VOA慢速英语2015 北卡罗来纳枪击案的受害者

AS IT IS 2015-02-18 Teacher Remembers North Carolina Shooting Victims 北卡罗来纳枪击案的受害者

Mussarut Jabeen is head of the Al-Iman School in Raleigh, North Carolina. She knew all three young people who were murdered in North Carolina on February 10. She provided Islamic education to Yusor Abu-Salha, Deah Barakat and Razan Abu-Salha when they were children.

“I taught Yusor, I taught Deah, and I taught Razan.”

The three were killed in their house in Chapel¹ Hill. They were 23, 21 and 19 years old. Deah and Yusor were recently married; Yusor and Razan were sisters.

Their former teacher, Sister Jabeen, says the young people were always trying to do good.

Deah Barakat was studying at the University of North Carolina. He was hoping to become a dentist – a doctor who cares for people’s mouth and teeth. He even started a campaign to provide dental care to Syrian refugee children.

“Have you ever felt helpless about the situation in Syria and felt like you can’t do anything about it? Well, this is your opportunity to help.”

Sister Jabeen says she hopes people remember Deah for the good he did.

“He had a cause in his mind. He had a mission in his mind.”

Sister Jabeen says all three shooting victims wanted to help their communities and their school. She says Razan Abu-Salha assisted with a Saturday class on the Quran.

“So, that by itself shows how much volunteerism was in her as a young lady.”

Sister Jabeen says Razan’s older sister, Yusor, was very mature for her age, and a very happy person.

“Very polite. Very gentle.”

Sister Jabeen says Deah, Yusor and Razan were all caring, helpful people.

“All kids are wonderful, you know, but there are some that are just outstanding. We need more people like that. And that’s what I say, that it’s now more challenging for me, that’s a goal for me to have more Deahs and more Yusors and more Razans.”

A neighbor is charged with killing² the young people. Police say the murders may be related to a parking dispute. But some activists³ are asking officials to investigate the murders as a hate crime because the victims were Muslim. Officials have not yet said how they will consider the case.

Words in This Story

dental – adj. relating to teeth or the work dentists do

mature – adj. having or showing the mental and emotional qualities of an adult

1 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》