历史上的今天-Today in History 2010-10-26

 October 26th, 2001In Washington, President George W. Bush signs the USA Patriot¹ Act more than a month after the 9/11 attacks. The Act gives federal authorities unprecedented² ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop³ in their pursuit of possible terrorists.

"It'll help law enforcement to identify, to dismantle⁴, to disrupt and to punish terrorists before they strike."1972American and North Vietnamese negotiators reach a ceasefire agreement. Henry Kissinger, President Richard Nixon's National Security Advisor⁵ declares, " We believe that peace is at hand." But the agreement soon collapses⁶ after South Vietnam objects. Months later, a new agreement is signed, ending America's military role in the Vietnam War.

1881The gunfight at the O.K. Corral takes place in Tombstone, Arizona. That's where Wyatt Earp and his two brothers and Doc Holliday confront Ike Clanton's gang. Three members of Clanton's gang are killed while Earp's brothers are wounded.

1942Bob Hoskins, the character actor whose roles include Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Long Good Friday and Mona Lisa, is born in Britain.

And 1946Pat Sajak, longtime host of the game show Wheel of Fortune, is born in Chicago.

Today in History, October 26th, Carload Bradley, the Associated Press.

1 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 eavesdrop   

v.偷听，倾听

参考例句：

• He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.他藏在壁橱里，以便偷听。
• It is not polite to eavesdrop on the conversation of other people.偷听他人说话是很不礼貌的。

4 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

5 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

6 collapses   

折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下

参考例句：

• This bridge table collapses. 这张桥牌桌子能折叠。
• Once Russia collapses, the last chance to stop Hitler will be gone. 一旦俄国垮台，抑止希特勒的最后机会就没有了。