2007年VOA标准英语-Yeltsin Lies in State; Funeral Set for Wednesda

By Lisa McAdams
Moscow
24 April 2007

Women stand outside Christ the Savior Cathedral, where farewell ceremony to former Russian president Boris Yeltsin will be held in Moscow, 24 Apr 2007

Russians mourning the loss of their first post-Soviet leader, Boris Yeltsin, will have a chance to pay their last respects Tuesday, as his body lies in state at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, near the Kremlin. VOA's Lisa McAdams in Moscow reports a state funeral will follow, Wednesday, which President Vladimir Putin has declared a national day of mourning.

Former President Yeltsin, who died of a heart attack Monday at 76, will be buried at Moscow's historic Novodevichy Cemetery¹, Wednesday, following memorial ceremonies in the golden-domed Christ the Savior Cathedral.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed² his annual state-of-the-nation address from Wednesday to Thursday, to attend the funeral, along with hundreds of dignitaries.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior are expected to attend on behalf of the United States.

Ordinary Russians will be able to pay their last respects to Mr. Yeltsin today, during late-afternoon viewing hours at the cathedral. Many Russians only learned of Yeltsin's death, late Monday night, when President Putin took to the airwaves to hail his predecessor³ as the man who gave birth to a newly democratic Russia.

President Putin said he remembers Yeltsin as courageous⁴, brave, heartfelt and direct.

Mr. Putin has declared Wednesday a national day of mourning across Russia, with flags to be flown at half-mast and televised entertainment programs canceled.

Russia's media have painted a mostly positive spin on Yeltsin's life, praising the political and economic freedoms he introduced to the country.

1 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

2 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

3 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

4 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。