VOA标准英语2010年-Former High School Backs Supreme Court

Students at New York's Hunter College express pride in Elena Kagan

Adam Phillips | New York 11 May 2010

Photo: Hunter College High School Yearbook
Supreme¹ Court nominee² Elena Kagan in the 1977 yearbook at Manhattan's Hunter College High School.

 

President Barack Obama's nomination³ of U.S. Solicitor⁴ General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States has prompted leading Republicans to raise questions about her experience. But there is one place where support for the native New Yorker appears to be unanimous. 

Among students at Manhattan's Hunter College High School, the large elite⁵ public school Kagan graduated from, there is pride in her achievement.

Hunter College High School Yearbook
Elena Kagan, (center in robe carrying gavel) in 1977, as president of her high school.

 

"This whole thing makes you really proud to go to Hunter, that you have all these famous people that went here, and it's really cool," said one female student.

 

Kagan graduated from Hunter High School in 1977, long before any of these current students were born.

But many are familiar with her because of her brother, who teaches social studies and government here.

"I had Mr. Kagan as a teacher last year," said another student. "And my favorite parts of his class were always when he talked about constitutional law. He's always been really passionate⁶ about that. I am sure Elena Kagan is the same way. It's all in the family, you know."

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan speaking in Chicago on May 3, 2010. (AP Photo/David Banks)

 

Another student points out that if the U.S. Senate confirms Kagan's nomination, it would be only the fourth time that a woman has taken a seat on the high court.

 

"I think the Supreme Court needs all of the diversity it can get on the court," she said. "And if it's all men, then what's the point of them ruling for a country of men and women?"

Elena Kagan's nomination begins of a long process of national debate and possibly contentious⁷ Senate hearings that will culminate⁸ in her confirmation⁹ or rejection¹⁰ as America's newest justice on the Supreme Court.

Manhattan's Hunter College High School, the public school Elena Kagan graduated from.
Whatever happens, the nomination of one of their own has already had an impact at the high school. 

"My U.S. history teacher this year said that Elena Kagan said that Hunter was kind of the turning point for her," said a female student. "And this is when she realized she wanted to go into government, and I think it's something we can all aspire¹¹ to."
 

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

3 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

4 solicitor   

n.初级律师，事务律师

参考例句：

• The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

5 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

6 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

7 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

8 culminate   

v.到绝顶，达于极点，达到高潮

参考例句：

• The celebration of the centenary will culminate with a dinner.百年庆典活动将以宴会作为高潮。
• Everyone feared that the boundary dispute between these two countries would culminate in a war.人人都担心,这两国间的边境争端将以一场战争到达顶点。

9 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

10 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

11 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。