Examples of these types of legacies are the following: (specific legacy) “I bequeath to my son A. B. my watch and all my jewelry”; (general legacy) “I bequeath to my son A. B. the sum of $1,000”; (demonstrative legacy) “I bequeath to my son A. B. the sum of $1,000 payable to him out of the proceeds of the securities of company X that I may own at the time of my death.” (From the Microsoft Encarta 1993-2003)

Valentine’s Day — A Day to Express Your Love

Valentine’s Day is a special day observed on February 14. On this day, people send greeting cards called valentines to their sweethearts, friends, and members of their families. Many valentines have romantic verses, and others have humorous pictures and sayings. Many say, “Be my valentine.”

For weeks before February 14, stores sell valentines and valentine decorations. Schoolchildren decorate their classrooms with paper hearts and lace for the occasion. On Valentine’s Day, many people give candy, flowers, and other gifts to their friends.

In the United States and Canada, children exchange valentines with their friends. In some schools, the children hold a classroom party and put all the valentines into a box they have decorated. At the end of the day, the teacher or one child distributes the cards. Many children make their own valentines from paper doilies, red paper, wallpaper samples, and pictures cut from magazines. Sometimes they buy kits that include everything needed to make valentines. Many children send their largest, fanciest cards to their parents and teachers.

Older students hold Valentine’s Day dances and parties. They make candy baskets, gifts, and place cards trimmed with hearts and fat, winged children called cupids. Many people send flowers, a box of candy, or some other gift to their wives, husbands, or sweethearts. Most valentine candy boxes are heart shaped and tied with red ribbon.

In Europe, people celebrate Valentine’s Day in many ways. British children sing special Valentine’s Day songs and receive gifts of candy, fruit, or money. In some areas of England, people bake valentine buns with caraway seeds, plums, or raisins. People in Italy hold a Valentine’s Day feast.

In Britain and Italy, some unmarried women get up before sunrise on Valentine’s Day. They stand by the window watching for a man to pass. They believe that the first man they see, or someone who looks like him, will marry them within a year. William Shakespeare, the English playwright, mentions this belief in Hamlet (1603). Ophelia, a woman in the play, sings: Good morrow! ’This St. Valentine’s Day

All in the morning be time, And I a maid at your window, To be your valentine!

In Denmark, people send pressed white flowers called snowdrops to their friends. Danish men also send a type of valentine called a gaekkebrev (joking letter). The sender writes a rhyme but does not sign his name. Instead, he signs the valentine with dots, one dot for each letter of his name. If the woman who gets it guesses his name, he rewards her with an Easter egg on Easter. Some people in Great Britain also send valentines signed with dots. (From the 1998 World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia)

2. Starter

Have you ever written or received a love note? Believe it or not, this oldest

form of expressing love still works the best in the modern world. Suppose you are going to write a love note. What would you want to say to your lover? Discuss this with your classmates.

3. A list of important new words

(1). depth n.

distance, measurement, downwards or inwards; quality or fact of being deep 深度；（感情的）深厚，深切；（兴趣等的）强烈；（印象等的）深刻 (2). conference n.

meeting for discussion or exchange of views 会议；讨论会，协商会 (3). insurance n.

(contract made by a company or society, or by the state, to provide a) guarantee of compensation for loss, damage, sickness, death, etc. in return for regular payment; business of providing such contracts; payment made by or to such a company, etc. 保险（契约）；保险业；保险金；保险费 (4). deed n.

act; thing done; document or agreement, esp. about ownership of sth. 行为；行动；契约；证书 (5). funeral n.

ceremony for burying or burning a dead body 葬礼

(6). stack n. capital of a company which is divided into shares; money lent to a government at a fixed rate of interest 资本，股本；股份；股票；公债 (7). engagement n. agreement to marry 订婚

(8). priceless a. too valuable to be priced 无价的；极其珍贵的

(9). mature a. fully grown or developed mentally or physically 充分发育的；成熟的

(10). fortunate a. having good fortune; lucky 交好运的；幸运的 (11). present sb. with sth.表示“将某物授予或赠予某人”。

