音标: / nt r m ks/
释义: 混合；混杂
例句: The colors intermix to create a beautiful painting.
latitude
音标: / l t tju d/
释义: 纬度
例句: The city is located at a latitude of 40 degrees north.
business-oriented
音标: / b zn s o ri nted/
释义: 以商业为导向的
例句: The company is business-oriented and always looking for new opportunities.
the most southerly
音标: / m st sa rli/
释义: 最南端的
例句: The most southerly point of the continent is Cape Agulhas.
southerly
音标: / sa rli/
释义: 南方的；向南的
例句: The southerly wind brought colder weather to the region.
overhead
音标: / o v r hed/ 或 / v r hed/ (美式和英式略有不同)
释义: 在头上方的；头顶上的；经营成本（尤指租金、工资等）
例句: The overhead lights were dimmed for the movie. (头顶的灯为了看电影被调暗了。)
the Tropic of Capricorn
音标: / trɑ p k v k pr k n/
释义: 北回归线（地球上的一个纬线圈，位于北纬23°26'）
例句: The Tropic of Capricorn passes through several countries in Asia and Africa. (北回归线穿过亚洲和非洲的几个国家。)
occur
音标: / k r/
释义: 发生；出现
例句: The accident occurred on a busy highway. (事故发生在一条繁忙的高速公路上。)
spot
音标: /spɑ t/
释义: 斑点；地点；认出；发现
例句: She spotted a rare bird in the garden. (她在花园里发现了一只稀有鸟类。)
super
音标: / su p r/
释义: 超级的；极好的
例句: The new smartphone is super fast. (这款新智能手机速度极快。)
precise
音标: /pr sa s/
释义: 精确的；明确的
例句: The instructions were given in a precise and clear manner. (指令以精确且清晰的方式给出。)
observation
音标: / ɑ bz r ve n/
释义: 观察；评论
例句: Her observations about the inefficiencies in the workflow were spot on. (她对工作流程中效率低下的观察非常准确。)
coordinate (作动词时)
音标: /ko rd ne t/
释义: 协调；使配合
例句: The team members need to coordinate their efforts to complete the project on time. (团队成员需要协调他们的努力以按时完成项目。)
(作名词时，表示“坐标”，音标和释义会有所不同)
universal
音标: / ju n v rs l/
释义: 普遍的；通用的
例句: The company's policies are designed to be universal and applicable to all employees. (公司的政策是普遍适用的，适用于所有员工。)
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
音标: /ko rd ne t d ju n v rs l ta m/
释义: 协调世界时（一种国际时间标准）
例句: The meeting will start at 2 PM UTC. (会议将在协调世界时下午2点开始。)
handy
音标: / h ndi/
释义: 方便的；手巧的
例句: Having a smartphone is really handy for staying in touch with friends. (拥有智能手机真的很方便，可以随时与朋友保持联系。)
conversion
音标: /k n v r n/
释义: 转换；转变
例句: The company is planning a conversion of its manufacturing processes to be more environmentally friendly. (公司计划将其制造过程转变为更加环保的方式。)
conversion table
音标: /k n v r n te bl/
释义: 转换表（用于不同单位或系统之间的转换）
例句: The conversion table helped me understand how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. (转换表帮助我理解如何将摄氏度转换为华氏度。)
plug
音标: /pl ɡ/
释义: 塞子；插头
例句: Make sure to unplug the appliance before cleaning it. (在清洁电器之前，一定要拔掉插头。)
plug in
音标: / pl ɡ n/
释义: 插上（插头）；接入（电源）
例句: I need to plug in my laptop to charge it. (我需要插上笔记本电脑来充电。)
convert
音标: /k n v rt/ 或 / kɑ nv rt/ (美式和英式略有不同)
释义: 转换；使改变（信仰、态度等）
例句: The company decided to convert its old factory into a modern office building. (公司决定将其旧工厂改造成现代化的办公楼。)
one or two minutes off from
释义: 与...相差一两分钟
例句: The clock in my office is a few minutes off from the one on my phone. (我办公室里的钟与我手机上的钟相差几分钟。)
the setting sun
音标: / set s n/
释义: 落日的；夕阳
例句: We watched the setting sun cast a golden glow over the mountains. (我们看着落日给群山披上了一层金色的光辉。)
equator
音标: / kwe t r/
释义: 赤道（地球上的一个纬线圈，将地球分为南北半球）
例句: The equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. (赤道将地球分为北半球和南半球。)
swings (swing的第三人称单数形式)
音标: /sw z/
释义: 摇摆；摆动；转变（意见、态度等）
例句: The pendulum swings back and forth. (钟摆来回摆动。)
the number of
释义: ...的数量
例句: The number of students attending the event was surprisingly high. (参加活动的学生数量出乎意料地高。)
dramatically
音标: /dr m t k li/
释义: 戏剧性地；显著地；大幅地
例句: The company's profits increased dramatically last year. (公司去年的利润大幅增加。)
the North Pole
音标: / n rθ po l/
释义: 北极（地球的最北端）
例句: Many explorers have dreamed of reaching the North Pole. (许多探险家都梦想着到达北极。)
barely
音标: / berli/
释义: 仅仅；几乎不
例句: He barely had enough money to buy a meal. (他几乎没有足够的钱买一顿饭。)
notice the difference
释义: 注意到区别
例句: After using the new software, I noticed a significant difference in performance. (在使用了新软件后，我注意到了性能上的显著差异。)
roughly
音标: / r fli/
释义: 大约；粗略地
例句: The meeting is expected to last roughly two hours. (会议预计将持续大约两个小时。)
a handful of
释义: 一小把；少数几个
例句: She had a handful of apples in her bag. (她包里有一小把苹果。)
all year long
释义: 全年；整年
例句: The store is open all year long. (这家商店全年营业。)
log
音标: /lɑ ɡ/
释义: 日志；原木
例句（作为日志）: He kept a detailed log of his travels. (他详细记录了他的旅行日志。)
例句（作为原木）: The lumberyard had a large supply of logs. (木材厂有大量原木供应。)
log in
音标: /lɑ ɡ n/
释义: 登录（计算机或网络系统）
例句: You need to log in to your account to access the files. (你需要登录到你的账户才能访问文件。)
respectable
音标: /r spekt bl/
释义: 可敬的；相当好的；体面的
例句: He has a respectable job and a nice family. (他有一份体面的工作和一个和睦的家庭。)
chilly
音标: / t li/
释义: 寒冷的；冷飕飕的
例句: The morning was chilly, so I wore a jacket. (早上很冷，所以我穿了件夹克。)
resulting in
释义: 导致；结果是
例句: The poor weather resulting in the cancellation of the outdoor event. (恶劣的天气导致户外活动被取消。)
resident
音标: / rez d nt/
释义: 居民；住院医生
例句: She is a permanent resident of the city. (她是这座城市的永久居民。)
generous
音标: / d en r s/
释义: 慷慨的；大方的
例句: He was generous with his time and advice. (他慷慨地给出了他的时间和建议。)
sit in/inside
释义: 位于；坐在里面；待在室内
例句: It's raining, so let's sit inside and watch a movie. (下雨了，我们待在室内看电影吧。)
注意：The town sits inside in the Arctic circle.
