VOA标准英语2011--Muslims in America Celebrate End of Rama

Muslims in America Celebrate End of Ramadan

美国穆斯林庆祝斋月结束
Muslims across America gathered in mosques² to mark the Eid al Fitr holiday that closes their holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims from around America's capital poured into the Islamic Center of Washington in one of the most elegant parts of the city, known as Embassy Row.
美国首都的穆斯林纷纷来到位于最高雅的地区，使馆区的伊斯兰中心。
Egyptian law student Youssef Muhammad Auf hurried toward the men's entrance with his mind on what he would ask of God this year.
埃及法律学生Youssef Muhammad Auf迅速来到男子入口处，脑海中想的是今年应该向上帝祈求什么。
"Of course, pray [for] my country, the Islamic world, and all human beings - to be safe, peace, and have peaceful relations with every country, especially the United States and the Islamic World," he said.
“当然，为我们的国家，为伊斯兰世界，为全人类祈祷，希望他们安全，和平，与邻国有着和平的关系，尤其是美国和伊斯兰世界。”
Eid al-Fitr marks the breaking of the month-long fast of Ramadan. In can last up to three days in some countries.
开斋节(Eid al-Fitr)标志着长达一个月的斋月的结束。在有些国家，开斋节可以持续三天的时间。
Auf said it was the first time he spent the holiday outside of his native Egypt.
Youssef Muhammad Auf说，这是他第一次在埃及以外的其他国家庆祝这个节日。
"The Eid here is totally different from the Islamic world," noted³ Auf. "Because the day here is a business day. Everything is okay. But in our countries, the Eid means everything. No work. Everyone [is] on vacation, holiday. So it is totally different. But I hope that it will be a good day, insha'allah (God willing)."
“这里的开斋节与伊斯兰世界完全不同。因为在这里，这一天是商业化的。一切都好。但是在我们的国家，开斋意味着一切。不用上班，每个人都休假。所以是完全不同的。但是我希望这是美好的一天。愿上帝保佑我们。”
This landmark⁴ mosque¹ was built in the 1950s and its minaret⁵ towers over the posh streets of this diplomatic neighborhood.
这座地标性的清真寺建于50年代，高高的尖塔矗立在这个外交区域繁华的街道。
Several beggars stood outside the wrought⁶ iron gate of the mosque.
几名乞丐站在这座清真寺做工精细的铁门外。
One pointed⁷ veiled women toward the separate side entrance.
其中一人正在引导戴面纱的女子前往另外一个入口。
Jamile Ramadan moved to America from Lebanon 14 years ago. She sometimes misses the way the Eid is celebrated⁸ in her native country, especially when she is in secular⁹ settings.
Jamile Ramadan于14年前从黎巴嫩移居美国。她有时会回忆起自己的国家庆祝开斋节的方式，尤其是在世俗环境中。
"There are not a lot of people who are fasting, especially at work," she noted. "You feel you have to accommodate, you have to restrain yourself from the coffee. And it is not as respectful as back home. You feel people ask you, 'You are fasting?' 'It is a myth, why do you do it?'"
“没有许多人斋戒，尤其是工作的时候。你感觉到你应该适应，应该控制自己不要喝咖啡。在这里不像在家里那样受到尊重。如果人们问你，你在斋戒吗？你可能会觉得，很奇怪，为什么这么做呢？”
A survey of Muslims in the United States released on Eid al Fitr found that while most have assimilated well into American society, many say it has become harder to be a Muslim in America since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
美国向穆斯林进行的关于开斋节的调查发现，尽管大部分人已经被美国社会同化，许多人仍然表示，自从2011年9.11恐怖袭击以来，在美国作为一名穆斯林已经更加困难。

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

5 minaret   

n.（回教寺院的）尖塔

参考例句：

• The minaret is 65 meters high,the second highest in the world.光塔高65米，高度位居世界第二。
• It stands on a high marble plinth with a minaret at each corner.整个建筑建立在一个高大的大理石底座上，每个角上都有一个尖塔。

6 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。