历史上的今天-Today in History 2013-01-20

 January 20th 1981. Iran releases 52 Americans taken hostage at the US embassy in Tehran after 444 days in captivity¹. It happened just minutes after the Ronald Reagan is sworn in as President succeeding Jimmy Carter in the White House.

1961. In Washington, John F. Kennedy becomes America’s 35th president, challenging the country in his inaugural² address.

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."1942. During World War II, officials in Nazi³ Germany hold the notorious Wannsee conference near Berlin. That's where they devise what they called "The Final Solution", their plan to exterminate⁴ Europe's millions of Jews.

1936. Start of a turbulent year for Britain’s Monarchy⁵, as Britain’s King George IV dies, George’s son becomes King Edward VIII , but he later gives up the throne to marry an American divorcée Wallis Simpson. By the end of the year, Edward’s brother becomes King George the Sixth, Father of the future Queen Elisabeth II.

And 1896. "Aunt Gracie, say hello to everybody.""Hello, everybody!".

Comedian⁶ George Burns, straight man to wife Gracie on radio who later play God on a big screen, is born in New York City.

Today in history, January 20th, Tim Maguire, the Associated Press

1 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

2 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

3 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

4 exterminate   

v.扑灭，消灭，根绝

参考例句：

• Some people exterminate garden insects by spraying poison on the plants.有些人在植物上喷撒毒剂以杀死花园内的昆虫。
• Woodpeckers can exterminate insect pests hiding in trees.啄木鸟能消灭躲在树里的害虫。

5 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

6 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。