the Arctic Circle
音标: / ɑ rkt k s rk l/
释义: 北极圈（地球上的一个纬线圈，位于北纬66°33'）
例句: The town is located just inside the Arctic Circle. (这个小镇位于北极圈以内。)
ray
音标: /re /
释义: 光线；射线
例句: The sun's rays were warm on her skin. (阳光照在她的皮肤上感觉很温暖。)
satellite
音标: / s t la t/
释义: 卫星
例句: The scientists launched a satellite into orbit. (科学家们将一颗卫星发射到轨道上。)
capture
音标: / k pt r/
释义: 捕获；俘虏；拍摄（照片或影像）
例句: The police captured the criminal after a high-speed chase. (警方在高速追捕后捕获了罪犯。)
rotate
音标: /r te t/
释义: （使）旋转；轮转；轮流
例句: The earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. (地球每24小时绕自己的轴旋转一圈。)
rotational
音标: / r te n l/
释义: 旋转的；轮转的
例句: The company has a rotational training program for new employees. (公司为新员工提供了一个轮转培训计划。)
axis
音标: / ks s/
释义: 轴；轴线；中心线
例句: The Earth spins on its own axis. (地球绕自己的轴旋转。)
entirely
音标: / n ta li/
释义: 完全地；全部地；整个地
例句: The project was entirely funded by the government. (这个项目完全由政府资助。)
take shape
释义: 成形；逐渐显现
例句: The new building is starting to take shape. (新建筑开始成形了。)
be subject to
释义: 受...支配；受...影响；易于...的
例句: The weather in this area is subject to sudden changes. (这个地区的天气易于突然变化。)
violent
音标: / va l nt/
释义: 猛烈的；激烈的；暴力的
例句: The storm was violent and caused widespread damage. (风暴猛烈，造成了广泛破坏。)
collision
音标: /k l n/
释义: 碰撞；冲突
例句: There was a collision between two cars on the highway. (高速公路上发生了两辆车的碰撞。)
It’s no surprise that...
释义: ...并不奇怪；...是意料之中的
例句: It's no surprise that she got the job; she's the most qualified candidate. (她得到这份工作并不奇怪，她是最有资格的候选人。)
whether ...or...
释义: 无论...还是...；不管...还是...
例句: Whether you like coffee or tea, there's something for everyone. (无论你喜欢咖啡还是茶，这里都有适合每个人的选择。)
survival
音标: /s r va vl/
释义: 生存；存活；幸免于难
例句: The company's survival depends on its ability to innovate. (公司的生存取决于其创新能力。)
marked ...with...
释义: 用...标记...；在...上标出...
例句: The map was marked with important landmarks. (地图上标出了重要的地标。)
ceremony
音标: / ser m ni/
释义: 典礼；仪式；礼节
例句: The graduation ceremony was held in the school auditorium. (毕业典礼在学校礼堂举行。)
Spiritually
音标: / sp r t u li/
释义: 在精神上；精神上地
例句: She found peace and fulfillment spiritually through meditation. (她通过冥想在精神上找到了平静和满足。)
renewal
音标: /r nju l/
释义: 更新；复兴；续借
例句: The company is undergoing a renewal of its product line. (公司正在更新其产品线。)
takes ... from...
释义: 从...中取走；从...中获得
例句: The book takes many ideas from classical literature. (这本书从古典文学中汲取了许多思想。)
specialize
音标: / spe la z/
释义: 专门从事；专攻；特化
例句: She specializes in treating rare diseases. (她专门从事罕见病的治疗。)
specialize in
释义: 专攻；专门研究
例句: This university specializes in engineering. (这所大学专攻工程学。)
Cite
音标: /sa t/
释义: 引用；援引；举出
例句: In his speech, he cited several famous authors to support his argument. (他在演讲中引用了几位著名作家的言论来支持自己的观点。)
condemn
音标: /k n dem/
释义: 谴责；指责；宣告有罪
例句: The international community condemned the military coup. (国际社会谴责了这次军事政变。)
practice (v.)
音标: / pr kt s/
释义: 练习；实践；从事
例句: She practices the piano every day. (她每天练习钢琴。)
practice (n.)
释义: 练习；实践；惯例
例句: It's good to have some practice before taking the test. (考试前进行一些练习是有好处的。)
Practical (adj.)
音标: / pr kt kl/
释义: 实用的；实际的；切实可行的
例句: This is a practical solution to the problem. (这是解决这个问题的实用方法。)
endure
音标: / n d r/
释义: 忍受；持久；持续存在
例句: She endured great pain after the accident. (事故后她忍受了巨大的痛苦。)
eventually
音标: / vent u li/
释义: 最终；终于
例句: Eventually, he succeeded in passing the exam. (他最终成功地通过了考试。)
monument
音标: / m njum nt/
释义: 纪念碑；纪念物；丰碑
例句: The statue is a monument to the nation's heroes. (这座雕像是为了纪念国家的英雄们而建的。)
mean for
释义: 打算给；意味着；为...打算
例句: This gift is meant for you. (这份礼物是给你的。)
rebirth
音标: / ri b θ/
释义: 重生；复兴；再生
例句: The city is experiencing a rebirth after the earthquake. (地震后，这座城市正在经历重生。)
associate
音标: / s si t/
释义: 联系；交往；联想
例句: He associates the smell of coffee with his childhood. (他闻到咖啡的味道就会联想到自己的童年。)
be associated with
释义: 与...有关；与...相联系
例句: This company is associated with high-quality products. (这家公司因其高质量的产品而闻名。)
last for
释义: 持续；延续；维持
例句: The meeting lasted for two hours. (会议持续了两个小时。)
carnival
音标: / kɑ rn v l/
释义: 狂欢节；嘉年华会
例句: People dress up and celebrate during the carnival. (人们在狂欢节期间盛装打扮并庆祝。)
resemble
音标: /r zembl/
释义: 类似；像；与...相似
例句: She resembles her mother a lot. (她很像她的母亲。)
delay
音标: /d le /
释义: 延迟；推迟；耽搁
例句: The flight was delayed due to bad weather. (由于天气恶劣，航班被推迟了。)
temporary
音标: / temp r ri/
释义: 暂时的；临时的；短期的
例句: The job is only temporary. (这份工作只是临时的。)
freedom
音标: / fri d m/
释义: 自由；自主；自由权
例句: Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. (言论自由是一项基本权利。)
restriction
音标: /r str k n/
释义: 限制；约束；管制
例句: There are restrictions on the use of certain chemicals. (对某些化学品的使用有限制。)
continue into
释义: 继续进入；延伸到
例句: The rain continued into the next day. (雨一直下到第二天。)
resort
音标: /r z t/
释义: 胜地；度假地；求助；诉诸
例句: The beach is a popular resort for tourists. (这个海滩是游客们喜欢的度假胜地。)
(v.) 诉诸；采取（手段等）
例句: They resorted to violence when谈判broke down. (谈判失败后，他们诉诸暴力。)
occasion
音标: / ke n/
释义: 场合；时刻；机会
例句: This is a special occasion for us to celebrate. (这是我们庆祝的特殊时刻。)
to have one's roots in...
释义: 起源于...；根植于...
例句: This tradition has its roots in ancient customs. (这个传统起源于古老的习俗。)
translate (vt.)
音标: /tr ns le t/
释义: 翻译；转化；解释
例句: She translated the book from French into English. (她把这本书从法语翻译成了英语。)
translate (vi.)
释义: 被翻译；具有某种意义
例句: The poem translates well into English. (这首诗翻译成英语后效果很好。)
extreme
音标: / k stri m/
释义: 极端的；过分的；尽头的
例句: She is known for her extreme views on politics. (她以极端的政治观点而闻名。)
represent
音标: / repr zent/
释义: 代表；象征；表现
例句: He represents the company at the conference. (他代表公司出席会议。)
still (adj.)
