VOA慢速英语2016 美国历史上最严重大规模枪击事件造成50人丧生（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2016-06-13 50 Dead in Worst Mass Shooting in US History 美国历史上最严重大规模枪击事件造成50人丧生

A gunman has killed 50 people and wounded another 53 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

一名枪手在美国佛罗里达州奥兰多市一家同志夜总会造成50人死亡，53人受伤。这是美国历史上最严重的大规模枪击事件。

President Barack Obama, in an address to the nation Sunday, called the attack “an act of terror and an act of hate.” He said the American people are united in grief and outrage. Obama praised the police and others who worked to rescue the hostages and end the attack.

美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马在周日向全国发表演讲时，将此次袭击称为“出于仇恨的恐怖行为”。他说美国人民会在悲痛和愤慨中团结一致。奥巴马称赞了警方和其他解救人质并终止袭击的工作人员。

The president also called the attack a “further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon.” Obama’s comments mark his fifteenth address linked to a mass shooting during his presidency.

总统在讲话中还说，这次袭击“再一次提醒了人们拿到枪到底有多容易”。这已经是奥巴马总统生涯中发表的关于大规模枪击事件的第15次讲话了。

Many families still do not know the fate of their loved ones who were at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

很多家庭还不知道他们所爱的人在奥兰多的脉搏夜总会遭遇了什么事情。

Police have identified the shooter as Omar Saddiqui Mateen. He worked as a security guard since 2007. He was killed at the scene in a gunfight with police. Mateen is a U.S. citizen born in New York. His parents are from Afghanistan.

警方已经确认，枪手是奥马尔·萨迪奎·迈丁。他自2007年以来一直从事保安工作。他在与警方的交火中被击毙。迈丁是在纽约出生的美国公民。他的父母来自阿富汗。

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida said intelligence officials informed him the shooter might have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. He added investigators are focused on Fort Pierce, about 190 kilometers from Orlando, where the gunman lived.

佛罗里达州参议员比尔·尼尔森说，情报官员告诉他，枪手可能向伊斯兰国家效忠过。他补充说，调查人员主要集中在枪手的住处——距离奥兰多约190公里的皮尔斯堡。

Ronald Hopper of the FBI said Mateen purchased at least two guns last week. He said the FBI had earlier questioned Mateen after reports that he had made comments sympathetic to the Islamic State. But the agency determined there was not enough evidence to continue an investigation.

美国联邦调查局的罗纳德·霍珀说，迈丁在上周至少购买了两把枪。他说联调局在迈丁发表过同情伊斯兰国的言论之后，曾经在早些时候质询过他。但是联调局认定没有足够的证据来继续进行调查。

Mateen’s father, Mir Siddiqui, told NBC News that he did not believe the attack was connected to religion. He suggested it was more likely an act of homophobia. He said his son had expressed deep anger when he saw two men kissing recently.

迈丁的父亲米尔·萨迪奎在接受美国国家广播公司采访时说，他不认为这次袭击与宗教有关。他认为这更像是一种恐同行为。他说他儿子最近看到两个男人接吻就会感觉非常生气。

We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident, Siddiqui said. "We are in shock like the whole country."

“我们想说我们为整个事件道歉。萨迪奎说，“我们也和全国人民一样震惊。”

The suspect exchanged gunfire with an officer working at the nightclub around 2 o’clock in the morning. About 300 people were inside. The gunman then went inside and took hostages, Orlando police chief John Mina said.

疑犯在凌晨两点的时候和在夜总会工作的警官交火。夜总会里大约有300人。奥兰多警察局长约翰·米纳说，枪手之后进去然后劫持了人质。

About three hours later, officials sent in a special police team to rescue the hostages. Officers shot and killed the attacker.

大约三个小时之后，警方派了一支特警队去解救人质。警方击毙了袭击者。

The shooter had an assault rifle and a handgun.

枪手有一支突击步枪和一支手枪。

“It appears he was organized and well prepared," Chief Mina said.

“可以看得出来，这是经过精心策划和准备的。”米纳局长说。

World leaders have reacted to the news of the massacre in Florida with messages of sympathy and solidarity with the United States.

世界其他国家领导人就佛罗里达州大屠杀的消息向美国表达了同情和声援。

French President Francois Hollande sent a statement condemning “with horror" the mass killing in Florida. It expressed the “full support of France and the French with America’s authorities and its people in this difficult time.”

法国总统弗朗索瓦·奥朗德“充满愤慨地”发表声明谴责佛罗里达州的大规模死伤事件。这份声明表达了“法国和法国人民对正处于艰难时期的美国和美国人民的全面支持”。

Italian Premier Matteo Renzi posted a message on the social media website Twitter. Our heart is with our American brothers, he wrote.

意大利总理马泰奥·伦齐社交网站推特上发了一条信息。“我们的心与美国兄弟同在。”他写道。

The Vatican said Pope Francis joins the families of victims in “prayer and compassion.”

梵蒂冈方面称，教皇方济各参加了遇难者家属的祈祷并安抚了他们。

Words in This Story

nightclub - n. a place that is open at night, has music, dancing, or a show, and usually serves alcoholic drinks and food?

outrage - n. extreme anger : a strong feeling of unhappiness because of something bad, hurtful, or morally wrong?

assault rifle - n. a gun that can shoot many bullets quickly and that is designed for use by the military?

fate - n. the things that will happen to a person or thing: the future that someone or something will have?

pledge allegiance - verb phrase to declare loyalty to a person, country, group, etc.?

homophobia ?-? n. a person who hates or is afraid of homosexuals or treats them unfairly

authorities ?-? n. people who have power to make decisions and enforce rules and laws?

compassion ?-? n. a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.?