【美国精神】第69期

Explanation:   

  There were many great men among the Founding Fathers (or the people who helped to create the United States), but only one of them is called the “Father of our Country.” His name was George Washington, and although he is best known for having been the first president of the United States, he also did many other things to merit¹ (or deserve) the title of “Father of our Country.” 

 

  Born in Virginia in 1732, George Washington was always very interested in the military, which are organizations with soldiers that fight for the country’s freedom. He was a very well-respected colonel² (or an important leader in the military) and he fought many battles (or smaller fights in a war) during the French and Indian War.  

 

  When the new United States declared (or officially stated or told others of) its independence (or freedom) from Britain, George Washington became the commander-in-chief (or top leader of the military) in the Revolutionary War between Britain and America. He helped the United States win the war and secure (or get) its freedom. 

 

  When the war ended in 1783, Washington was tired of fighting. He wanted to return to his home in Virginia and work on his plantation³ (or big farm). However, once he was there, he began to understand that there were many problems with the Articles of Confederation (or the legal document that existed before the Constitution). He decided⁴ to help the other Founding Fathers create a new legal document for the country and went to participate in the Constitutional Convention⁵. The other members of the Constitutional Convention unanimously⁶ voted (or all voted in agreement) to make him the president of the Convention. The Constitution was written under his leadership in 1787. Just two years later, in 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States. 

 

  George Washington had a major (or very important) influence (or effect) on the United States as the country was developing. That is why he is often called the “Father of our Country.” 

 

问题：

Who is the “Father of Our Country”?  

Answer:   

 (George) Washington 

1 merit   

n.优点，价值，功绩，成绩；vt.值得

参考例句：

• There is great merit in dealing fairly with your employees.公正地对待你的雇员有极大好处。
• History affords us lessons that merit attention.历史给我们提供了值得注意的借鉴。

2 colonel   

n.(英国陆军、美国陆空军及海军陆战队)上校

参考例句：

• It's a pity we didn't mend our fences with the colonel.可惜我们还没有和上校先生调整好关系。
• An army major ranks between a captain and a colonel.陆军少校的军阶在上尉与中校之间。

3 plantation   

n.种植园，大农场

参考例句：

• His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
• The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 convention   

n.惯例，习俗，常规，会议，大会

参考例句：

• How many delegates have checked in at the convention?大会已有多少代表报到？
• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。

6 unanimously   

ad.一致同意地

参考例句：

• Three judges unanimously upheld the sentence. 三名法官一致维持这个判决。
• Following discussion, the annual report was accepted unanimously. 经过讨论，年度报告获一致通过。