音标: /st l/
释义: 静止的；不动的；平静的
例句: The lake was still after the storm. (暴风雨过后，湖面平静了下来。)
stillness
音标: / st ln s/
释义: 静止；平静；无声
例句: The stillness of the night was broken by a loud noise. (夜晚的宁静被一声巨响打破。)
【词汇拓展】
超纲词
balmy
stroll
anemic
stark
frigid
deprive
downright
tilt
coincide
coincide with
elaborate adj.v.
pagan
observance
align
the Gospels
Jesus
chamber
illuminate
apex
ascendance
balmy
音标：英音[ bɑ m ]，美音[ bɑ m ]
词性：形容词（adj.）
中文释义：温和的；宜人的；芳香的
英文释义：(of the air) mild and pleasant; warm and gentle
英文例句：The balmy weather made it a perfect day for a picnic. （宜人的天气让这一天成为野餐的绝佳日子。）
stroll
音标：英音[str l]，美音[stro l]
词性：名词（n.）、动词（v.）
中文释义：散步；闲逛（v.）；散步；溜达（n.）
英文释义：to walk slowly and leisurely; a leisurely walk
英文例句：After dinner, we went for a stroll in the park.（晚饭后，我们在公园里散步。）
anemic
音标：英音[ ni m k]，美音[ ni m k]
词性：形容词（adj.）
中文释义：贫血的；无力的
英文释义：suffering from anemia; lacking vigor or strength
英文例句：His anemic performance in the game disappointed his fans.（他在比赛中的无力表现让他的粉丝感到失望。）
stark
音标：英音[stɑ k]，美音[stɑ rk]
词性：形容词（adj.）、副词（adv.）
中文释义：完全的；荒凉的；光秃秃的（adj.）；完全地；明显地（adv.）
英文释义：complete or extreme; bare and desolate
英文例句：The stark contrast between the rich and the poor is evident in this city.（这个城市中穷人和富人之间的鲜明对比是显而易见的。）
frigid
音标：英音[ fr d d]，美音[ fr d d]
词性：形容词（adj.）
中文释义：寒冷的；冷淡的
英文释义：extremely cold; showing little or no warmth or enthusiasm
英文例句：She gave him a frigid smile, indicating she was not interested in him.（她给了他一个冷淡的微笑，表明她对他不感兴趣。）
deprive
音标：英音[d pra v]，美音[d pra v]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：剥夺；使丧失
英文释义：to take away something that someone has or needs; to make someone lose something
英文例句：The accident deprived him of his ability to walk.（事故剥夺了他行走的能力。）
downright
音标：英音[ da nra t]，美音[ da nra t]
词性：形容词（adj.）、副词（adv.）
中文释义：彻底的；十足的（adj.）；彻底地；十足地（adv.）
英文释义：completely or absolutely; in a thorough or extreme way
英文例句：He gave a downright refusal to their invitation.（他彻底拒绝了他们的邀请。）
tilt
音标：英音[t lt]，美音[t lt]
词性：动词（v.）、名词（n.）
中文释义：使倾斜；倾斜（v.）；倾斜；斜度（n.）
英文释义：to move or cause to move at an angle; the degree of being sloped or inclined
英文例句：The picture on the wall was slightly tilted.（墙上的画有点倾斜。）
coincide
音标：英音[ k n sa d]，美音[ ko n sa d]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：同时发生；相符
英文释义：to happen or exist at the same time; to be in agreement or harmony
英文例句：Their plans coincided, so they decided to travel together.（他们的计划相符，所以他们决定一起旅行。）
coincide with
音标：无固定音标，为短语
词性：动词短语
中文释义：与……同时发生；与……相符
英文释义：to happen or exist at the same time as something else; to be in agreement or harmony with something else
英文例句：The festival coincides with the full moon.（这个节日与满月同时发生。）
elaborate
音标：英音[ l b re t]，美音[ l b re t]
词性：形容词（adj.）、动词（v.）
中文释义：复杂的；详尽的（adj.）；详述；阐明（v.）
英文释义：complex and detailed; to explain or describe something in detail
英文例句：He elaborated on his plan for the project.（他详细阐述了他的项目计划。）
pagan
音标：英音[ pe g n]，美音[ pe ɡ n]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：异教徒；无神论者
英文释义：a person who believes in gods or spirits but not in the God of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam; a person who does not believe in any gods
英文例句：Many pagans celebrate the changing of the seasons.（许多异教徒庆祝季节的更迭。）
observance
音标：英音[ b z r ns]，美音[ b z r ns]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：遵守；奉行
英文释义：the act of following or observing rules, customs, or traditions
英文例句：The observance of religious rituals is important to many people.（对许多人来说，遵守宗教仪式很重要。）
align
音标：英音[ la n]，美音[ la n]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：使排成一行；使结盟
英文释义：to arrange in a straight line or row; to make someone or something become part of a group or system
英文例句：The company decided to align itself with industry standards.（公司决定与行业标准保持一致。）
the Gospels
中文释义：《福音书》
英文释义：the four books in the New Testament that tell the story of Jesus' life, teachings, and death
英文例句：The Gospels are an important source of information about Jesus' life and teachings.（《福音书》是关于耶稣生活和教义的重要信息来源。）
Jesus
音标：英音[ d i z s]，美音[ d i z s]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：耶稣
英文释义：the central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God and the Savior of humanity
英文例句：Jesus is an important figure in Christian history and belief.（耶稣是基督教历史和信仰中的重要人物。）
chamber
音标：英音[ t e mb r]，美音[ t e mb r]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：房间；会议室
英文释义：a room, especially one in a house or building that is used for a particular purpose; a room used for meetings
英文例句：The board met in private chamber to discuss the matter.（董事会在私密的会议室里讨论此事。）
illuminate
音标：英音[ l m ne t]，美音[ l m ne t]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：照亮；阐明
英文释义：to make something bright by light; to explain or clarify something
英文例句：The artist used bright colors to illuminate the painting.（艺术家使用明亮的色彩来照亮这幅画。）
apex
音标：英音[ peks]，美音[ peks]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：顶点；最高点
英文释义：the highest point of something, especially of a triangle or a mountain
英文例句：The company reached the apex of its success in the 1990s.
ascendance
音标：英音[ send ns]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：顶点；最高点
英文释义：the highest point of something, especially of a triangle or a mountain
英文例句：The company reached the apex of its success in the 1990s.
中文释义：上升；提升；晋升；（尤指地位、权力或影响力的）显赫
英文释义：The process or state of rising to a higher position, level, or status; the act of ascending or achieving prominence.
英文例句：His ascendance to the position of CEO marked a new chapter for the company.
注意：
“stark”是一个英语形容词，其基本含义包括“光秃秃的”、“荒凉的”、“明显的”、“鲜明的”以及“严峻的”等。在原文句子”The difference is more stark in frigid Oslo, Norway...”中，“more stark”虽然不是“stark”的标准比较级形式，但在非正式或口语化的语境中，这样的用法是可以被接受的。
【首字母填空练习题】
The weather today is surprisingly b___ (温暖而宜人的，通常指气候温和、宜人).
They took a leisurely s___ (漫步，闲逛) through the park on Sunday afternoon.
His pale complexion and lack of energy made him look quite a___ (贫血的，缺乏活力的).
The two events did not c___ (同时发生，一致).
The p___ (异教徒，非基督教徒) rituals were seen as strange by the locals.
She gave an e___ (详尽阐述的，精细的) description of the incident.
The old house had a cozy c___ (房间，尤指卧室或会议室等).
The sun began to i___ (照亮，阐明) the landscape as dawn broke.
His a___ (顶点，最高点) as a musician came when he won the Grammy Award.
The report's findings d___ (剥夺，使丧失) us of our hope for a quick solution.
The room was decorated in a s_____ (冷酷的，严寒的) manner, with no warm colors or soft textures.
He gave a d_____ (直截了当的，彻底的) refusal when asked to help with the project.
