【美国精神】第70期

Explanation:

  Starting a new job is always difficult because you’re doing many things for the first time. But starting a job that is new and has never existed before is even more difficult because no one has ever done the things that you’re being asked to do. No one can tell you how to do it because no one has that experience. This is similar to what happened to the first president of the United¹ States, George Washington².

  George Washington was unanimously³ elected to be the first U.S. president, meaning that no one voted against him. Once this happened, everything that George Washington did became a precedent⁴ (or something that is used as an example for how people should behave in the future). Many of the things that George Washington did have become standard (or unchanging) for all U.S. presidents. For example, he chose to be called “Mr. President,” and all U.S. presidents have been called that ever since.

  Throughout⁵ his time as president, George Washington travelled to many different states, working hard to make sure that each state felt like an important part of the new country. He listened carefully to the advice (or ideas and suggestions) of other people before he made decisions as president. He was very careful to avoid (or not have) war with France or Britain.

  Many people wanted George Washington to be president for three four-year terms (which would be a total of 12 years as president), but he declined⁶ (or said no). This set (or created) the precedent that presidents could serve (or work) for only two terms. Only one president was elected to more than two terms, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

  Today George Washington’s portrait⁷ (which is a painting or drawing of him) is on the United States’ one-dollar bills (or pieces of paper money) and quarters (or pieces of metal worth 25 cents). There is also a tall monument⁸ (or something that is built to remember a person or place) to George Washington in Washington, DC.

 

问题：

Who was the first President?

Answer:

(George) Washington

1 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

2 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

3 unanimously   

ad.一致同意地

参考例句：

• Three judges unanimously upheld the sentence. 三名法官一致维持这个判决。
• Following discussion, the annual report was accepted unanimously. 经过讨论，年度报告获一致通过。

4 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

5 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

6 declined   

v.辞谢，谢绝（邀请等）( decline的过去式和过去分词 )；（道路、物体等）下倾；（太阳）落下；（在品格、价值上）降低

参考例句：

• We asked her to come to our party, but she declined. 我们请她来参加我们的晚会，但是她谢绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He declined to charge his memory with so many details. 他不愿在脑中记这么多细枝末节。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 portrait   

n.像；人物画像

参考例句：

• There is a portrait of King Charles on the wall.墙上挂着查尔斯国王的画像。
• She painted a beautiful portrait for us.她为我们画了一幅漂亮的肖像。

8 monument   

n.纪念碑；遗址，遗迹；有永久价值的作品，不朽的功业

参考例句：

• A monument was set up as a memorial to the dead soldiers.为阵亡将士立了一个纪念碑。
• The monument bears the mark of age.纪念碑上有年深日久的痕迹。