2006年VOA标准英语-Iraqi Sunnis Celebrate Eid

By Benjamin Sand
Irbil, Iraq
23 October 2006

In Iraq, celebrations for Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan were unusually somber¹. Families gathered amid a sharp rise in violence across the country.

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Iraqi Sunnis pray at Baghdad's 14th Ramadan mosque² at first day of Eid al-Fitr, Monday Oct. 23, 2006
  
It is typically one of the most festive³ dates on the Muslim calendar. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of three days of celebrations.

Sunni Muslims in Iraq observed the start of Eid on Monday, Shi'ites will follow a day or two later. But throughout Iraq, the festival has already been marred⁴ by reports of more sectarian violence.

In Baghdad, a series of market bombings killed at least nine people on Sunday.

Baghdad resident Hassan Karim says everyone there hopes Eid will help ease tensions in the divided city.

He says Ramadan has been especially hard on Iraq, and, God willing, the Eid will bring some relief from the bombings, sadness and fear.

Iraqis look at carnage left after suicide bomber⁵ detonated his vest Sunday evening in central Baghdad's Palestine street, Monday October 23, 2006  
  
Baghdad's six million residents are roughly divided between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim communities.

And, despite stepped up security in recent weeks, the city remains⁶ the flashpoint in the country's sectarian conflict.

On Monday, normally crowded Sunni mosques⁷ reported a major decline in worshippers. The city's predominantly Sunni neighborhoods were also uncharacteristically quiet, as frightened residents celebrated⁸ the holiday indoors.

October has also been particularly hard on U.S. forces in Iraq. Another five American troops were reported killed Sunday.

The total U.S. casualty count this month is at 85, the highest monthly death toll⁹ since 2004.

1 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

4 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

5 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

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。

7 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。