The painting on the wall seemed to be slightly t_____ (倾斜，使倾斜).
The festival is a time of o_____ (遵守，奉行) traditional customs and rituals.
Please a_____ (使成一线，排列) the chairs along the wall so that everyone can sit comfortably.
His a_____ (上升，提升) to the position of CEO was a result of years of hard work and dedication.
During winter, the weather in this place is exceptionally f , making it unbearable.
答案： balmy, stroll, anemic, coincide, pagan, elaborate, chamber, illuminate, apex, deprive, stark, downright, tilted, observance, align, ascendance, frigid
【某世纪报2024.12.16 Senior 2 总第967期 有同主题文章】
CNN旅游频道介绍冬至
一、阅读理解。（共4小题，每小题2.5分，记10分）（难度：白银——题源：美国有线电视新闻网CNN 2024-12-18 EST12:24 ）
Winter solstice: The shortest day and longest night of the year
冬至：一年中白天最短、夜晚最长的一天 (1292 words, 5 minute read)
By Forrest Brown, CNN, Updated 12:24 PM EST, Wed December 18, 2024
Since the summer solstice back in June, the days have grown steadily shorter and the nights have grown steadily longer in the Northern Hemisphere. But that’s about to reverse itself.
Winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official first day of winter, is on Saturday, December 21, this year (well, for the vast bulk of the world’s population anyway). How the solstices — along with the spring and fall equinoxes — work has fascinated curious people for thousands of years.
It’s a day when science intermixes with ancient traditions around the world.
People visit the Christmas fair in Frankfurt, Germany, on December 21, 2023. Sitting a little over 50 degrees latitude north, this business-oriented city will get just eight hours and three minutes of daylight on winter solstice.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images
Solstices and Earth’s hemispheres
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun appears at its most southerly position, directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn.
The situation is the reverse in the Southern Hemisphere, where only about 10% of the world’s population lives.
There, the December solstice marks the longest day of the year – and the beginning of summer – in places such as Australia, Botswana and Chile.
When exactly does winter solstice occur
Folks gather around a fire during a winter solstice celebration in North Andover, Massachusetts, on December 21, 2021.
Reba Saldanha/Reuters
The solstice usually – but not always – takes place on December 21. The date that the solstice occurs can move forward or back by a day because the solar year (the time it takes for the sun to reappear in the same spot as seen from Earth) doesn’t match up exactly to our calendar year.
If you want to be super-precise in your observations, the exact time of the 2024 winter solstice worldwide will be 9:21 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) Saturday, according to Earthsky.org and the Royal Museums Greenwich.
Below are some examples of when 9:21 UTC will be for various local times around the Northern Hemisphere:
Yokohama, Japan: 6:21 p.m. Saturday
Bangkok, Thailand: 4:21 p.m. Saturday
New Delhi: 2:51 p.m. Saturday
Baghdad, Iraq: 12:21 p.m. Saturday
Helsinki, Finland: 11:21 a.m. Saturday
Lisbon, Portugal: 9:21 a.m. Saturday
Halifax, Nova Scotia: 5:21 a.m. Saturday
Philadelphia: 4:21 a.m. Saturday
Mexico City: 3:21 a.m. Saturday
Portland, Oregon: 1:21 a.m. Saturday
Honolulu: 11:21 p.m. Friday
To check the timing where you live, the website EarthSky has a handy conversion table or plug in your city here in the “Converted Time” box. (Note: Some websites post times that are one or two minutes off from the time set by the Royal Museums Greenwich in England.)
What places feel the effects the most and the least
A child plays against the setting sun on the Indonesian island of Bali. This solstice marks the technical beginning of summer for the tropical island, which is 8 degrees south of the equator. Places relatively close to the equator don't see big swings in the number of hours of daylight.
David Gannon/AFP/Getty Images
Daylight decreases dramatically the closer you are to the North Pole on winter solstice.
People in balmy Singapore, only 137 kilometers or 85 miles north of the equator, could barely notice the difference, with just roughly nine fewer minutes of daylight than they have during the summer solstice. It’s pretty much a 12-hour day, give or take a handful of minutes, all year long there.
Much higher in latitude, London still logs in a respectable seven hours and 50 minutes of daylight to enjoy a chilly stroll along the Thames.
The difference is more stark in frigid Oslo, Norway, where the sun will rise at 9:18 a.m. and set at 3:12 p.m., resulting in a little under six hours of anemic daylight. Sun lamp, anyone
Residents of Nome, Alaska, will be even more sunlight deprived with just three hours and 54 minutes of very weak daylight. But that’s downright generous compared with Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. It sits inside the Arctic Circle and won’t see a single ray of sunshine.
What causes the winter solstice
These three images from NOAA's GOES East (GOES-16) satellite show us what Earth looks like from space near the winter solstice. The images were captured about 24 hours before the 2018 winter solstice.
NOAA
Because Earth is tilted on its rotational axis, we have changing seasons. As the planet moves around the sun, each hemisphere experiences winter when it’s tilted away from the sun and summer when it’s tilted toward the sun.
Scientists are not entirely sure how this occurred, but they think that billions of years ago, as the solar system was taking shape, the Earth was subject to violent collisions that caused the axis to tilt.
1. According to the article, which of the following statements about the winter solstice is true
A. It always occurs on December 21.
B. The exact time of the winter solstice can vary by a day due to the difference between the solar year and the calendar year.
C. The winter solstice marks the longest night in the Southern Hemisphere but not in the Northern Hemisphere.
D. The winter solstice is celebrated more widely in the Southern Hemisphere.
2. The underlined word “stark” in Paragraph 14 is closest in meaning to _____.
A. significant B. slight C. unusual D. strange
3. Which place experiences the least change in daylight hours around the winter solstice
A. Yokohama, Japan B. Bangkok, Thailand C. Singapore D. Oslo, Norway
4. What is the main cause of the changing seasons on Earth
A. The Earth’s rotation around the sun. B. The Earth’s tilt on its rotational axis.
C. The distance between the Earth and the sun. D. The shape and size of the Earth.
二、语法填空。（共2节，每节10小题，每小题1.5分，共记30分）（重难点-并列连词/定语从句/派生/介词搭配/冠词/非谓语作状语和定语/特殊句式，难度：1.钻石 2.黄金——题源：美国有线电视新闻网CNN 2024-12-18 EST12:24 ）
Winter solstice traditions
An Indigenous man performs the Palo Volador (Flying Pole) in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, on December 20, 2023. Palo Volador is a pre-Hispanic tradition in Guatemala to help welcome the winter solstice.
Emmanuel Andres/AFP/Getty Images
It’s no surprise 1 many cultures and religions celebrate 2 holiday – whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa 3 pagan festivals – 4 coincides with the return of longer days.
Ancient peoples 5 survival depended on a precise knowledge of seasonal cycles marked this first day of winter with elaborate ceremonies and celebrations. Spiritually, these celebrations symbolize the opportunity for 6 (renew).
“Christmas takes many of its customs and probably its date on the calendar 7 the pagan Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Kalends,” Maria Kennedy, assistant teaching professor in the Department of American Studies at Rutgers University, told CNN Travel in an email.
Saturnalia started on December 17 and Kalends started on January 1, said Kennedy, who specializes in Christmas studies.
8 (cite) academic research, Kennedy said early founders of the Christian church condemned the practices of these holidays, 9 their popularity endured. Christian observance of Christmas eventually aligned around the same time in the calendar even though there’s no specific date 10 (set) in the Gospels for the birth of Jesus.
