《新版新概念英语第二册(英音)Lesson (96)》歌词

[00:00:01] --- Lesson 96 The dead return

[00:00:06] --- First listen and then answer the question.

[00:00:12] --- What happens to the lanterns at the end of the festival?

[00:00:19] A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan.

[00:00:24] This festival is a cheerful occasion,

[00:00:27] for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living.

[00:00:35] As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them.

[00:00:42] Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way.

[00:00:50] All night long, people dance and sing.

[00:00:54] In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea

[00:01:02] as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it.

[00:01:07] In towns that are near the sea,

[00:01:10] the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before,are placed into the water when the festival is over.

[00:01:20] Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world.

[00:01:30] This is a moving spectacle,

[00:01:32] for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.