历史上的今天-Today in History 2012-08-15

 August 15th, 1945, what’s known as VJ Day. The United States and its Allies¹ mark the effective end of World War II after 6 years of fighting. They celebrate the defeat of the axis² powers a day after Japan agrees to an unconditional³ surrender.

1969. In upstate New York, the counter-culture comes together for Woodstock, the largest rock concert of the 60s. “What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000.” Among the acts of the festival, which ended in more than 3 days later, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, The Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

1769, Napoleon Bonaparte, the French general and ruler whose wars reshaped the map of Europe, is born on the island of Corsica.

1947, in Asia, India gains its independence a day after neighboring Pakistan is established, concluding British colonial⁴ rule over the entire Indian subcontinent.

1998, in Northern Ireland, the deadliest terror attack in decades of sectarian violence takes place in the town of Omagh, that’s where a car bomb planted by an IRA splinter group kills 29 people and wounds hundreds of others.

1914, in Central America, the Panama Canal opens to shipping⁵ traffic, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

And 1939, the Wizard of Oz-the movie Musical Fantasy starring Judy Garland that remains⁶ a pop culture classic, premieres in Hollywood.

Today in History. August 15th. Camille Bohannon, the Associated Press.

1 allies   

联盟国，同盟者； 同盟国，同盟者( ally的名词复数 )； 支持者； 盟军

参考例句：

• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。
• A number of the United States' allies had urged him not to take a hasty decision. 美国的一些盟友已力劝他不要急于作决定。

2 axis   

n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线

参考例句：

• The earth's axis is the line between the North and South Poles.地轴是南北极之间的线。
• The axis of a circle is its diameter.圆的轴线是其直径。

3 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

4 colonial   

adj.殖民地的，关于殖民的；n.殖民地，居民

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• The people of Africa have successfully fought against colonial rule.非洲人民成功地反抗了殖民统治。

5 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。