A Christmas Carol 聖誕頌‏

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is considered a classic. It was written in 1843 and became an immediate hit. The popularity of the story helped bring back lost traditional Christmas values, such as love and kindness. The main character in the story is Ebenezer Scrooge. For years as a businessman, Scrooge had only pursued wealth. He had lost the value of friendship, love, and, most of all, Christmas spirit.
查爾斯‧狄更斯的《聖誕頌》（又譯：小氣財神）被視為經典名作。本書著於1843年，並立刻造成轟動。故事受歡迎和普及的程度，幫助人們重拾傳統的聖誕價值觀，像是愛和慈善。故事的主角是伊本芮塞‧史克魯奇。身為多年的商人，史克魯奇只追求財富。他早已失去友誼及愛情的價值觀，最重要的是，他失去了聖誕精神。
The story of A Christmas Carol begins on Christmas Eve. It is the seventh anniversary of Scrooge's old business partner's death. Scrooge and his employee, Bob Cratchit, are counting money in his office. Bob asks if he can take the rest of the day off. Scrooge agrees but is angry about it. When Scrooge gets home that night, he is surprised when the ghost of his old partner shows up to warn him. If Scrooge's bad attitude towards others continues, he will also end up being a miserable old ghost.
《聖誕頌》的故事始於一個聖誕夜。當天正是史克魯奇生意上老夥伴逝世的七週年。史克魯奇和他的員工鮑伯‧柯烈契特正在辦公室裡算錢。鮑伯問說他當天剩下的時間能否休假。史克魯奇雖同意，但卻很生氣。當晚，當史克魯奇回家看見他老搭擋的鬼魂現身來警告他時，他簡直嚇了一大跳。假使史克魯奇對別人惡劣的態度持續下去，他最後也會變成一個可悲的老鬼。 
 
 
 
Building Your Vocabulary 
 
 
 
1.immediate　a. 立即的
The victims need our immediate help.
受害者需要我們立即的援助。
2.pursue　vt. 追求
James forgot who he really was while pursuing fame.
詹姆士在追求名望時迷失了自我。
3.warn　vt. 警告
Jeff warned me not to press this button. 
傑夫警告我不要按這個按鈕。
4.miserable　a. 極不愉快的；痛苦的
Al is feeling miserable because he has a cold.
艾爾感冒了，所以他很不舒服。 
 
 
 
Phrases for Learning 
 
1.bring back... 　　恢復……
Some people suggest bringing back the electric chair to reduce the crime rate.
有些人建議恢復使用電椅來減低犯罪率。
2.show up 　　出現
All of Betty's friends showed up at her party.
貝蒂的朋友全都出現在她的派對上。 
 
 
 
參考字詞 
 
1.carol　n.（耶誕）頌歌；讚美詩
2.popularity　n. 流行；受歡迎
3.anniversary　n. 週年紀念
4.employee　n. 僱員
5.attitude　n. 態度 
 
 
 
Tips In Use 
 
Bob asks if he can take the rest of the day off. 
（鮑伯問說他當天剩下的時間能否休假。）
有關『請假』的片語，尚有下列：
take a leave of absence　請假
apply/ask for leave　　請假
take sick leave　　請病假
on personal leave　　事假中
on sick leave　　病假中
on vacation　　　休假中
I want to apply for personal leave.
（我想請事假。）