Here’s more on a few of those ancient customs:
Alban Arthan
A group sings and dances as the sun rises during the winter solstice at Newgrange, Ireland, on December 21, 2023. Newgrange, a 5,200-year-old “passage tomb,” was built so that direct sunlight enters the monument through a small opening on winter solstice, illuminating an inner chamber for 17 minutes.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
In the Welsh language, “Alban Arthan” means for “Light of Winter,” according to the Farmers’ Almanac. It might be the oldest seasonal festival of humankind. Part of Druidic traditions, the winter solstice is considered 1 time of death and rebirth.
Newgrange, a prehistoric monument 2 (build) in Ireland around 3200 BC, 3 (associate) with the Alban Arthan festival.
Saturnalia
In Ancient Rome, Saturnalia lasted for seven days. It honored Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture.
The people enjoyed carnival-like festivities 4 (resemble) modern Mardi Gras celebrations 5 even delayed their war-making. Slaves were given temporary freedoms, and moral restrictions were eased. Saturnalia continued 6 the third and fourth centuries AD.
Dongzhi
Tourists receive free dumplings in celebration of the winter solstice, or Dongzhi, at a ski resort in Fukang City in northwestern China.
Xinhua/Shutterstock
It’s not just ancient Europeans 7 marked the annual occasion. The Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival has its roots in ancient Chinese culture. The name translates roughly 8 “extreme of winter.”
They thought this was the apex of yin (from Chinese medicine theory). Yin represents darkness and cold and 9 (still), thus the longest day of winter.
Dongzhi marks the return of yang — and the slow ascendance of light and warmth. Dumplings are usually eaten 10 (celebrate) in some East Asian cultures.
【参考答案】
一、阅读理解
1. B 根据文章第二段，“The solstice usually – but not always – takes place on December 21. The date that the solstice occurs can move forward or back by a day because the solar year (the time it takes for the sun to reappear in the same spot as seen from Earth) doesn’t match up exactly to our calendar year.”可知，冬至通常但不总是在12月21日发生，日期可能会提前或推后一天，因为太阳年（太阳从地球上看到的同一位置再次出现所需的时间）与我们的公历年并不完全吻合。因此，B选项是正确的。
2. A 在第八段中，“stark”用来形容奥斯陆与新加坡等地日照时长差异的显著性，因此最接近的意思是“显著的”（significant）。
3. C 根据文章倒数第四段，“Places relatively close to the equator don't see big swings in the number of hours of daylight.”以及后文提到的新加坡，可以推断出靠近赤道的地方在冬至时日照时长变化最小，因此C选项“新加坡”是正确的。
4. B 根据文章最后一段，“Because Earth is tilted on its rotational axis, we have changing seasons.”可知，地球在其自转轴上的倾斜是季节变化的主要原因，因此B选项是正确的。
二、语法填空
1. that a or that/which whose
renewal from Citing but set
2. a built is associated resembling and
into who/that as stillness to celebrate
【长难句分析】
It’s no surprise that many cultures and religions celebrate a holiday – whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or pagan festivals – that coincides with the return of longer days.
1. 主句
主语：It（形式主语，真正的主语是后面的that从句），谓语：is， 表语：no surprise
2. 从句
2.1 主语从句（that从句）
引导词：that（无实义，仅起连接作用），主语：many cultures and religions，谓语：celebrate，宾语：a holiday，这个that从句是句子的真正主语，它说明了“不令人惊讶的是什么”。
2.2 定语从句（that从句的宾语a holiday的修饰语）
先行词：a holiday，引导词：that或which（在这里作为关系代词，指代先行词a holiday），从句主语：（省略了的关系代词that，即a holiday），从句谓语：coincides，从句宾语：with the return of longer days。这个that从句作为定语修饰a holiday，说明了这些节日的一个共同特点，即它们都与白天变长的时间相吻合。
3. 插入语
插入语：whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or pagan festivals
这个插入语是对a holiday的进一步说明，列举了不同文化和宗教庆祝的节日。注意，这里的whether it be是一种口语化的表达，换成whether it is没有问题。但在这个语境中，whether it be更为常见和口语化，传达了一种文学化的语气。这种结构在诗歌、散文或一些正式的演讲中尤为常见，因为它能够以一种优雅而流畅的方式表达多个选项。
4. 句子意义
这个句子的意思是：“许多文化和宗教都庆祝与白天变长相对应的节日，这并不令人惊讶。”它强调了不同文化和宗教在庆祝节日时的一个共同特点，即这些节日往往与自然界的变化（如白天变长）相关联。
5. 写作借鉴
句子以It's no surprise that开头，这是一个常见的句型，用于表达某件事情是显而易见的或不出所料的，可以作为非常好用的一个高级句型用在应用文写作的开头。类似的名词性从句还有：
It is clear that…(很清楚...)【清】
It is obvious that…(很明显...)【明】
There is no doubt that…(毫无疑问...)【疑】
No one can deny that…(不可否认…)【否】
Needless to say…(不用说…)【不用】
It goes without saying that…(不用说…)【走】
【词汇巩固】
重点核心高考高频词汇
to grow steadily shorter
the Northern Hemisphere
reverse
solstice
equinox
fascinate
intermix
latitude
business-oriented
the most southerly
southerly
overhead
the Tropic of Capricorn
occur
spot
super
precise
observation
coordinate
universal
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
handy
conversion
conversion table
plug
plug in
convert
one or two minutes off from
the setting sun
equator
swings
the number of
dramatically
the North Pole
barely
notice the difference
roughly
a handful of
all year long
log
log in
respectable
chilly
resulting in
resident
generous
sit in/inside
the Arctic Circle
ray
satellite
capture
rotate
rotational
axis
entirely
take shape
be subject to
violent
collision
It’s no surprise that...
whether ...or...
survival
marked ...with...
ceremony
Spiritually
renewal
takes ... from...
specialize
specialize in
cite
condemn
practice v. n.
practical adj.
endure
eventually
monument
mean for
rebirth
associate
be associated with
last for
carnival
resemble
delay
temporary
freedom
restriction
continue into
resort
occasion
to have one's roots in...
translate vt. vi.
extreme
represent
still adj.
stillness
to grow steadily shorter
音标: /tu ɡro sted li t r/
释义: 逐渐变短
例句: The days are growing steadily shorter as winter approaches.
the Northern Hemisphere
音标: / n r rn hem sf r/
释义: 北半球
例句: The Northern Hemisphere experiences winter during the southern summer.
reverse
音标: /r v rs/
释义: 反转；颠倒
例句: The car reversed into the parking space.
solstice
音标: / sɑ lst s/
释义: 至点（指冬至或夏至）
例句: The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
equinox
音标: / i kw nɑ ks/
释义: 春分或秋分
例句: The equinox marks the point when day and night are equal in length.
fascinate
音标: / f s ne t/
释义: 使着迷；使感兴趣
例句: The ancient ruins fascinated the tourists with their history and beauty.
intermixes (注意通常使用“intermix”的第三人称单数形式时，结尾加-es，但更常见的是直接使用“intermix”)
音标: / nt r m ks/
释义: 混合；混杂
例句: The colors intermix to create a beautiful painting.
latitude
音标: / l t tju d/
释义: 纬度
例句: The city is located at a latitude of 40 degrees north.
business-oriented
音标: / b zn s o ri nted/
释义: 以商业为导向的
例句: The company is business-oriented and always looking for new opportunities.
the most southerly
音标: / m st sa rli/
释义: 最南端的
例句: The most southerly point of the continent is Cape Agulhas.
southerly
音标: / sa rli/
释义: 南方的；向南的
例句: The southerly wind brought colder weather to the region.
