历史上的今天-Today in History 2012-08-13

 August 13th 1961The Cold War division of Berlin deepens, leading to an iconic symbol of the conflict . East Germany seals the border between the city’s west and east to halt the flight of refugees. Days later, construction begins on the Berlin Wall, meant to serve as a permanent barrier . The wall falls nearly 3 decades later as Communism crumbles¹ across  Eastern Europe.

1926Cuba’s Fidel Castro is born on this day although some sources say he was born a year later. Castro established the first Communist state in the Western Hemisphere, challenging the United States during the Cold War and beyond.

1521Spain makes a major conquest in North America. Hernando Cortez captures present-day Mexico City from Aztec Indians. Spanish rule in Mexico lasts for the next 3 centuries.

1899Alfred Hitchcock, director of silver screen thrillers² is born in London. Among his films: Psycho, North by Northwest, Vertigo³, Rear Window and The Birds.

And 1995In Dallas, baseball hall of famer Mickey Mantle⁴ of the New York Yankees dies of liver cancer. He was 63 years old.

Today in History, August 13th. Sandy Kozel, the Associated Press.

1 crumbles   

酥皮水果甜点( crumble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This cake crumbles too easily. 这种蛋糕太容易碎了。
• This bread crumbles ever so easily. 这种面包非常容易碎。

2 thrillers   

n.紧张刺激的故事( thriller的名词复数 )；戏剧；令人感到兴奋的事；（电影）惊悚片

参考例句：

• He has written seven thrillers, and clearly enjoys intellectual pursuits. 他已经写了7本惊悚小说，显然很喜欢这样的智力活动。 来自辞典例句
• Most Americans prefer to read fast-moving adventure stories that we call "thrillers". 大部分美国人喜欢看我们称之为"惊险小说"的情节多变的冒险故事。 来自辞典例句

3 vertigo   

n.眩晕

参考例句：

• He had a dreadful attack of vertigo.他忽然头晕得厉害。
• If you have vertigo it seems as if the whole room is spinning round you.如果你头晕，就会觉得整个房间都旋转起来

4 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。