VOA标准英语2011--America Marks 10 Years Since Sept. 11 Te

America Marks 10 Years Since Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks

Americans have marked the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people. Ceremonies were held in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, locations where the flights of hijacked¹ jetliners came to tragic² ends.
Americans gathered to remember the horror and loss of life on September 11 with music, prayers, testimonials and moments of silence.
At a newly constructed memorial in New York where the World Trade Center once stood, the names of all who perished were read by surviving family members.
Many paid tribute to the person they lost. “And my nephew, Danny Correa-Gutierrez. Danny, we want you to know you will always be our baby boy. You will be in our hearts forever, and we love you," said one woman.
"And my father, Sebastian Gorki, who I never met because I was in my mom’s belly³ [on 9-11]. I love you, Father. I love you for loving the idea of having me. You gave me the gift of life, and I wish you could be here to enjoy it with me," said a boy.
President Barack Obama visited all three sites where lives were lost on September 11, reading Psalm⁴ 46 from the Bible at his appearance in New York. “The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved. He uttered His voice. The earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge," he said.
Former President George W. Bush also was present, and read from a letter penned by then-President Abraham Lincoln to a woman who lost all of her sons in the U.S. Civil War.
Many attendees openly wept. At a ceremony outside the Pentagon, the Chairman of the Joint⁵ Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, acknowledged the pain that lingers 10 years after the attacks. “No music can assuage⁶, no tongue can express, no prayer alone may dampen the yearning⁷ that must fire yet inside you. Lives ended in this place. Dreams were shattered," he said.
Mullen added that terrorists could bring down walls, but not America, that they could kill citizens, but not Americans’ citizenship⁸. He noted⁹ that the September 11 attacks did not go unanswered. “America’s military ventured forth¹⁰ as the long arm and clenched¹¹ fist of an angry nation at war. And we have remained at war ever since, visiting upon our enemies the vengeance¹² they were due," he said.
U.S. officials had warned of possible terrorist threats coinciding with the anniversary, but they provided no additional information as the ceremonies went forward.
The attacks of September 11, 2001 provoked a national outpouring of shock, sorrow and anger. But they also evoked¹³ fierce patriotism¹⁴, a sense of national unity¹⁵ and common purpose. If America’s unity has been tested in years since, the anniversary ceremonies seemed to recapture it, in the remembrance of those who died 10 years ago.

1 hijacked   

劫持( hijack的过去式和过去分词 )； 绑架； 拦路抢劫； 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）

参考例句：

• The plane was hijacked by two armed men on a flight from London to Rome. 飞机在从伦敦飞往罗马途中遭到两名持械男子劫持。
• The plane was hijacked soon after it took off. 那架飞机起飞后不久被劫持了。

2 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

3 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

4 psalm   

n.赞美诗，圣诗

参考例句：

• The clergyman began droning the psalm.牧师开始以单调而低沈的语调吟诵赞美诗。
• The minister droned out the psalm.牧师喃喃地念赞美诗。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 assuage   

v.缓和，减轻，镇定

参考例句：

• The medicine is used to assuage pain.这种药用来止痛。
• Your messages of cheer should assuage her suffering.你带来的这些振奋人心的消息一定能减轻她的痛苦。

7 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

8 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。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

11 clenched   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
• She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上，以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

13 evoked   

[医]诱发的

参考例句：

• The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
• Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。

14 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

15 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。