历史上的今天-Today in History 2011-06-08

 June 8th, 632The Prophet Muhammad who founded the religion of Islam dies in Medina, part of what's now Saudi Arabia. Muhammad leaves no arrangement for a successor, creating a rift¹ within Islam which lasts to this day.

1968Authorities announce a capture in London of James Earl Ray wanted for assassinating² Martin Luther King, Jr. Ray spends the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to killing³ the civil rights leader. He later recants, claiming a conspiracy⁴ targeted King.

1967Thirty four US servicemen are killed when Israeli forces raid the Liberty, a navy ship stationed in the Mediterranean⁵. Israel calls its attack which takes place during the 6-day war in the Mid-East a tragic⁶ mistake. 1869Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the great American architects of the 20th century, is born in Richland Center, Wisconsin.

And 1969The New York Yankees retire Mickey Mantle⁷'s uniform No.7. Mantle known to baseball fans as the Mick pays tribute to another Yankee legend. I've often wondered how a man who know he is gonna die could stand here and say that he is the luckiest man in the world, but now I think I know how Lou Gehrig felt.

Today in History, June 8th, Tim Maguire, the Associated Press

1 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

2 assassinating   

v.暗杀( assassinate的现在分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• They struck a blow for freedom by assassinating the colonial governor. 他们为了自由而奋力一博，暗杀了那位殖民地总督。 来自互联网

3 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。

4 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

5 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

6 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

7 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。