overhead
音标: / o v r hed/ 或 / v r hed/ (美式和英式略有不同)
释义: 在头上方的；头顶上的；经营成本（尤指租金、工资等）
例句: The overhead lights were dimmed for the movie. (头顶的灯为了看电影被调暗了。)
the Tropic of Capricorn
音标: / trɑ p k v k pr k n/
释义: 北回归线（地球上的一个纬线圈，位于北纬23°26'）
例句: The Tropic of Capricorn passes through several countries in Asia and Africa. (北回归线穿过亚洲和非洲的几个国家。)
occur
音标: / k r/
释义: 发生；出现
例句: The accident occurred on a busy highway. (事故发生在一条繁忙的高速公路上。)
spot
音标: /spɑ t/
释义: 斑点；地点；认出；发现
例句: She spotted a rare bird in the garden. (她在花园里发现了一只稀有鸟类。)
super
音标: / su p r/
释义: 超级的；极好的
例句: The new smartphone is super fast. (这款新智能手机速度极快。)
precise
音标: /pr sa s/
释义: 精确的；明确的
例句: The instructions were given in a precise and clear manner. (指令以精确且清晰的方式给出。)
observation
音标: / ɑ bz r ve n/
释义: 观察；评论
例句: Her observations about the inefficiencies in the workflow were spot on. (她对工作流程中效率低下的观察非常准确。)
coordinate (作动词时)
音标: /ko rd ne t/
释义: 协调；使配合
例句: The team members need to coordinate their efforts to complete the project on time. (团队成员需要协调他们的努力以按时完成项目。)
(作名词时，表示“坐标”，音标和释义会有所不同)
universal
音标: / ju n v rs l/
释义: 普遍的；通用的
例句: The company's policies are designed to be universal and applicable to all employees. (公司的政策是普遍适用的，适用于所有员工。)
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
音标: /ko rd ne t d ju n v rs l ta m/
释义: 协调世界时（一种国际时间标准）
例句: The meeting will start at 2 PM UTC. (会议将在协调世界时下午2点开始。)
handy
音标: / h ndi/
释义: 方便的；手巧的
例句: Having a smartphone is really handy for staying in touch with friends. (拥有智能手机真的很方便，可以随时与朋友保持联系。)
conversion
音标: /k n v r n/
释义: 转换；转变
例句: The company is planning a conversion of its manufacturing processes to be more environmentally friendly. (公司计划将其制造过程转变为更加环保的方式。)
conversion table
音标: /k n v r n te bl/
释义: 转换表（用于不同单位或系统之间的转换）
例句: The conversion table helped me understand how to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. (转换表帮助我理解如何将摄氏度转换为华氏度。)
plug
音标: /pl ɡ/
释义: 塞子；插头
例句: Make sure to unplug the appliance before cleaning it. (在清洁电器之前，一定要拔掉插头。)
plug in
音标: / pl ɡ n/
释义: 插上（插头）；接入（电源）
例句: I need to plug in my laptop to charge it. (我需要插上笔记本电脑来充电。)
convert
音标: /k n v rt/ 或 / kɑ nv rt/ (美式和英式略有不同)
释义: 转换；使改变（信仰、态度等）
例句: The company decided to convert its old factory into a modern office building. (公司决定将其旧工厂改造成现代化的办公楼。)
one or two minutes off from
释义: 与...相差一两分钟
例句: The clock in my office is a few minutes off from the one on my phone. (我办公室里的钟与我手机上的钟相差几分钟。)
the setting sun
音标: / set s n/
释义: 落日的；夕阳
例句: We watched the setting sun cast a golden glow over the mountains. (我们看着落日给群山披上了一层金色的光辉。)
equator
音标: / kwe t r/
释义: 赤道（地球上的一个纬线圈，将地球分为南北半球）
例句: The equator divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. (赤道将地球分为北半球和南半球。)
swings (swing的第三人称单数形式)
音标: /sw z/
释义: 摇摆；摆动；转变（意见、态度等）
例句: The pendulum swings back and forth. (钟摆来回摆动。)
the number of
释义: ...的数量
例句: The number of students attending the event was surprisingly high. (参加活动的学生数量出乎意料地高。)
dramatically
音标: /dr m t k li/
释义: 戏剧性地；显著地；大幅地
例句: The company's profits increased dramatically last year. (公司去年的利润大幅增加。)
the North Pole
音标: / n rθ po l/
释义: 北极（地球的最北端）
例句: Many explorers have dreamed of reaching the North Pole. (许多探险家都梦想着到达北极。)
barely
音标: / berli/
释义: 仅仅；几乎不
例句: He barely had enough money to buy a meal. (他几乎没有足够的钱买一顿饭。)
notice the difference
释义: 注意到区别
例句: After using the new software, I noticed a significant difference in performance. (在使用了新软件后，我注意到了性能上的显著差异。)
roughly
音标: / r fli/
释义: 大约；粗略地
例句: The meeting is expected to last roughly two hours. (会议预计将持续大约两个小时。)
a handful of
释义: 一小把；少数几个
例句: She had a handful of apples in her bag. (她包里有一小把苹果。)
all year long
释义: 全年；整年
例句: The store is open all year long. (这家商店全年营业。)
log
音标: /lɑ ɡ/
释义: 日志；原木
例句（作为日志）: He kept a detailed log of his travels. (他详细记录了他的旅行日志。)
例句（作为原木）: The lumberyard had a large supply of logs. (木材厂有大量原木供应。)
log in
音标: /lɑ ɡ n/
释义: 登录（计算机或网络系统）
例句: You need to log in to your account to access the files. (你需要登录到你的账户才能访问文件。)
respectable
音标: /r spekt bl/
释义: 可敬的；相当好的；体面的
例句: He has a respectable job and a nice family. (他有一份体面的工作和一个和睦的家庭。)
chilly
音标: / t li/
释义: 寒冷的；冷飕飕的
例句: The morning was chilly, so I wore a jacket. (早上很冷，所以我穿了件夹克。)
resulting in
释义: 导致；结果是
例句: The poor weather resulting in the cancellation of the outdoor event. (恶劣的天气导致户外活动被取消。)
resident
音标: / rez d nt/
释义: 居民；住院医生
例句: She is a permanent resident of the city. (她是这座城市的永久居民。)
generous
音标: / d en r s/
释义: 慷慨的；大方的
例句: He was generous with his time and advice. (他慷慨地给出了他的时间和建议。)
sit in/inside
释义: 位于；坐在里面；待在室内
例句: It's raining, so let's sit inside and watch a movie. (下雨了，我们待在室内看电影吧。)
注意：The town sits inside in the Arctic circle.
the Arctic Circle
音标: / ɑ rkt k s rk l/
释义: 北极圈（地球上的一个纬线圈，位于北纬66°33'）
例句: The town is located just inside the Arctic Circle. (这个小镇位于北极圈以内。)
ray
音标: /re /
释义: 光线；射线
例句: The sun's rays were warm on her skin. (阳光照在她的皮肤上感觉很温暖。)
satellite
音标: / s t la t/
释义: 卫星
例句: The scientists launched a satellite into orbit. (科学家们将一颗卫星发射到轨道上。)
capture
音标: / k pt r/
释义: 捕获；俘虏；拍摄（照片或影像）
例句: The police captured the criminal after a high-speed chase. (警方在高速追捕后捕获了罪犯。)
rotate
音标: /r te t/
释义: （使）旋转；轮转；轮流
例句: The earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. (地球每24小时绕自己的轴旋转一圈。)
rotational
音标: / r te n l/
释义: 旋转的；轮转的
例句: The company has a rotational training program for new employees. (公司为新员工提供了一个轮转培训计划。)
axis
音标: / ks s/
释义: 轴；轴线；中心线
例句: The Earth spins on its own axis. (地球绕自己的轴旋转。)
entirely
音标: / n ta li/
释义: 完全地；全部地；整个地
例句: The project was entirely funded by the government. (这个项目完全由政府资助。)
take shape
释义: 成形；逐渐显现
例句: The new building is starting to take shape. (新建筑开始成形了。)
be subject to
释义: 受...支配；受...影响；易于...的
例句: The weather in this area is subject to sudden changes. (这个地区的天气易于突然变化。)
violent
音标: / va l nt/
释义: 猛烈的；激烈的；暴力的
例句: The storm was violent and caused widespread damage. (风暴猛烈，造成了广泛破坏。)
collision
音标: /k l n/
释义: 碰撞；冲突
例句: There was a collision between two cars on the highway. (高速公路上发生了两辆车的碰撞。)
It’s no surprise that...
