世界名人简介 第157期: 英格丽德·贝当古

 　　Ingrid Betancourt is a Colombia—French politician and formerly¹ the world's most famous hostage. She was kidnapped in 2002 by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) while campaigning to be president. Her six years in captivity² in the Colombian jungle attracted media attention worldwide. She was rescued in July 2008 in a daring operation by Colombian security forces.

　　英格丽德·贝当古是一位哥伦比亚和法国双重国籍的政治家，她也曾是世界上最著名的人质。她在2002年竞选总统时遭到“哥伦比亚革命武装力量”绑架。贝当古在哥伦比亚丛林的六年软禁生活引起了全世界媒体的关注。2008年7月，她在哥伦比亚安全部队的一次大胆营救行动中获救。

　　Betancourt was born in Colombia's capital Bogota in 1961. Her mother was a politician and former Miss Colombia. Her father was also a politician and was high up in UNESCO. Ingrid attended elite³ schools in France, England and Colombia. After graduating, she married a fellow student and they had two children. Her diplomat⁴ husband meant she traveled constantly and lived in different countries.

　　贝当古1961年出生在哥伦比亚的首都波哥大,她的母亲是政治家和前哥伦比亚小姐，她的父亲也是一位政治家，曾在联合国教科文组织任职。贝当古在法国、英格兰和哥伦比亚上得精英学校。毕业后，她嫁给了一个同学，生了两个孩子。她的丈夫是外交官，这意味着她经常出国，在不同的国家居住。

　　Her political career began in 1990. She distributed condoms to the poor in her election campaign. Her motto was she would be like a condom against corruption⁵. She was elected to government in 1994 and launched her Green Oxygen Party. Four years later she became a Senator. In February 2002, she ignored government warnings and tried to campaign in FARC-held territory.

　　贝当古的政治生涯始于1990年。她在竞选过程中把避孕套分发给穷人。她的座右铭是她将会像避孕套一样反对腐败。贝当古1994年进入政府工作，创建了她的“绿色氧气”党。四年后她成为参议员。2002年2月，她不顾政府的警告，试着前往“哥伦比亚革命武装力量”控制的地区去竞选。

　　The FARC had no plan to kidnap Betancourt. She walked straight into their hands. She became the FARC's most valuable hostage. Her 2,321 days in captivity were full of reports about her ill health and wretched living conditions. A video released in 2007 showed her looking desperately⁶ frail⁷. Following her daring rescue, she received the Legion of Honour from French President Sarkozy.

　　“哥伦比亚革命武装力量”没想绑架贝当古，她自己送上门去，成为“哥武”最有价值的人质。在贝当古遭受软禁的2321天里，关于她患病和艰苦生活环境的报道层出不穷。2007年公开的一段录像显示，她看上去极度绝望和脆弱。她获救后被法国总统萨科齐授予荣誉军团勋章。

　　1.in captivity 被囚禁

　　例句：There may be some among us who can imagine 20 days in captivity; perhaps a fraction of those can imagine a full year deprived of liberty and most human contact.

　　我们之间可能有些人可以想像被囚禁20天会是什么样，也许很少一部分人可以想像一整年被剥夺自由，没有机会接触别人的滋味。

　　2.elite schools 精英学校

　　例句：Even at China's most elite schools, many complain that their curriculum is all about rote⁸ learning, with little creativity.

　　即使在中国最精英学校，许多人都抱怨他们的课程都是死记硬背，很少创造力。

　　3.distribute to 分发给

　　例句：Many organizations collect turkeys and all the trimmings to distribute to local families in need.

　　很多机构募集火鸡及所有的配料分发给当地的穷困家庭。

　　4.The Legion of Honour 荣誉团勋章

　　例句：The Legion of Honour, the country's highest award, was presented to 300 veterans, including 100 americans, at a June 5 ceremony in Paris.

　　当天，在巴黎举行的纪念仪式上，还为包括100位美国人在内的300位退伍军人颁发了代表法国最高荣誉的荣誉团勋章。

1 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

2 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

3 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

4 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

8 rote   

n.死记硬背，生搬硬套

参考例句：

• Learning by rote is discouraged in this school.这所学校不鼓励死记硬背的学习方式。
• He recited the poem by rote.他强记背诵了这首诗。