《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词4500》38 Presidents of the United States

　　Unit 38
Presidents of the United States
Here are some astonishing facts about the national chief executives: When electing US Presidents, Americans haven't been partial to one type of man. Commanders in Chief of all kinds, tall and short, handsome and homely¹, well-educated and barely schooled, scoundrel and saint were sent to Washington to serve. The following questions look behind the formal portraits of the nation's Presidents to reveal their unique characters, oddities and ironies². The answers may challenge your perceptions of he men and the highest office in land they held.
Which President is credited with saving 77 lives? Ronald Reagan, as lifeguard in his hometown. But some of the rescues may have been young women faking it simply to get the handsome Reagan's attention.
Which President was also a King? The 38th President Gerald Ford³. Giving birth to him in 1913 by the name of Leslie L. King, Jr., his mother divorced and remarried. His stepfather informally adopted him, renaming him Gerald R. Ford.
Which President's son was personally affected⁴ by three Presidential assassinations⁵? Abram Lincoln's oldest son, Robert Todd, was at is father's side after the 16th President was assassinated⁶ at Ford's Theatre in 1865. Sixteen years later he was at the Washington rail depot⁷ where the 20th President, James Garfield was shot in 1881. In 1901 Lincoln was in Buffalo⁸ at the Pan-American Exposition, where the 25th President William McKinley was assassinated. Thereafter Robert Todd avoided functions where a President was present.
Who were the largest, smallest and tallest Presidents? Elected in 1909, the six-foot William Howard Taft weighed 335 pounds. Once, Chauncey Depew, a renowned⁹ turn-of-the-century orator¹⁰, pointed¹¹ to Taft's massive stomach and asked, "What are you going to name the baby?" Taft replied: "If it's a boy, he will be a junior. If it's a girl, I'll name her Helen. But if, as I expect, it is only gas, I'll name it Chauncey Depew." James Madison was the smallest leader: 5 feet 4 inches, 100 pounds. Abraham Lincoln, 6 feet 4 inches, was the tallest.
Which two Presidents died on the Fourth of July, 1826? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, 50 years the day after The Declaration of Independence.
Which President was taught by his wife to read and write? In 1827, in Greeneville, Tenn Eliza McCardle, 16, married Andrew Johnson, 18. He was a tailor who could barely read or write. Yet he was extremely ambitious. In the evening his wife taught him to read and write. And from there his political career took off, from mayor of his town to governor to Vice¹² President and Finally President.
Who was the first President to play Little League Baseball? George W. Bush, for the Midland, Texas Cubs¹³ from 1954 to 1958. His coach, Frank Ittner, now 94 years old, recalls Bush as a fine defensive¹⁴ catcher who needed work on his hitting.

1 homely   

adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的

参考例句：

• We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。
• Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭，好吗？

2 ironies   

n.反语( irony的名词复数 )；冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事；嘲弄

参考例句：

• It was one of life's little ironies. 那是生活中的一个小小的嘲弄。
• History has many ironies. 历史有许多具有讽刺意味的事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 assassinations   

n.暗杀( assassination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Most anarchist assassinations were bungled because of haste or spontaneity, in his view. 在他看来，无政府主义者搞的许多刺杀都没成功就是因为匆忙和自发行动。 来自辞典例句
• Assassinations by Israelis of alleged terrorists habitually kill nearby women and children. 在以色列，自称恐怖分子的炸弹自杀者杀害靠近自己的以色列妇女和儿童。 来自互联网

6 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

7 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

8 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

9 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

10 orator   

n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• The orator gestured vigorously while speaking.这位演讲者讲话时用力地做手势。

11 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

12 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

13 cubs   

n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lioness guarding her cubs 守护幼崽的母狮
• Lion cubs depend on their mother to feed them. 狮子的幼仔依靠母狮喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。