2010/06/05

This Day in History June 5… 歷史上的今天 6月5日…

US presidents have left their marks on the world in both good and bad ways. Ronald Reagan left a lasting impression for many reasons. One of the biggest was that he first became a household name as an actor. Then in 1981, he became the 40th US president. In his first term, he made many changes to political and economic policies. He easily won re-election for a second term. During it, he helped end the Cold War. After his presidency, Reagan unfortunately developed Alzheimer's disease. On this date in 2004, he died at the age of 93. With all his achievements, some people consider Ronald Reagan one of the greatest US presidents in history.
美國總統在世界上有的名留青史,有的遺臭萬年。 隆納.雷根因為諸多原因而讓人留下難以磨滅的印象。其中一個最大的原因在於他最先是位家喻戶曉的演員。接著在1981年,他成為美國第40任總統。在第一 個任期內,他在政治及經濟政策上做出了許多改變。接著他輕而易舉 地再次連任。在第二個任期內,他協助結束了冷戰。不幸的是,他在卸下總統職位後得了阿滋海默症,而在2004年的今天辭世,享年93歲。憑藉著他所有的政 績,有些人認為隆納.雷根是史上最棒的美國總統之一。

知識大補帖

隆納.雷根(圖,資料照片)是演員出身的政治家(politician),因為他擅長表達自己的想法,也能 夠簡化繁複的議題讓大家了解,所以人們讚揚他是「偉大的 溝通者」(The Great Communicator);此外,他也以幽默感(sense of humor)受到敵友雙方的愛戴。除了約翰.甘迺迪(John F. Kennedy)之外,很少有其他美國前總統能像他一樣,如此受到媒體鍾愛與尊崇,一方面因為他改變了美國政 治,吸引共和(Republicans)與民主(Democrats)兩黨的人支持他的努力,以恢復人民對自己及國家的信心,另一方面則是他結束了蘇聯的 核子威脅。

單字片語

◎leave ones mark on... 在……留名;對……產生顯著的影響
例:Years of neglecting his health had left its mark on Oliver.(長年累月的忽視健康對奧利佛產生了顯著的影響。)
◎impression n.印象
make a good/bad impression on... 給……留下好/壞印象
例:Nick dressed up in order to make a good impression on his girlfriends parents.(尼克為了讓女友的父母對自己有好印象而盛裝打扮。)
◎a household name 家喻戶曉的人/事/物
例:When it comes to perfume, Chanel is definitely a household name.(提到香水,香奈兒絕對是無人不曉的品牌。)
◎term n.任期
◎presidency n.總統職位/任期

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