CNN新闻：美国史上最长寿总统去世
燕山大学 刘立军 编写
u TRANSCRIPT
We start today by remembering America's 41st president.
George Herbert Walker Bush served as U.S. leader from 1989 to 1993. Before he passed away on Friday, he was the nation's oldest living president. In fact, he was the longest living president in U.S. history at more than 94 years and five months old.
President Jimmy Carter is now the nation's oldest living president. He's also 94, but he was born a few months after President Bush.
The 41st U.S. leader had a pretty remarkable life. When he became a pilot for the U.S. Navy in 1943, he was the branch's youngest pilot at the time. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II, earning three Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He played in the first two College World Series baseball games in 1947 and 1948, and that was all before he even entered politics. And when George H.W. Bush was elected to the presidency in 1988, he was the first sitting vice president to do that since Martin Van Buren in 1836.
It wasn't just his political life that made history though. In January, the former president and his wife, Barbara, set the high mark for the longest married presidential couple. They've been together for 73 years. Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away on April 17th. Her husband, a man remembered by his sons as a wonderful dad followed on November 30th.
Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201812/572580.shtml
u VOCABULARY
1. pilot n. a person who operates the controls of an aircraft, especially as a job 飞行员；（飞行器）驾驶员。例如：
l an airline pilot民航飞机飞行员
l a fighter pilot战斗机飞行员
l The accident was caused by pilot error. 这场事故是飞行员的失误造成的。
2. combat n. fighting or a fight, especially during a time of war 搏斗；打仗；战斗。例如：
l He was killed in combat. 他在战斗中阵亡。
l armed / unarmed combat (= with / without weapons) 武装 / 非武装对抗
l combat troops作战部队
l combat boots军靴
u QUESTIONS
Read the table. Then listen to the news and complete the table.
The America's 41st president’s remarkable life
Time | Event |
1943 | When he became a ____________ for the U.S. Navy in 1943, he was the branch's youngest pilot at the time. He flew ______________ combat missions during World War II, earning three Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. |
1947 - 1948 | He played in the first two College World Series ____________ games in 1947 and 1948, and that was all before he even entered __________. |
1988 | And when George H.W. Bush was elected to the ____________ in 1988, he was the first _____________________ to do that since Martin Van Buren in 1836. |
January, 2018 | It wasn't just his ___________________ life that made history though. In January, the former president and his wife, Barbara, set the high mark for the __________________ married presidential couple. They've been together for ______________ years. |
April 17th, 2018 & November 30th, 2018 | Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away on April 17th. Her husband, a man remembered by his sons as ____________________________ followed on November 30th. |
u KEY
Read the table. Then listen to the news and complete the table.
The America's 41st president’s remarkable life
Time | Event |
1943 | When he became a pilot for the U.S. Navy in 1943, he was the branch's youngest pilot at the time. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II, earning three Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. |
1947 - 1948 | He played in the first two College World Series baseball games in 1947 and 1948, and that was all before he even entered politics. |
1988 | And when George H.W. Bush was elected to the presidency in 1988, he was the first sitting vice president to do that since Martin Van Buren in 1836. |
January, 2018 | It wasn't just his political life that made history though. In January, the former president and his wife, Barbara, set the high mark for the longest married presidential couple. They've been together for 73 years. |
April 17th, 2018 & November 30th, 2018 | Former First Lady Barbara Bush passed away on April 17th. Her husband, a man remembered by his sons as a wonderful dad followed on November 30th. |