新西兰英语 419 Christchurch Memorial Service

　　Today, Christchurch held a memorial service to remember those who died following the earthquake on February 22nd. It was a public holiday for Canterbury so that many people could attend. The service was held outdoors in Hagley Park at midday and thousands of people attended. It was a warm sunny day. Families, young people and the old came with their picnic lunches, wearing sun hats and sunglasses, but it was not a day to celebrate. It was a sad occasion.
Prince William was there representing the Queen and he spoke¹ of his sadness for Christchurch. The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition², the Governor-General, the mayor spoke also. They reminded the crowd that it was not just Christchurch people who died – there were English language students and tourists from many countries also. They were people who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There was singing and prayers. Representatives from many different religions gave prayers: Buddhist³, Hindu, Jewish, Baha’i, Muslim and Christian⁴. Sign language interpreters were on the stage interpreting the speakers so the deaf people could understand.
Before the service began, the crowd watched a 14 minute video of the damage in the red zone, the CBD. Most people have not yet been allowed into the red zone so have not yet seen what it is like. The video was shocking. The damage was more than anyone could imagine. Upside-down cars, buses with no roof or side, whole rows of buildings which had lost the outside wall, churches with holes in the roof and walls – it was amazing that anyone managed to escape these buildings. Everywhere, there were piles of rubble⁵ – bricks, concrete, stone, steel. The city was deserted⁶ except for search and rescue people. The city was silent except for the occasional sound of a helicopter or a siren.
To watch this video, go to Inside Christchurch’s Red Zone
At 9 minutes to 1pm which was the time of the earthquake, church bells in other cities rang and people stood for 2 minutes silence to remember the tragedy in Christchurch.
Grammar
Note: the video was shocking / the people were shocked; It was amazing / people were amazed
English has many adjectives like this e.g. tiring / tired, interesting / interested. What is the rule?
Questions
New Zealand sign language is the third official language in New Zealand (English and Maori are the other two). This earthquake is the first time that sign language interpreters have been used on TV and for a public function like this. It costs money to use interpreters of course. What public occasions should have interpreters for the deaf?
Why were prayers given by representatives of different religions?

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

6 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。