VOA标准英语2012--Tahrir Square Packed as Egyptians Mark Uprising

Tahrir Square Packed as Egyptians Mark Uprising

For many, being on Tahrir Square once again has brought the memories of last year's revolution flooding back.
Doctor and former protester Rabie el Khouly brought his wife and children.
"My family as a whole, my son Mohamed, the youngest one, was sleeping here in Tahrir, until last February 11, Mohamed was sleeping here in the square and chanting for the fall of Hosni Mubarak," said el Khouly.
But for some, like union worker Magdi Etman, there is more to be done.
"Our revolution is incomplete and has not yet reaped its fruits, and all sincere people in the country should protect the revolution's path so it carries on the right track so we can truly liberate¹ our country," said Etman.
Alongside the celebrations are calls for the ruling military council to step down. The council is trying to placate² its opponents, releasing prisoners, honoring victims of the uprising, and partially³ lifting the much-hated emergency laws.
For presidential hopeful and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, the partial repeal⁴ falls short.
"Nothing is enough. It's a step, but nothing is enough until the total abolition⁵ of the law, the emergency law," said Moussa.
All the same, Moussa - mobbed by fans as he strode through the square - is optimistic.
"We are moving in the right direction. I am very happy about that. I am here to salute⁶ the revolution and to consolidate⁷ with all Egyptians standing⁸ here on this occasion, very serious, important and patriotic⁹ occasion," said Moussa.
Not only were the crowds celebrating the changes in Egypt, they also cheered on fellow revolutionaries in Syria and Yemen.
At least for the day, some of Egypt's more pressing problems seemed to recede¹⁰.
Union worker Etman concedes the unrest has caused a drop in tourism and investment, but argues the core of the economy remains¹¹ strong.
"We have the Suez Canal, we have our factories, our manpower - those respectful people [pointing to the crowds] who care about the country," said Etman.
The people he refers to have carried Egypt this far, Etman says, and he hopes they will not stop now.

1 liberate   

v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由

参考例句：

• They did their best to liberate slaves.他们尽最大能力去解放奴隶。
• This will liberate him from economic worry.这将消除他经济上的忧虑。

2 placate   

v.抚慰，平息(愤怒)

参考例句：

• He never attempts to placate his enemy.他从不企图与敌人和解。
• Even a written apology failed to placate the indignant hostess.甚至一纸书面道歉都没能安抚这个怒气冲冲的女主人。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

4 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

5 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

6 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

7 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

8 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。

9 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

10 recede   

vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进

参考例句：

• The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。
• He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

11 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。