精彩對白：Katie: Are you saying "not now" about kids or not ever? David: Not ever. Katie: David...is there something wrong with you? David: Yeah. There is something wrong with me.

什么是baby shower

Although the custom of helping expectant parents plan for a new baby has been a tradition for centuries, the origin of the modern baby shower is unknown. There is evidence that ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and the Romans, often bestowed small gifts upon newborn children, or presented the parents with a hand-made gift after the child was born. However, baby showers as we know them today were not common until after World War II - possibly one of the first manifestations of the baby boom. 

Baby showers have always served several purposes. They allow friends and family to share the joy and excitement of welcoming a new life into the world, and they provide emotional support to new parents. It is not uncommon for an expectant mother or father to be nervous about their new role as a parent. A friendly word of advice from a friend or family member can be extremely helpful, and the presence of everyone who attends the shower is a supportive gesture that many appreciate.

The expense of a baby can put quite a strain on a couple's budget, especially if the mother will no longer be working. Baby showers offer a chance for friends and family to help expectant parents with the costs of preparing for and caring for a newborn. New parents always need both fun and practical things, and hand-made gifts or toys create memories that last a lifetime.

Traditionally, baby showers were celebrated by a new mother and only her closest friends after the baby had been born.

At the time, it was considered presumptuous to hold a baby shower before the child was born (which is still the case in some cultures.) Over time, however, old traditions have relaxed, allowing for "couple showers" to which men are invited, and celebrations in the workplace that co-workers can attend. It is no longer necessary to wait until the baby is born, unless the mother-to-be prefers to wait until after she has given birth.

就像準新娘在新婚前夕的“新娘送禮派對”bridal shower一樣，“新生兒送禮派對”baby shower就是為了慶祝新生兒誕生所舉辦的溫馨派對。shower原意是“陣雨”的意思，但是baby shower上，其實沒有baby也沒有水。

在這里指baby得到大批禮物，或許是因為禮物多得像大雨中的雨點。當一個婦女懷了baby后，她的親朋好友會聚在一起，送baby很多衣服、玩具等禮物。

Baby shower由來已久，早在美國殖民地時代，婦女們就聚集在準媽媽的家中，一邊縫制嬰兒衣服、裁剪尿片，一邊傳授育兒經。在商品發達的今天，嬰兒用品應有盡有，凡想得到的都買得到。大家都帶著精心選購的禮物來到派對的場所，或是主辦人的家中，或是公司里，或是教堂內。即將出世的寶寶若是個男孩，那么房間布置會是藍色調；若是個女孩，則是粉色調。房內最寬大舒適的椅子一定是準媽媽的“寶座”， 椅子上還會系著一串串藍色氣球或粉色氣球。

準備一場新生兒送禮派對要花費很多心思，主辦人大多是準媽媽的好朋友，主辦人要一手包辦邀請函、派對主題、布置、餐點、賓客的小禮物等等。來參加的賓客，也是以準媽媽的女性親友為主。

在派對上，賓客除了問候準媽媽外，主辦人也會帶著大家玩小游戲，讓大家和準媽媽互動起來，或者彼此多認識，小游戲的贏家也會另外得到獎品。Baby shower的壓軸好戲是拆禮物的時間，準媽媽看到大家帶來的禮物，驚喜之余也會感謝大家幫忙省下許多嬰兒用品的費用。（來源：CRI實用英語課堂）

考考你

1. 形勢會好轉的。

2. 他迷途知返，成了一個好青年。

3. 一堆沒出息的家伙，給我停手。

4. 他的額外津貼包括公司提供的一輛汽車。

《所有美好的東西》精講之二 參考答案

1. They often argue but it doesn't take them long to come round.

2. Speak of the devil, here she is!

3. Many countries subsidize exports.

4. After the excitement I tried to settle myself.

精彩對白：Katie: Are you saying "not now" about kids or not ever? David: Not ever. Katie: David...is there something wrong with you? David: Yeah. There is something wrong with me.

（中國日報網英語點津：陳丹妮）

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