CNN 美国有线新闻 2014-10-28

 Three things that are as awsome as Fridays, choclate chip cookies, the bulldogs and vacation.  But as far as that last one goes, American workers are taking less of it. The reasons why are minutes away.

 

First up, this October 24, a man being hailed as a hero.

 

This is Kevin Vickers. He is the sergeant-at-arms in Canada`s parliament. When a gunman entered that government building Wednesday and started shooting, it was Vickers who stopped the attack by shooting and killing<sup>1</sup> the gunman. Only ten people have been sergeant-at-arms since 1867. It`s a ceremonial position, it`s also a law enforcement position. The 58-year old officer spent 28 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His brother believes this is the first time Vickers ever exchanged fire with anyone.

 

He extended his condolences to the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a guard whom the gunman killed near the National War Memorial. Canadian officials now say they believe the gunman acted alone, but that he had connections to radical² Islamists. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canadians will not be intimated by terrorism.

 

We will be vigilant³, but we will not run scared, we will be prudent⁴ but we will not panic. And as for the business of government, well, here we are in our seats, in our chamber⁵, in the very heart of our democracy and our world.

1 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。

2 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

3 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

4 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

5 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。