英语课程计划-World Freedom Day

World Freedom Day is a celebration started by former U.S. President George W. Bush. It commemorates¹ the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The tearing down of the Berlin Wall was the beginning of the end for communist rule in many parts of Europe. Bush started it in 2003 and made it an official American holiday, although people still go to work. Bush said: “After dividing families, friends, and communities for 28 years, the dismantling² of the Berlin Wall reunited Germany and helped spread freedom across Central and Eastern Europe.” President Bush explained the importance of this day, saying: “The United States is committed to liberty³, freedom, and the universal struggle for human rights. We strive⁴ to advance peace and democracy⁵.”

The Berlin Wall was put up by the former German Democratic⁶ Republic (known as East Germany) after WWII. It completely surrounded West Berlin, which was controlled by America and its allies⁷. It was the start of what became known as the Iron Curtain. The wall was the physical symbol of the Cold War between Eastern Europe and the West. Throughout 1989, there was a lot of social unrest in East Germany. Citizens called for freedom. On November the 9th, 1989, the East German government said people could visit West Berlin. Thousands of East Germans climbed onto and crossed the wall. They started to break it down with hammers. The fall of the Berlin Wall led to the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990.

1 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 dismantling   

（枪支）分解

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。
• The dismantling of a nuclear reprocessing plant caused a leak of radioactivity yesterday. 昨天拆除核后处理工厂引起了放射物泄漏。

3 liberty   

n.自由，自由权；冒昧行为

参考例句：

• He stood for the cause of liberty and justice.他为自由和正义的事业而奋斗。
• You are at liberty to do as you please.你可以随意行事。

4 strive   

vi.努力，奋斗，力争

参考例句：

• Don't strive merely for quantity of production.在生产中不要单纯地追求数量。
• The scientists strive for a breakthrough in cancer research.科学家们力争在癌症研究方面有个突破。

5 democracy   

n.民主政治，民主制度；民主精神，民主作风

参考例句：

• Democracy is based on good will and mutual understanding.民主建立在善意和相互理解的基础上。
• Did democracy have its beginnings in Athens? 民主制度是创始于雅典吗？

6 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

7 allies   

联盟国，同盟者； 同盟国，同盟者( ally的名词复数 )； 支持者； 盟军

参考例句：

• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。
• A number of the United States' allies had urged him not to take a hasty decision. 美国的一些盟友已力劝他不要急于作决定。