VOA标准英语2009年-Thousands Gather for Former Philippine Pre

Yellow confetti rained from buildings, as tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the Philippine capital to bid farewell to former President Corazon Aquino. The scene was reminiscent of the Philippine democracy movement that she led in the 1980's.
　
Tens of thousands of supporters gather at the funeral motorcade for the former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, Monday 3 Aug. 2009 in Manila, Philippines

Mrs. Aquino's coffin¹, draped in the Philippine flag and laid over a bed of yellow flowers, was carried in a large truck Monday through a section of Manila's EDSA highway: the site of the "people power" movement she led in 1986 that overthrew² the authoritarian³ Marcos government.

On Ayala Avenue, in the country's business district, people, many wearing yellow, packed the sidewalks. Many more watched from glass windows, terraces and rooftops.

People sang songs popularized during the 1980's democracy movement, flashed the "L" laban or "fight" sign, and carried signs saying "Thank you Cory Aquino" and "Goodbye".

Yellow confetti rained from the buildings onto the street, reminiscent of the color the widow-turned-democracy icon⁴ chose for her campaign to unseat then-president Ferdinand Marcos. Mrs. Aquino appeared in several rallies in the business district after her husband, opposition⁵ leader Senator Benigno Aquino Junior, was assassinated⁶ in 1983.

Daughter Kris Aquino thanked the public for the show of support since her mother's death Saturday.

"This is so beautiful for us. Our hearts feel wonderful," she said. "The Filipinos are so appreciative⁷ of what she did for our country. It brings back so many memories of my Dad and I just want to say thank you very, very much."

Senator Richard Gordon said the street turnout was fitting for a leader who came to power through street protests.

"What you see here is the people's funeral, people paying their respects spontaneously on the streets, as they remind themselves that they propelled her from the streets," Gordon said. "She is being interred⁹ and buried with the support of the people that came from the streets."

On television interviews and on online message boards, Filipinos around the world expressed thanks for Mrs. Aquino's restoration of democracy in the country. But some politicians say this legacy¹⁰ is being challenged, amid proposals to change the 1987 Constitution to allow a parliament system of government.
　
Wan⁸ Azizah Wan Ismail, center, wife of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, views the casket of the late Philippine President Corazon Aquino, Manila, Philippines 2 Aug. 2009

Mrs. Aquino criticized the proposals as "shameful¹¹ abuses of power". The opposition says the changes would allow current President Gloria Arroyo¹² to stay in power past the end of her term in May, next year.

In Congress, Monday, some Filipino lawmakers called for the withdrawal¹³ of the bill, proposing the amendments¹⁴ to honor the former leader.

President Arroyo has been on an official trip to the United States and says she will return in time for Mrs. Aquino's funeral, Wednesday. The Aquino family refused a state funeral for Mrs. Aquino, which would have involved bringing her coffin to the presidential palace.

1 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

2 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

3 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

4 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

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 appreciative   

adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的

参考例句：

• She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
• We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。

8 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

9 interred   

v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Marie Curie's remains were exhumed and interred in the Pantheon. 玛丽·居里的遗体被移出葬在先贤祠中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The body was interred at the cemetery. 遗体埋葬在公墓里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

11 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

12 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

13 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

14 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。