(12). keep one’s distance: stay away (from sb./sth.); be cool (towards sb.); avoid being friendly (to sb.)（与某人/某物）保持距离；保持冷淡； 保持疏远 (13). as well as: in addition to; and also 除?之外（也）；和

(14). stare at: look at (sb./sth.) in a fixed gaze with the eyes wide open 瞪着眼睛凝视；盯着看

(15). as for: in regard to; speaking of; concerning 至于；说到；关于

3. Language Points

(1) depth n.

distance, measurement, downwards or inwards; quality or fact of being deep 深度；（感情的）深厚，深切；（兴趣等的）强烈；（印象等的）深刻 They had not realized the depth of their feelings for one another. 他们还没有意识到他们彼此之间的感情之深。 Nobody knew the depth of her love for the child. 谁也不知道她对这孩子的爱有多深。

(2) Until the lawyer read her will, I never fully appreciated the depth of the old lady’s love.

直到律师宣读她遗嘱的那一刻，我才充分感受到这位老妇人深深的爱。

In the sentence the subordinate clause (从句) “Until the lawyer read her will” precedes the main clause (主句) “I never fully appreciated the depth of the old lady’s love.” The sentence pattern “never” or “not… until” means “not… before a specified time.” 本句中，从句在主句之前, 句型never或not… until表示“直到…才”。

We can’t go until Thursday. 我们要到星期四才能去。

Until then, I knew nothing at all about it. 在那以前，我对这事一无所知。

(3). It was a moment I will never forget — a day that made me the richest kid in town. 这是一个我永生难忘的时刻——这一天，我成了镇上最富有的孩子。 In this sentence, “I will never forget” serves as the attributive clause (定语从句) of “a moment,” with the relative pronoun (关系代词) “that” or “which” omitted. The part after the dash (破折号) serves as an appositive (同位语)，which further explains “a moment I will never forget.” 本句中，I will never forget作a moment的定语从句，省略了关系代词that或which。破折号后面的成分作a moment I will never forget的同位语，起解释说明的作用。

(4). She also left them the deed to her house, her bank account, a few shares of

stock in the local Gas and Electric Company, as well as the American flag she was presented with at Grandpa Edwin’s military funeral.

她还给他们留下了房子的契约、银行账户、当地电气公司的少许股票，以及一面美国国旗。这面国旗是在美国军方为爱德温外公举行葬礼时授予她的。 The conjunction “as well as” means “in addition, and also,” with the emphasis upon what is before “as well as.”

连词 as well as 表示“除…之外(也)，和”，强调 as well as 前面的部分。 It is important for you as well as for me. 这对你我都很重要。

Sally as well as Jane is working at this restaurant. 赛莉和简都在这家餐馆工作。 she was presented with at Grandpa Edwin’s military funeral作the American flag的定语从句。短语present sb. with sth.表示“将某物授予或赠予某人”。 They presented flowers to their teacher. 他们献花给老师。

The mayor presented a silver cup to the winner.

或：The mayor presented the winner with a silver cup. 市长把银杯授予了获胜者。 (5) conference n.

meeting for discussion or exchange of views 会议；讨论会，协商会 a press/news conference 记者招待会

The conference will be held in New York. 会议将在纽约召开。 (6) insurance n.

(contract made by a company or society, or by the state, to provide a) guarantee of compensation for loss, damage, sickness, death, etc. in return for regular payment; business of providing such contracts; payment made by or to such a company, etc. 保险（契约）；保险业；保险金；保险费 labor insurance 劳动保险

an insurance company 保险公司 She received ￡2,000 insurance. 她得到2000英镑的保险金。

Have you bought insurance on your house? 你为房子买保险了吗？ (7) Deed n.

act; thing done; document or agreement, esp. about ownership of sth. 行为；行动；契约；证书

His deeds do not agree with his words. 他言行不一。

Do you have the deed to the house?