英語(yǔ)趣味課堂：愛(ài)爾蘭島- Ireland

I come from Ireland. It's a small country in the west of Europe. It's just next to the United Kingdom.

The Irish flag has three colors: green, white and orange. You often see the Irish flag above important buildings like the government building, or the town hall.

One of the most important symbols of Ireland is the shamrock. The shamrock is a small green plant with three leaves, so the shamrock looks like a four leaf clover, but it only has three leaves, and they look like three hearts joined together.

In Ireland, the countryside is very beautiful. We have lots of lakes, mountains, beaches, and cliffs along the west coast, especially. Some of these cliffs are among the highest in Europe.

All around Ireland you can see lots of castles. We have a very long history in Ireland and there are many castles all over. Sometimes people still live in these castles. Sometimes, they are only for tourists to visit.

學(xué)習(xí)內(nèi)容：

just next to

Ireland is a small country just next to the United Kingdom.

We can use the phrase 'just next to' to describe the location of something compared to something else. It means 'very close to.' Notice the following:

Their new house is just next to a lake and a big park.

A new school is being build just next to the old one.

the government building

You often see the Irish flag above the government building or the town hall.

A 'government building' is a building that is owned and used by the government of a country or city. Notice the following:

Government buildings usually have very high security.

Most of the government buildings are in that neighborhood.

one of the most important symbols

One of the most important symbols of Ireland is the shamrock.

A 'symbol' is a design that has significance for a group of people. If a symbol is 'one of the most important' symbols in a place it means that there are other symbols that are used and important, but not as important as this particular symbol. Notice the following:

A sun was one of the most important symbols that appeared before written language.

One of the most important symbols of Mexico is an eagle.

a very long history

We have a very long history in Ireland and there are many castles all over.

If a place has a 'very long history' it means that we know what has happened there from the present and far into the past. Notice the following:

Europe is a very interesting place to visit because it has a very long history.

This part of the country has a very long history.

only for tourists to visit

Sometimes, people still live in these castles; sometimes, they are only for tourists to visit.

When a castle is 'only for tourists to visit' it means that it is no longer used as a place for people to live or what it was used for in the past. Now it is only a place for people to go and look at, like a museum. Notice the following:

When he died they turned the house into a museum. Now it's only for tourists to visit.

This is really only a place for tourists to visit. No locals come here.