历史上的今天-Today in History 2013-12-22

 December 22nd, 1989. A popular uprising  topples Eastern Europe’s last hardline communist ruler, Nicolae Ceauescu of Romania. Days later, Ceauescu and his wife are tried and convicted by a military tribunal, then promptly¹ shot by a firing squad².

2001. Richard Reid tries to set off explosives in his tennis shoes, aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. But flight attendants and Reed’s fellow passengers subdue³ him, Reid later pleads guilty and receives a life sentence in prison.

1894. Alfred Dreyfus, a French Army officer is convicted of treason in a couurt  martial, but the case against Dreyfus who is Jewish triggers worldwide charges of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus who insists he is innocent is eventually vindicated⁴ years later.

And 2000. Wedding bells ring for the Material Girl as pop-star Madonna and film director Guy Ritchie marry in Scotland.

Today in history, December 22nd, Ross Simpson, the Associated Press.

1 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

2 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

3 subdue   

vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制

参考例句：

• She tried to subdue her anger.她尽力压制自己的怒火。
• He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.他强迫自己克制并战胜恐惧心理。

4 vindicated   

v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护

参考例句：

• I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。
• Subsequent events vindicated the policy. 后来的事实证明那政策是对的。 来自《简明英汉词典》