VOA标准英语2008年-New Zealand Organizes State Funeral for Edmund

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
22 January 2008

Thousands of mourners gathered in Auckland for the funeral of New Zealand's national hero, Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest. The 88-year-old adventurer died earlier this month. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Nepalese Sherpas laid prayer scarves on Edmund Hillary's coffin¹ as mourners across New Zealand said goodbye to the conqueror² of Mount Everest.

The ice axe³ Hillary used in 1953 on his climb up Everest with guide Tenzing Norgay also lay atop the flag-draped casket.

The state funeral was held at a small church in Auckland, while thousands gathered to watch the service on a giant screen.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says Hillary's resilience and enthusiasm were an inspiration.

"That attitude, Sir Ed's can-do pragmatism and his humility⁴ as the praise flowed for him over the decades endeared Sir Ed to our nation and made him an inspiration and a role model to generations of New Zealanders," she said.

Diplomats⁵ from many nations, including Australia, the United States, Britain and Nepal joined the mourners. Also at the service were the four surviving members of the original team of 14 who set out with Hillary to conquer Everest, the world's highest mountain.

Many climbers had died trying to reach the summit of Everest before Hillary and Norgay made it safely. Since then, hundreds more people have reached the top, although almost every year some climbers are injured or killed in the attempt.

After his achievement on Everest, Hillary dedicated⁶ his life to helping⁷ the people of Nepal building schools and hospitals. He also went on to explore the Arctic and Antarctic and lead other mountain expeditions.

He died earlier month after suffering a heart attack. He was 88. It was his last wish that his ashes be scattered⁸ at sea, perhaps to wash ashore⁹ and - in the words of the explorer - "to complete the cycle of my life."

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 conqueror   

n.征服者，胜利者

参考例句：

• We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
• They abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。

3 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

4 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

5 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

9 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。