VOA慢速英语2018--美国参议员麦凯恩决定放弃治疗脑癌

Senator John McCain Decides to End Cancer Treatment

American Senator John McCain has chosen to discontinue his medical treatment for brain cancer.

The family of the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nominee¹ and former prisoner of war announced the decision Friday. They said “With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment.”

His wife Cindy posted a message on Twitter: “I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey.”

In July 2017, doctors found the cancerous growth and operated on McCain. Two weeks later, McCain returned to the Senate floor. He cast the deciding vote against a Republican measure to end the Affordable² Care Act, or ObamaCare.

Republican President Donald Trump³ criticized that decision. He and McCain have had long-standing disagreements. During his campaign, Trump also questioned the senator’s public image as a war hero, saying of McCain’s past, “I like people who weren’t captured.”

McCain flew for the navy. His plane was shot down during the war in Vietnam. He was imprisoned⁴, kept in isolation⁵, and tortured by the North Vietnamese. He refused to give the North Vietnamese any military information. McCain was finally released after the cease-fire along with other American prisoners of war on March 14, 1973.

Entering politics

McCain retired⁶ from the Navy. He has served in Congress representing Arizona since 1982. He has been absent because of his medical condition since December.

The 81-year-old McCain has seven children, four with his wife Cindy Hensley, and three from his first marriage to Carol Shepp.

After the announcement Friday, former Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman said, “becoming John McCain’s friend has been one of the great blessings⁷ of my life. Today I am praying for him and his family.”

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

journey – n. the act of traveling from one place to another

isolation – n. the state of being separate from other people, places, or things

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 imprisoned   

下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
• They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。

5 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

6 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

7 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》