VOA标准英语2008年-Former Colombian Hostage Betancourt Arrives in

Ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt received a joyful¹ welcome in France, where she arrived Friday after spending more than six years as a hostage of Colombian rebels. Lisa Bryant has more on a homecoming of sorts for Betancourt, who has dual² French-Colombian citizenship³.
　
Ingrid Betancourt (r) is welcomed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla, at Villacoublay's military airport, 04 Jul 2008

Ingrid Betancourt, 46, returned to a France that never forgot her during her years as hostage in the Colombian jungle, and which received the Franco-Colombian as a returning hero. Standing⁴ next to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife on the tarmac of the Villacoublay air base outside Paris, and surrounded by her family, Betancourt's reaction to returning to her second home was emotional.

"Betancourt said she had dreamed of this moment of returning for seven years. Breathing the air of France, she said, and being back with the French people was a very moving moment," she said.

Paying tribute to the country she grew up in, Betancourt said she owed France everything. She described Sarkozy as an extraorinary man, and she thanked the French people for sharing her despair, and for battling and protesting and not giving up on her.

The French government had made Betancourt's plight⁵ a cause celebre, both under Sarkozy and his predecessor⁶, Jacques Chirac. A picture of her taken as hostage, sick and frail⁷, hangs in front of many French city halls. Since she was rescued Wednesday in a daring Colombian military operation, a white strip has been tacked⁸ to those banners saying, "released."

The French presidency⁹ said that Betancourt was scheduled to undergo medical exams. But she appeared joyful and upbeat Friday, and laced her remarks about her captivity¹⁰ with sometimes humorous comments. From Rome, Pope Benedict XVI said he would be happy to meet with her.

　

 

1 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

2 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

3 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

6 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

7 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

8 tacked   

用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝

参考例句：

• He tacked the sheets of paper on as carefully as possible. 他尽量小心地把纸张钉上去。
• The seamstress tacked the two pieces of cloth. 女裁缝把那两块布粗缝了起来。

9 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

10 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。