VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Honors Martin Luther King

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
21 January 2008

The United States is honoring the slain¹ civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Junior, on the national holiday that bears his name. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports President Bush marked the occasion with a visit to the Martin Luther King, Junior, Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.

The president spent the King Day holiday surrounded by children and the books they love to read.

He traveled a few blocks from the White House to the main Washington, D.C. library. During a visit to the children's reading room, he joined a librarian who was discussing the significance of Reverend King's life and legacy² with a group of boys and girls of various races and religions.

"Martin Luther King is a towering figure in the history of our country. And it is fitting that we honor his service, and his courage and his vision," said Mr. Bush.

He hailed King's dedication³ to helping⁴ others, and urged all Americans to honor him by reaching out to those in need.

"And our fellow citizens have got to understand that by loving a neighbor like you would like to be loved yourself, by reaching out to someone who hurts, by simply living a life of kindness and compassion⁵, you can make America a better place and fulfill⁶ the dream of Martin Luther King," added Mr. Bush.

The president said King Day is an opportunity to renew America's deep desire to be a nation of promise, justice and opportunity for all.

King, a Baptist minister, led a non-violent movement in the United States in the 1950's and 1960's for racial equality. He was instrumental in pushing the passage of landmark⁷ civil rights legislation in 1963 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His life ended tragically⁸ when he was assassinated⁹ in 1968 at the age of 39.

1 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

3 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

6 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

9 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句