释义: ...并不奇怪；...是意料之中的
例句: It's no surprise that she got the job; she's the most qualified candidate. (她得到这份工作并不奇怪，她是最有资格的候选人。)
whether ...or...
释义: 无论...还是...；不管...还是...
例句: Whether you like coffee or tea, there's something for everyone. (无论你喜欢咖啡还是茶，这里都有适合每个人的选择。)
survival
音标: /s r va vl/
释义: 生存；存活；幸免于难
例句: The company's survival depends on its ability to innovate. (公司的生存取决于其创新能力。)
marked ...with...
释义: 用...标记...；在...上标出...
例句: The map was marked with important landmarks. (地图上标出了重要的地标。)
ceremony
音标: / ser m ni/
释义: 典礼；仪式；礼节
例句: The graduation ceremony was held in the school auditorium. (毕业典礼在学校礼堂举行。)
Spiritually
音标: / sp r t u li/
释义: 在精神上；精神上地
例句: She found peace and fulfillment spiritually through meditation. (她通过冥想在精神上找到了平静和满足。)
renewal
音标: /r nju l/
释义: 更新；复兴；续借
例句: The company is undergoing a renewal of its product line. (公司正在更新其产品线。)
takes ... from...
释义: 从...中取走；从...中获得
例句: The book takes many ideas from classical literature. (这本书从古典文学中汲取了许多思想。)
specialize
音标: / spe la z/
释义: 专门从事；专攻；特化
例句: She specializes in treating rare diseases. (她专门从事罕见病的治疗。)
specialize in
释义: 专攻；专门研究
例句: This university specializes in engineering. (这所大学专攻工程学。)
Cite
音标: /sa t/
释义: 引用；援引；举出
例句: In his speech, he cited several famous authors to support his argument. (他在演讲中引用了几位著名作家的言论来支持自己的观点。)
condemn
音标: /k n dem/
释义: 谴责；指责；宣告有罪
例句: The international community condemned the military coup. (国际社会谴责了这次军事政变。)
practice (v.)
音标: / pr kt s/
释义: 练习；实践；从事
例句: She practices the piano every day. (她每天练习钢琴。)
practice (n.)
释义: 练习；实践；惯例
例句: It's good to have some practice before taking the test. (考试前进行一些练习是有好处的。)
Practical (adj.)
音标: / pr kt kl/
释义: 实用的；实际的；切实可行的
例句: This is a practical solution to the problem. (这是解决这个问题的实用方法。)
endure
音标: / n d r/
释义: 忍受；持久；持续存在
例句: She endured great pain after the accident. (事故后她忍受了巨大的痛苦。)
eventually
音标: / vent u li/
释义: 最终；终于
例句: Eventually, he succeeded in passing the exam. (他最终成功地通过了考试。)
monument
音标: / m njum nt/
释义: 纪念碑；纪念物；丰碑
例句: The statue is a monument to the nation's heroes. (这座雕像是为了纪念国家的英雄们而建的。)
mean for
释义: 打算给；意味着；为...打算
例句: This gift is meant for you. (这份礼物是给你的。)
rebirth
音标: / ri b θ/
释义: 重生；复兴；再生
例句: The city is experiencing a rebirth after the earthquake. (地震后，这座城市正在经历重生。)
associate
音标: / s si t/
释义: 联系；交往；联想
例句: He associates the smell of coffee with his childhood. (他闻到咖啡的味道就会联想到自己的童年。)
be associated with
释义: 与...有关；与...相联系
例句: This company is associated with high-quality products. (这家公司因其高质量的产品而闻名。)
last for
释义: 持续；延续；维持
例句: The meeting lasted for two hours. (会议持续了两个小时。)
carnival
音标: / kɑ rn v l/
释义: 狂欢节；嘉年华会
例句: People dress up and celebrate during the carnival. (人们在狂欢节期间盛装打扮并庆祝。)
resemble
音标: /r zembl/
释义: 类似；像；与...相似
例句: She resembles her mother a lot. (她很像她的母亲。)
delay
音标: /d le /
释义: 延迟；推迟；耽搁
例句: The flight was delayed due to bad weather. (由于天气恶劣，航班被推迟了。)
temporary
音标: / temp r ri/
释义: 暂时的；临时的；短期的
例句: The job is only temporary. (这份工作只是临时的。)
freedom
音标: / fri d m/
释义: 自由；自主；自由权
例句: Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. (言论自由是一项基本权利。)
restriction
音标: /r str k n/
释义: 限制；约束；管制
例句: There are restrictions on the use of certain chemicals. (对某些化学品的使用有限制。)
continue into
释义: 继续进入；延伸到
例句: The rain continued into the next day. (雨一直下到第二天。)
resort
音标: /r z t/
释义: 胜地；度假地；求助；诉诸
例句: The beach is a popular resort for tourists. (这个海滩是游客们喜欢的度假胜地。)
(v.) 诉诸；采取（手段等）
例句: They resorted to violence when谈判broke down. (谈判失败后，他们诉诸暴力。)
occasion
音标: / ke n/
释义: 场合；时刻；机会
例句: This is a special occasion for us to celebrate. (这是我们庆祝的特殊时刻。)
to have one's roots in...
释义: 起源于...；根植于...
例句: This tradition has its roots in ancient customs. (这个传统起源于古老的习俗。)
translate (vt.)
音标: /tr ns le t/
释义: 翻译；转化；解释
例句: She translated the book from French into English. (她把这本书从法语翻译成了英语。)
translate (vi.)
释义: 被翻译；具有某种意义
例句: The poem translates well into English. (这首诗翻译成英语后效果很好。)
extreme
音标: / k stri m/
释义: 极端的；过分的；尽头的
例句: She is known for her extreme views on politics. (她以极端的政治观点而闻名。)
represent
音标: / repr zent/
释义: 代表；象征；表现
例句: He represents the company at the conference. (他代表公司出席会议。)
still (adj.)
