THIS IS AMERICA - One Year After Sept. 11

THIS IS AMERICA - September 9, 2002: One Year After Sept. 11

By Jerilyn Watson

AP

VOICE ONE:

Last year on September eleventh, more than three-thousand people were killed in terrorist attacks on the United
States. It was the worst terrorist attack in American history. I’m Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:

 

And I’m Bob Doughty¹. The United States after the terrorist attacks is
our report today on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS
AMERICA.

((THEME))

VOICE ONE:

Last September eleventh, Islamist terrorists hijacked² two passenger airplanes and flew them into the World Trade
Center in New York City. The two giant buildings were destroyed. Another hijacked plane struck and damaged
the Defense³ Department headquarters near Washington, D.C. Still another hijacked plane crashed near
Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The victims included Americans of many races and religions. Many foreign citizens
also died in the attacks.

Now, a year later, some Americans say life seems normal again. Others say the United States will never be the
same again.

VOICE TWO:

Religious services and other programs will observe the anniversary throughout the nation. White House officials
helped organize a Concert for America. It will be broadcast on television Wednesday. Many Americans will
watch other television programs about the attacks. However, other Americans say they will not observe the
anniversary. They say they can best honor the victims by making life as normal as possible.

Now, we share some memories of what America was like after September eleventh, two-thousand-one.

VOICE ONE:

New York City changed forever that day. The attacks destroyed a huge part of the financial center of the city.
Everyone seemed to know someone who died in the attacks. A young financial worker says his office will always
seem empty because so many workers were killed.

Again and again, Americans heard the sounds of bagpipes⁴ as musicians played “Amazing Grace.” The song
honored the memory of three-hundred-forty-three firefighters and twenty-three police officers. They died trying


to save people in the World Trade Center. The song also honors more than two-thousand-four-hundred civilians⁶
who did not escape.

((MUSIC))

VOICE TWO:

Near Washington, D-C, people left flowers and messages near one heavily damaged wall of the Defense
Department headquarters. One hundred-eighty-four military service members and civilians died there.

In both target areas, rescue teams worked day and night to recover people and bodies from the wreckage⁷. Some
survivors⁸ had terrible burns and crushing injuries. No one survived the plane crash in Pennsylvania.

VOICE ONE:

After the attacks, many Americans prayed. They crowded into Christian⁹ churches, Jewish temples and Islamic
mosques¹⁰. A Protestant clergyman in the state of Maryland said he had never before seen so many people at
services.

People across America experienced great shock, fear, sadness and loss. They also felt a renewed love for their
country. They put American flags on their houses, cars and businesses. And they sang patriotic¹¹ songs like “God
Bless America.
”

For days after the attacks, most planes stopped flying. Only military aircraft could be seen in the air. When
normal flights began again, many people decided¹² not to travel by air because they were afraid. The airline and
travel industries suffered. Thousands of hotel workers and others lost their jobs. Many other businesses suffered
as well. Financial markets showed major losses.

VOICE TWO:

Thousands of Islamic American citizens, other Arabs and people from Middle Eastern countries had no
connection with terrorism. But many reported being insulted or attacked. Some lost their jobs.

In October, the United States began a war against terrorism in Afghanistan. The United States led a coalition¹³
against the terrorists and their supporters. The United States defeated the Taleban rulers in Afghanistan and
removed them from power. It also captured a number of Taleban fighters and al-Qaida terrorists.

VOICE ONE:

The United States government also seized more than five-hundred foreign citizens and held them in secret. Most
of these people had violated immigration laws. No terrorism charges were brought against them. Human rights
activists¹⁴ and some legal experts protested the treatment of the prisoners. The activists said holding people in
secret without trial violates the United States Constitution.

Later, there was some criticism that government agencies did not cooperate to gather intelligence that might have
prevented the terrorist attacks. President Bush created a new Office of Homeland Security. Its job is to strengthen
preparations and defenses against terrorism.

VOICE TWO:

As time passed, the public learned more about the forty civilian⁵ passengers on the hijacked plane that crashed in
Pennsylvania. The passengers found out about the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. They were
killed trying to prevent their plane from crashing into another important building.

One of them called out “Let’s roll!” as they tried to regain¹⁵ control of the plane from the terrorists. Americans
soon made “Let’s roll!” a common expression.

((MUSIC)) VOICE ONE:


One year later, the nation has taken many steps toward recovery. Still, the events of September eleventh strongly
influence our lives. Many Americans called to military service have returned to civilian life. A Marine¹⁶ Corps¹⁷
pilot who flew supply planes in the Middle East says home means more to him now than ever before.

Some Americans whose family members were killed in the attacks are taking legal action. They are trying to
recover financial damages from individuals and banks they believe share responsibility for the terrorist attacks. A
few families have accepted money from the United States government in settlement for the loss of loved ones.

VOICE TWO:

Workers completed the cleanup of the area where the World Trade Center stood in May. Every day, almost
thirty-thousand people visit the area to see where the attack took place and to honor those who died there.

Design experts from around the world have proposed plans for new buildings in the area. There will be a
memorial to the victims as well as a business center.

VOICE ONE:

Mental health experts across the nation have been helping¹⁸ people suffering from sadness and fear after the
attacks. Family members of victims have attended meetings of support groups to help them recover from their
loss.

Many World Trade Center victims lived in Rockville Centre, New York. A family support center there has a
special wall for prayers and messages. Children who lost a parent can write their thoughts and place them on the
wall.

Many people around the country were not directly affected¹⁹ by the tragedy. Still, they say their lives have
changed. They say they now spend less time working and more time with their families. They also say they
telephone family members in other cities more often.

VOICE TWO:

The American economy is showing signs of recovery. However, many people have lost savings²⁰ for their old age.
A retired²¹ clergyman in the state of Florida says he and his wife are worried about their economic future. The
travel industry and related businesses are still having problems. Many Americans still are driving cars for short
trips instead of flying.

People who do fly say it is much more difficult because of increased security at airports. A businesswoman from
California must fly often as part of her job. She says she dislikes waiting in security lines that take much longer
than they did before September eleventh.

VOICE ONE:

For many Americans, daily life continues much as it did before the attacks. But people often ask each other
where they were on September eleventh.

Marie Reeder lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She knows exactly what she was doing on that day. She was
celebrating her eighty-second birthday with family members. Her birthday had always been a happy event. This
year, however, it will not be the same. Marie Reeder will celebrate her birthday. But she will also think about
what happened to America on September eleventh, two-thousand-one.

((MUSIC))

VOICE TWO:

This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by George Grow. I’m Bob Doughty.

VOICE ONE:


And I’m Mary Tillotson. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA
Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.

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1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 hijacked   

劫持( hijack的过去式和过去分词 )； 绑架； 拦路抢劫； 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）

参考例句：

• The plane was hijacked by two armed men on a flight from London to Rome. 飞机在从伦敦飞往罗马途中遭到两名持械男子劫持。
• The plane was hijacked soon after it took off. 那架飞机起飞后不久被劫持了。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 bagpipes   

n.风笛；风笛( bagpipe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Yes, and I'm also learning to play the bagpipes. 是的，我也想学习吹风笛。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Mr. Vinegar took the bagpipes and the piper led the cow away. 于是醋溜先生拿过了风笛，风笛手牵走了奶牛。 来自互联网

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

8 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

9 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 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。

11 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

13 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

14 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

16 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

17 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

18 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。

19 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

20 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

21 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。