历史上的今天-Today in History 2013-10-17

 October 17th 1973Dawn of the energy crisis, as Arab oil-producing nations say they will cut back on oil exports to Western nations and Japan. The results are totally embargo¹ until the following year bringing severe oil shortages and rising inflationto the United States and other countries.

1777A turning point in the Revolutionary War. British forces under General John Burgoyne surrender to American troops in Saratoga, New York. The victory persuades the French to side with the Americans against the Britishduring the war.

1989A deadly earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale strikes northern California. The quake kills more than 60 people, leaving 12,000 homeless and causing 6 billion dollars in damage.

1931Mobster Al Capone is convicted of income tax evasion² and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Capone is released 8 years later.

And 1915Playwright Arthur Miller³, author of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible⁴ is born in New York City.

"You're going to pick the causes, gving a muse⁵ of some kind that surprised to today. And it's a weird⁶ thing that can now last a moment, it's very difficult."Today in history, October 17th, Tim Maguire, the Associated Press.

1 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

2 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

3 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

4 crucible   

n.坩锅，严酷的考验

参考例句：

• The alliance had been forged in the crucible of war.这个联盟经受了战争的严峻考验。
• Put the required amount of metal into the crucible.把适量的金属放入坩埚。

5 muse   

n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感

参考例句：

• His muse had deserted him,and he could no longer write.他已无灵感，不能再写作了。
• Many of the papers muse on the fate of the President.很多报纸都在揣测总统的命运。

6 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。