BBC随身英语:Fireworks for a Diamond Queen 女王钻禧庆典烟花秀

Sunday Lunch is a great British tradition and The Big Jubilee Lunch aimed to re-kindle a sense of community with people all over the UK sharing lunch with neighbours and friends in street parties or picnics to celebrate the Queen's 60-year reign. At these lunches, people have been tucking into some Great British food - pies, roasts, fish and chips, cream teas... even jellied eels.

Another highlight of the weekend festivities was The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant with more than 1,000 boats – traditional and modern – escorting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh aboard a specially decorated Royal barge. Red, white and blue – the colours of the Union Jack – adorned bridges and buildings with sounds of church bells and foghorns floating along the River.

Monday evening brings music and light to Buckingham Palace. A special pop concert featuring artists including Elton John, Paul McCartney and Ed Sheeran is followed by a spectacular firework display. No doubt it will all go off with a bang. Before the fireworks, more than 4,000 beacons are to be lit in the UK and around the world. The Queen herself lights the UK's last beacon – the National Beacon – at about 22:30 BST. Whilst there are some who protest – surveys suggest around 20% of Britons feel the UK would be better off without a monarchy – most people will see HM Queen Elizabeth as a beacon of hope in an uncertain world and will be raising a glass to the Diamond Queen.

Quiz 测验 What are most Britons thankful for this week?

A two-day holiday

What noisy phrase is used to describe an event that went well?

To go off with a bang

What phrase means to start eating with enjoyment?

To tuck into something

True, false or not given: The Queen will light the first beacon at about 22:30BST?

False - she will light the last beacon

Which of these is a way of toasting someone?

To raise a glass to someone

Glossary 词汇表 to be thankful for感激，感谢 feasting盛宴 pageantry壮观，盛会 to re-kindle重新点燃 a street party街头派对 a picnic露天野餐 to tuck into开怀大吃 a cream tea英式奶茶和松饼 jellied eels鳗鱼冻 festivities庆祝活动 to escort护送 the Royal barge皇家游艇 adorned装饰 spectacular壮观的 to go off with a bang极为成功，大受欢迎 a beacon灯塔，烽火 a beacon of hope希望的灯塔 to raise a glass祝贺，庆祝