【美国精神】第80期

Explanation:   

  When Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United States, he said, “the only thing we have to fear (or be afraid of) is fear itself." This phrase became very well known and gave inspiration¹ (or hope) to millions of Americans who were living in very difficult times. Roosevelt became president in 1933 during the Great Depression, which was a period of time when the U.S. economy was doing very poorly.  

 

  President Roosevelt did many things to help Americans during the Great Depression. He had a plan called the New Deal that helped the unemployed² (or people who couldn’t find jobs), made the banking³ system better, and helped to strengthen the economy. 

 

  Then, just when the Great Depression was ending and the U.S. economy was getting better, World War II began and President Roosevelt had many new challenges (or things that are difficult to do). He started rationing⁴, letting people have only small amounts of things that were also needed by the army. He also worked to expand (or make bigger) the manufacturing industry (or the part of the economy that makes things) in the United States. He approved the law that created a minimum wage, which is the smallest amount of money that a person can be paid for each hour of work. 

 

  President Roosevelt served (or worked as president) for 12 years, from 1933 to 1945. He was the only U.S. President who has served more than two terms (or two four-year periods). After his presidency⁵, the 22nd Amendment⁶ (or change to the law) to the U.S. Constitution was made, so that no president could serve more than two terms. 

 

  He was a very strong president, yet his body was weak (or not strong). President Roosevelt was almost paralyzed⁷ (or unable to move) in the lower part of his body. He used a wheelchair, which is a special chair on wheels, but he almost never let people see him using it. 

 

问题：

Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?  

Answer:   

 (Franklin) Roosevelt 

1 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

2 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

3 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

4 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

5 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

6 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

7 paralyzed   

adj.瘫痪的

参考例句：

• He is paralyzed as the result of a would-be assassin's bullet years ago. 几年前有人对他行刺未遂，但子弹使他瘫痪了。
• But the very imminence of the emergency paralyzed his invention. Good! 常言说得好，急中生智，可汤姆这回却束手无策，对，就这么办。