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One of the most historic events of the 20th century was the assassination of US President, John Kennedy.
Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States, serving as President from January 1961 until November 1963.
During his time in office the US entered the space race with the Soviet Union.
Kennedy pledged that the US would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
Unfortunately, he never lived to see this happen.
serve as = 擔(dān)任
during one's time in office = 在某人執(zhí)政期間
space race = 太空競(jìng)賽
pledge = 許諾渗饮,保證
land on the moon = 登陸月球
decade = 十年
century = 世紀(jì)孤澎,百年
Question:
— What didn't he live to see?
— The landing of a man on the moon.
Put the sentences below in order:
(1) Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States, serving as President from January 1961 until November 1963.
(2) Kennedy pledged that the US would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
(3) One of the most historic events of the 20th century was the assassination of US President, John Kennedy.
(4) Unfortunately, he never lived to see this happen.
(5) During his time in office the US entered the space race with the Soviet Union.
Correct Order: (3) (5) (1) (2) (4)
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In October of 1962, the US and the Soviet Union came dangerously close to entering a full-scale nuclear war.
This event was known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Kennedy's skillful handling of the situation, along with that of his Soviet counterpart, Nikita Khrushchev, helped save the world from a nuclear catastrophe.
Following this event, his approval rating in the United States improved from 66% to 77%.
To many, he was considered to be the type of leader who could build a better world.
full-scale nuclear war = 全面核戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)
Cuban Missile Crisis = 古巴導(dǎo)彈危機(jī)
skillful = 熟練的,嫻熟的
handling of = 處理
catastrophe = 大災(zāi)難,大禍
be considered to be = 被認(rèn)為是……氢伟,被視為……
Exercises:
1. — What happened to Kennedy's approval rating after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
? ? >> It improved.
2. To many, he was considered to be the type of leader who could build a better world.
Repeat Sentences:
1. Kennedy pledged that the US wouldland a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
2. He never lived to see the landing of a man on the moon.
3. His approval rating improved to 77 percent after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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On November 22, 1963, Kennedy's presidency came to a sudden and tragic end.
He was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade in the city of Dallas, Texas.
Kennedy and his wife were sitting in an open car, waving to a large crowd of people when he was shot.
They were sitting in an open car, with no protection, because the sky was clear.
It had rained until about 10 a.m., but then the sun came out.
If the sky hadn't cleared, there would have been a bubble top, or clear roof, on the car.
This would have prevented the assassination.
Kennedy wanted it down so that he could be closer to the crowds who were there to greet him.
presidency = 總統(tǒng)的職位(任期)
motorcade = 汽車行列酷宵,車隊(duì)
Dallas = 達(dá)拉斯(美國(guó)城市)
Texas = 德克薩斯州(美國(guó)州名)
Exercises:
1. — Why did Kennedy prefer to ride in an open car
? ? — He wanted to be closer to the crowds.
2. If the sky hadn't cleared, there would have been a bubble top, or clear roof, on the car. This would have prevented the assassination.
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Another factor that contributed to the assassination was the route of the motorcade through the city.
The route was published several days earlier in the local newspapers.
The motorcade was to pass through downtown Dallas and round a sharp corner near the building where the assassin worked.
From that building, there was a clear view of the president's car.
If the route had been different, the assassination probably wouldn't have taken place.
contribute to = 促成,有助于
sharp corner =急轉(zhuǎn)彎
take place = 發(fā)生
Question:
— What would have happened had the view from building not provided a clear view of the president's car?
— The assassin would have to shoot from another location.
Repeat Sentences:
1. It had rained until about 10 a.m., but then the sun came out.
2. The route was published several days earlier in the local newspapers.
3. If the route had been different, the assassination probably wouldn't have taken place.
4. The motorcade passed close by the building where he worked.
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The president was struck by two bullets, but it was the second one that probably killed him.
That was the fatal shot.
It opened a massive wound in his head.
Sitting beside him, his wife's last words to her husband were: "Jack, Jack, can you hear me? I love you Jack."
The assassin's quick shots were incredibly accurate.
If the fatal shot had been off by just a little, Kennedy might have survived.
fatal shot = 致命的一槍
incredibly = 極其地器虾, 難以置信地讯嫂,非常地
accurate = 精確的
Fill in the blanks:
The president was struck by two bullets, but it was the second one that probably killed him. That was the fatal shot. It opened a massive wound in his head.
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So if any of these factors had been different, history would have changed.
Kennedy's death disillusioned many Americans who had been inspired by his vision for the future.
With his death, a whole generation of Americans woke up to a reality where their dreams for a brighter future had been shattered.
disillusion = 使醒悟,使不再抱幻想
vision for the future = 對(duì)未來(lái)的設(shè)想
shatter = 打碎兆沙,粉碎
Question:
— What happened to the dreams of many Americans when Kennedy was assassinated?
— They were shattered.
Fill in the blanks:
So if any of these factors had been different, history would have changed. Kennedy's death disillusioned many Americans who had been inspired by his vision for the future. With his death, a whole generation of Americans woke up to a reality where their dreams for a brighter future had been shattered.
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. If the fatal shot had been off by just a little, Kennedy might have survived.
2. The fatal shot was the one that killed the president.
3. The assassination of Kennedy shattered the dreams of many Americans.
4. In October of 1962, the US and the Soviet Union came dangerously close to entering a full-scale nuclear war.
5. Kennedy and his wife were sitting in an open car, waving to a large crowd of people when he was shot.