历史上的今天-Today in History 2013-08-16

 August 16th, 1977 you are always on my mind.

The last chapter for the “King of Rock 'n Roll” in Memphis, Tennessee. That's where singer Elvis Presley dies at his Graceland Mansion¹, at age 42. Heart disease and years of prescription² drug abuse are the causes of Presley's death. But Elvis' music and his popularity as the greatest star of rock's early years live on.

1948,In New York, the world of baseball loses a larger-than-life icon³: hall-of-famer Babe Ruth. The Yankee slugger dies of throat cancer at age 53, a year after thanking fans paying him tribute. “And I'm glad that I've had the opportunity to thank everybody.” 2003,Idi Amin, considered one of Africa's most brutal⁴ leaders, dies in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia at age 78. Amin's rule as dictator of Uganda oversaw⁵ the killing⁶ and torture of hundreds of thousands of people during the 1970s. 1954,“Sports Illustrated”, the weekly sports magazine created by 'Time' and 'Life' publisher Henry Luce, hits newsstand for the first time. And 1958, Like a virgin⁷, touched for the very first time.

Madonna, the singer known as “The Material Girl”, is born in Bay City, Michigan. Her provocative⁸ persona has delivered both pop hits and media headlines since she first gained fame in the 1980s.

Today in History, August 16th, Camille Bohannon, the Associated Press.

1 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

2 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

3 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

4 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

5 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

8 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。