英文看天下：五一劳动节的由来

喜艾笔记之五一国际劳动节

1.In the late nineteenth century, the working class was in constant struggle to gain the 8-hour work day. Working conditions were severe and it was quite common to work 10 to 16 hour days in unsafe conditions.

century   世纪

working class   工人阶级

constant   持续的，不断的

struggle   斗争

condition   状况，条件

severe   艰难的，严峻的

2.On May 1, 1886, more than 300,000 workers in 13,000 businesses across the United States walked off their jobs in the first May Day celebration in history.

celebration   活动，典礼

3.Ironically, May Day is an official holiday in many countries and unofficially celebrated in many more, but rarely is it recognized in the United States where it began.

ironically   讽刺地

例句：She is talking ironically. 

她在说反话呢。

official   官方的，正式的

rarely   很少，不常

recognize   意识到，认识

4.Our current condition cannot be taken for granted - people fought for the rights and dignities we enjoy today, and there is still a lot more to fight for.

current   目前的

take… for granted   认为…是理所当然的

例句：Don't take it for granted before you do anything.

做任何事之前都不要想当然。

dignity   尊严

5.This celebration has become a historic significance all over the world and celebrated by the Labor unions worldwide. Variety of demonstrations, speeches, and parades are organized by the working group people.

historic   具有历史意义的

significance   意义，重要性

union   联盟，工会

worldwide   在全世界

speech   演讲

organize   组织