历史上的今天-Today in History 2011-05-13

 May 13th, 1981, “Somebody said: it’s the Pope¹. He’s shot. You know, we just shocked, it was just unbelievable.” At the Vatican, Pope John Paul II is shot and seriously wounded by a Turkish gunman in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff recovers and a few years later he visits his would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Agca behind bars.

1607, a ship carrying English settlers arrives at the site of what becomes the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. 1940, “I, have never promised anything but blood, tears, toil² and sweat.” In London, Winston Churchill gives his first speech as Britain’s Prime³ Minister during some of his country’s darkest days of WWII.

1846, the United States declares war on Mexico days after the 2 neighbors clash⁴ in their first major battle in Texas. The war ends with the American victory, forcing Mexico to give up territory from California to the Rio Grande. And 1950, Stevie Wonder, singer-songwriter and one of the Motown’s most successful artists is born in Saginaw, Michigan. Today in History. May 13th. Ross Simpson, the Associated Press.

1 pope   

n.（罗马天主教的）教皇

参考例句：

• The Pope is the spiritual leader of many Christians.教皇是众多基督徒的宗教领袖。
• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。

2 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

3 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

4 clash   

vi.冲突，不协调，砰地相撞；n.冲突，不协调

参考例句：

• There is a clash between two classes at 2 p.m. on Thursday.星期四下午两点有两堂课是冲突的。
• The pot came down on the stone floor with a clash.锅“当”地一声掉到石地上。