音标: /st l/
释义: 静止的；不动的；平静的
例句: The lake was still after the storm. (暴风雨过后，湖面平静了下来。)
stillness
音标: / st ln s/
释义: 静止；平静；无声
例句: The stillness of the night was broken by a loud noise. (夜晚的宁静被一声巨响打破。)
【词汇拓展】
超纲词
balmy
stroll
anemic
stark
frigid
deprive
downright
tilt
coincide
coincide with
elaborate adj.v.
pagan
observance
align
the Gospels
Jesus
chamber
illuminate
apex
ascendance
balmy
音标：英音[ bɑ m ]，美音[ bɑ m ]
词性：形容词（adj.）
中文释义：温和的；宜人的；芳香的
英文释义：(of the air) mild and pleasant; warm and gentle
英文例句：The balmy weather made it a perfect day for a picnic. （宜人的天气让这一天成为野餐的绝佳日子。）
stroll
音标：英音[str l]，美音[stro l]
词性：名词（n.）、动词（v.）
中文释义：散步；闲逛（v.）；散步；溜达（n.）
英文释义：to walk slowly and leisurely; a leisurely walk
英文例句：After dinner, we went for a stroll in the park.（晚饭后，我们在公园里散步。）
anemic
音标：英音[ ni m k]，美音[ ni m k]
词性：形容词（adj.）
中文释义：贫血的；无力的
英文释义：suffering from anemia; lacking vigor or strength
英文例句：His anemic performance in the game disappointed his fans.（他在比赛中的无力表现让他的粉丝感到失望。）
stark
音标：英音[stɑ k]，美音[stɑ rk]
词性：形容词（adj.）、副词（adv.）
中文释义：完全的；荒凉的；光秃秃的（adj.）；完全地；明显地（adv.）
英文释义：complete or extreme; bare and desolate
英文例句：The stark contrast between the rich and the poor is evident in this city.（这个城市中穷人和富人之间的鲜明对比是显而易见的。）
frigid
音标：英音[ fr d d]，美音[ fr d d]
词性：形容词（adj.）
中文释义：寒冷的；冷淡的
英文释义：extremely cold; showing little or no warmth or enthusiasm
英文例句：She gave him a frigid smile, indicating she was not interested in him.（她给了他一个冷淡的微笑，表明她对他不感兴趣。）
deprive
音标：英音[d pra v]，美音[d pra v]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：剥夺；使丧失
英文释义：to take away something that someone has or needs; to make someone lose something
英文例句：The accident deprived him of his ability to walk.（事故剥夺了他行走的能力。）
downright
音标：英音[ da nra t]，美音[ da nra t]
词性：形容词（adj.）、副词（adv.）
中文释义：彻底的；十足的（adj.）；彻底地；十足地（adv.）
英文释义：completely or absolutely; in a thorough or extreme way
英文例句：He gave a downright refusal to their invitation.（他彻底拒绝了他们的邀请。）
tilt
音标：英音[t lt]，美音[t lt]
词性：动词（v.）、名词（n.）
中文释义：使倾斜；倾斜（v.）；倾斜；斜度（n.）
英文释义：to move or cause to move at an angle; the degree of being sloped or inclined
英文例句：The picture on the wall was slightly tilted.（墙上的画有点倾斜。）
coincide
音标：英音[ k n sa d]，美音[ ko n sa d]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：同时发生；相符
英文释义：to happen or exist at the same time; to be in agreement or harmony
英文例句：Their plans coincided, so they decided to travel together.（他们的计划相符，所以他们决定一起旅行。）
coincide with
音标：无固定音标，为短语
词性：动词短语
中文释义：与……同时发生；与……相符
英文释义：to happen or exist at the same time as something else; to be in agreement or harmony with something else
英文例句：The festival coincides with the full moon.（这个节日与满月同时发生。）
elaborate
音标：英音[ l b re t]，美音[ l b re t]
词性：形容词（adj.）、动词（v.）
中文释义：复杂的；详尽的（adj.）；详述；阐明（v.）
英文释义：complex and detailed; to explain or describe something in detail
英文例句：He elaborated on his plan for the project.（他详细阐述了他的项目计划。）
pagan
音标：英音[ pe g n]，美音[ pe ɡ n]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：异教徒；无神论者
英文释义：a person who believes in gods or spirits but not in the God of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam; a person who does not believe in any gods
英文例句：Many pagans celebrate the changing of the seasons.（许多异教徒庆祝季节的更迭。）
observance
音标：英音[ b z r ns]，美音[ b z r ns]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：遵守；奉行
英文释义：the act of following or observing rules, customs, or traditions
英文例句：The observance of religious rituals is important to many people.（对许多人来说，遵守宗教仪式很重要。）
align
音标：英音[ la n]，美音[ la n]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：使排成一行；使结盟
英文释义：to arrange in a straight line or row; to make someone or something become part of a group or system
英文例句：The company decided to align itself with industry standards.（公司决定与行业标准保持一致。）
the Gospels
中文释义：《福音书》
英文释义：the four books in the New Testament that tell the story of Jesus' life, teachings, and death
英文例句：The Gospels are an important source of information about Jesus' life and teachings.（《福音书》是关于耶稣生活和教义的重要信息来源。）
Jesus
音标：英音[ d i z s]，美音[ d i z s]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：耶稣
英文释义：the central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God and the Savior of humanity
英文例句：Jesus is an important figure in Christian history and belief.（耶稣是基督教历史和信仰中的重要人物。）
chamber
音标：英音[ t e mb r]，美音[ t e mb r]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：房间；会议室
英文释义：a room, especially one in a house or building that is used for a particular purpose; a room used for meetings
英文例句：The board met in private chamber to discuss the matter.（董事会在私密的会议室里讨论此事。）
illuminate
音标：英音[ l m ne t]，美音[ l m ne t]
词性：动词（v.）
中文释义：照亮；阐明
英文释义：to make something bright by light; to explain or clarify something
英文例句：The artist used bright colors to illuminate the painting.（艺术家使用明亮的色彩来照亮这幅画。）
apex
音标：英音[ peks]，美音[ peks]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：顶点；最高点
英文释义：the highest point of something, especially of a triangle or a mountain
英文例句：The company reached the apex of its success in the 1990s.
ascendance
音标：英音[ send ns]
词性：名词（n.）
中文释义：顶点；最高点
英文释义：the highest point of something, especially of a triangle or a mountain
英文例句：The company reached the apex of its success in the 1990s.
中文释义：上升；提升；晋升；（尤指地位、权力或影响力的）显赫
英文释义：The process or state of rising to a higher position, level, or status; the act of ascending or achieving prominence.
英文例句：His ascendance to the position of CEO marked a new chapter for the company.
注意：
“stark”是一个英语形容词，其基本含义包括“光秃秃的”、“荒凉的”、“明显的”、“鲜明的”以及“严峻的”等。在原文句子”The difference is more stark in frigid Oslo, Norway...”中，“more stark”虽然不是“stark”的标准比较级形式，但在非正式或口语化的语境中，这样的用法是可以被接受的。
【首字母填空练习题】
The weather today is surprisingly b___ (温暖而宜人的，通常指气候温和、宜人).
They took a leisurely s___ (漫步，闲逛) through the park on Sunday afternoon.
His pale complexion and lack of energy made him look quite a___ (贫血的，缺乏活力的).
The two events did not c___ (同时发生，一致).
The p___ (异教徒，非基督教徒) rituals were seen as strange by the locals.
She gave an e___ (详尽阐述的，精细的) description of the incident.
The old house had a cozy c___ (房间，尤指卧室或会议室等).
The sun began to i___ (照亮，阐明) the landscape as dawn broke.
His a___ (顶点，最高点) as a musician came when he won the Grammy Award.
The report's findings d___ (剥夺，使丧失) us of our hope for a quick solution.
The room was decorated in a s_____ (冷酷的，严寒的) manner, with no warm colors or soft textures.
He gave a d_____ (直截了当的，彻底的) refusal when asked to help with the project.
The painting on the wall seemed to be slightly t_____ (倾斜，使倾斜).
The festival is a time of o_____ (遵守，奉行) traditional customs and rituals.
Please a_____ (使成一线，排列) the chairs along the wall so that everyone can sit comfortably.
His a_____ (上升，提升) to the position of CEO was a result of years of hard work and dedication.
During winter, the weather in this place is exceptionally f , making it unbearable.
答案： balmy, stroll, anemic, coincide, pagan, elaborate, chamber, illuminate, apex, deprive, stark, downright, tilted, observance, align, ascendance, frigid
【某世纪报2024.12.16 Senior 2 总第967期 有同主题文章】