Luis國際資訊事務所

　　Pumpkins are a big part of North American culture. As food, they are used in pies, soups, and other dishes. Today, people don't eat as much pumpkin as they used to, but this fruit is still a part of two important holidays—Thanksgiving and Halloween. Pumpkins are harvested in autumn, around the times when Halloween and Thanksgiving are celebrated. This is the reason they are used for fun events and activities during these times. The most popular pumpkin activity that crosses everyone's mind instantly is of course pumpkin carving.

　　At Halloween time, many people carve faces into pumpkins. A carved pumpkin is called a jack-o-lantern1. Traditionally, lit candles are placed inside pumpkins so that the faces glow. However, if carving or eating pumpkins isn't for you, there are still other ways to enjoy them. For instance, in Delaware, US, there is a three-day festival called World Punkin' Chunkin' Championships2. The goal of the event is to throw a pumpkin as far as possible. This competition has nothing to do with people's arm strength, though. Competitors build machines that throw the pumpkins into the air. The machines that people build are both bizarre3 and amazing. Pumpkin chucking4 is very popular, with regular championships being held in the US and Europe. One of the few rules is that the pumpkin has to stay whole until it lands. If it explodes in mid-air5, it is called "pumpkin pie in the sky."



　　南瓜在北美洲的文化裡佔有很重要的地位。它們作為食物時，可以用來製成派、濃湯、以及其它料理。現今的人們不像以往會吃那麼多南瓜，但這種蔬果仍舊是 兩大節日－－感恩節與萬聖節的一部份。南瓜於秋天收成，也就大約是慶祝萬聖節和感恩節的時節。這就是為什麼每年在這些時刻的許多趣味活動中都會運用到南 瓜。一提到最受歡迎的南瓜活動時，每個人腦海中立即浮現的則非雕刻南瓜莫屬。

　　萬聖節時期，許多人會在南瓜上頭雕刻臉孔。一顆雕刻好的南瓜稱為南瓜燈籠（或稱傑克南瓜燈）。傳統上，南瓜裡會放置點燃的蠟燭好讓臉孔發光。但如果您 不太喜歡雕刻或吃南瓜，仍有其它方式可以享受它們帶來的樂趣。舉例來說，在美國德拉瓦州，有一個為期三天的節慶叫做World Punkin' Chunkin' Championships。此活動的目標是要把南瓜扔得越遠越好。不過這個競賽和人們的臂力倒沒什麼關聯。競賽者而是得建造機器來把南瓜扔向空中。人們 建造的機器可說是無奇不有、驚人無比。投擲南瓜的活動相當盛行，美國與歐洲各地都固定會舉行這類的錦標賽。比賽的少數規則之一就是在南瓜落地前都要保持完 整無缺。如果南瓜在半空中就爆裂開來，便稱作『空中南瓜派』。

1. harvest　vt. 收穫，收割
I harvested the fruit before it was too ripe.
我趕在水果過熟以前將它們採收起來。
2. instantly　adv. 立即，馬上
The lifeguard saved the little girl instantly.
那名救生員立即救起了那個小女孩。
3. carve　vt. 雕刻 （本文中亦以過去分詞作形容詞用）
The statue was carved out of marble.
那座雕像是用大理石雕刻而成的。
4. light　vt. 點燃（本文中以過去分詞作形容詞用，三態為：light, lit, lit。）
Samuel lit a candle during the blackout.
山繆在停電時點了一根蠟燭。
5. glow　vi. 發光
We saw a light glowing in the house.
我們看見屋內有盞燈亮著。
6. land　vi. 落下；降落，著陸
A helicopter just landed in our schoolyard.
一架直升機剛剛降落在我們學校的操場上。

1. cross + 所有格 + mind　　（某人）腦海中想到
It never crossed my mind that Eason might say bad things about me.
我從沒想過伊森會說我的壞話。
2. For instance, 主詞 + 動詞　　例如……
Ted is a responsible person. For instance, he always completes his work on time.
泰德很負責任。譬如說，他總是能如期完成他的工作。

1. cross + 所有格 + mind　　（某人）腦海中想到
It never crossed my mind that Eason might say bad things about me.
我從沒想過伊森會說我的壞話。
2. For instance, 主詞 + 動詞　　例如……
Ted is a responsible person. For instance, he always completes his work on time.
泰德很負責任。譬如說，他總是能如期完成他的工作。

1. jack-o-lantern　n. 南瓜燈籠
2. championship　n. 錦標賽，冠軍賽
3. bizarre　a. 奇異的，古怪的
4. chuck　vt. 拋，扔
5. mid-air　n. 半空中

...throw a pumpkin as far as possible.
（……把南瓜扔得越遠越好。）
as + 副詞∕形容詞 + as possible
= as + 副詞∕形容詞 + as + 人 + can
（某人）盡可能……
You should finish your work as soon as possible.
= You should finish your work as soon as you can.
（你應該盡快完成你的工作。）
Sam made his speech as short as possible.
= Sam made his speech as short as he could.
（山姆使他的演講盡可能地精簡。）