齐默尔曼无罪释放后，奥巴马呼吁民众保持冷静

 　　WASHINGTON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday issued a statement on the acquittal of George Zimmerman, calling for calm as well as efforts to curb¹ gun violence.

　　Obama said in the statement that the death of Trayvon Martin, who was killed by Zimmerman, was a tragedy. Noting that "this case has elicited² strong passions," Obama said those passions may be running even higher in the wake of the verdict.

　　However, the president added, the jury has spoken and made its verdict. He called on "every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son."

　　"We should ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion³ and understanding in our own communities," said Obama, adding "we should ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis."

　　"We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this," said Obama.

　　A Jury in Florida on Saturday night acquitted⁴ Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed African American teenager Martin last year.

1 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

2 elicited   

引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Threats to reinstate the tax elicited jeer from the Opposition. 恢复此项征税的威胁引起了反对党的嘲笑。
• The comedian's joke elicited applause and laughter from the audience. 那位滑稽演员的笑话博得观众的掌声和笑声。

3 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。

4 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。