美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-12-22

 "We've been endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years, and each time I learn the news, I react not as a president, but as anybody else would as a parent. And that was especially true today."

 

President speaking last Friday about a shooting, it's Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown Connecticut, we are going to be focusing exclusively on that story today.

 

There are a lot of questions about what happened on Friday, right now, there aren't very many answers. As people struggled to understand this tragedy, they are mourning the victims who lost their lives and looking for ways to honor those victims to support their families.

 

President Obama ordered the flag at the U.S capital building, and all U.S government building to be lower to half-staff on Friday. Governors across the country ask for flags in their states to be lowered as well. Messages of sympathy for the shooting victims came in from all over the world, a lot of shared similar thoughts on social media. In the community of Newtown, where this happened, services and candle light vigils like this one have been going on since Friday night. There's been an emotional reaction to the shooting as you might expect, you could see some of that emotion from president Obama when he talked about on Friday.

 

"I know there is not a parent in America who doesn't feel the same overwhelming grief that I do, the majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of five and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them, birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers, many women who devoted¹ their lives to helping² our children fulfill³ their dreams, so our hearts are broken today for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children and for the families of the adults who were lost."

 

Twenty six people from Sandy Hook elementary were killed on Friday, earlier this year, the principle put in a new security system, it locks the door at 9:30 and it requires visitors to be identified and then buzzed in. Officials say the allege⁴ shooter, 20-year-old Adam Lanza used the gun to force his way into the building. A gun authorities say belonged to his mother, whom he's also accused of shooting. 

 

Around 9:30 Friday morning, witness reported hearing gunshots inside Sandy Hook elementary. Police say the gunman opened fire in two classrooms after killing⁵ the principal and school psychologist in the hallway. Officials said the shooter eventually took his own life, the attack claimed the lives of 20 students, all 6 or seven years olds, and six adults. And left the community of Newtown Connecticut in shock.

1 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

4 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。