【英语时差8,16】马歇尔计划

ANNCR: The Marshall Plan — on Today's Congressional Moment. Europe lay devastated¹ at the end of World War II. Its major cities were damaged or destroyed. Its infrastructure² — roads and bridges, power plants, communications — was ruined. Many of its people were destitute³ and hungry. Secretary of State George Marshall was convinced the United States needed to intervene to stave off “hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos⁴.” In a speech at Harvard, he outlined a massive effort to rebuild Europe's economy. His proposal that day is known to history as the “Marshall Plan,” but at the time it was little more than an idea. What gave it shape was its passage through Congress. Marshall served President Harry⁵ S Truman, a Democrat⁶. The House and the Senate, however, were controlled by Republicans, and the congressional majority was dubious⁷ about spending billions of dollars to help other countries, especially countries like Germany, that had been our enemy. “We are through being 'Uncle Sap,'” one senator declared. Marshall found one indispensable ally, Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, chair of the foreign relations committee and a Republican leader. Talking daily, they shaped the Marshall Plan into a business–like, $13 billion operation that got the congressional approval it needed. Today, 60 years later, their work is remembered for helping⁸ lift Europe from its knees and helping create the post–war economic prosperity that followed.

 

1 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 destitute   

adj.缺乏的；穷困的

参考例句：

• They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
• They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。

4 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

5 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

8 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。