2007年VOA标准英语-Virginia Tech Violence Shatters Sense of Securi

By Brian Padden
Blacksburg, Virginia
19 April 2007
 

In the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the residents of the Blacksburg, Virginia are visibly shaken.  Virginia Tech University is located in this rural town about four hours south of Washington, D.C.  In some ways Blacksburg is an extension of Virginia Tech.  The university employs many local people, and many local businesses cater¹ to students.  And as VOA's Brian Padden reports, the people of Blacksburg are also now trying to cope with the tragedy that left 33 people dead.

Ranae Gillie

While it may look like business as usual at Gillie's restaurant, a favorite hangout for Virginia Tech students, the mood here is somber².  Most of the customers are from the school.  The cooks and the servers are also students. And almost everyone here knew someone killed or wounded in the shooting rampage at the university.

Owner Ranae Gillie says Blacksburg is a very close-knit community and today all are grieving their loss. "We are all affiliated³ someway or another with the university.  When this horrific event happened, it affected⁴ each one of us all.  And we are trying, in our own way, to do some act of healing."

While Ranae Gillie strives to find some solace⁵ in her work, Kiera Cass is ready to listen.  After hearing about the shooting at the university, she set up a sign on a local street corner offering her services as a sidewalk counselor⁶. "I really felt compelled to come and show kindness,” she says.  “I don't know why.  It is so simple and so silly but it is really what I felt I needed to do."

Blacksburg is in a very rural and usually safe area.  Outside of town there are more cattle than people.  That a tragedy of this nature could even happen in this peaceful little town is almost unbelievable to many here.

Long-term resident John Lemasters says now that sense of security is gone. "We assumed the town was a safe place, that our university was a safe place.  And that morning all of our assumptions were shattered," he says.

Like John Lemasters, many of the residents of Blacksburg feel their lives have been forever changed.

1 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

2 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

3 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 solace   

n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和

参考例句：

• They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives.他们日常生活很艰难，就在宗教中寻求安慰。
• His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace.演艺事业突然一落千丈，他便借酒浇愁。

6 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。