EDUCATION REPORT - Graduation Speakers

EDUCATION REPORT - Graduation Speakers
By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, June 03, 2004

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Education Report.

 
President Bush at the University of South Carolina graduation ceremonies last year.
May and June are the months when most American high schools and colleges hold their graduation ceremonies. Elementary and middle schools also hold ceremonies for children finishing those levels of education.

And much older people may be completing their education, too. Men and women in their seventies and eighties receive high school diplomas or college degrees. Last year, in California, a high school in San Francisco awarded an honorary diploma to a woman ninety-seven years old.

Traditionally at graduation ceremonies, the students wear dark colored caps and gowns over their clothing. Most graduations include speakers. Schools often invite famous guests or former students who became highly successful. Or both.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor of the Supreme¹ Court spoke² at Stanford University in California. That was where she went to college.

Universities often want speakers who can comment on world events. Vice³ President Dick Cheney spoke at Florida State University last month. President Bush spoke at three graduations this year. He spoke at Concordia University in Wisconsin and Louisiana State University. He also spoke at the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Well-known reporters often speak at graduations. For example, Ted⁴ Koppel spoke at the University of California, Berkeley, last month. He has a nightly news program on national television.

Entertainers are also popular choices for graduation speakers. One very busy speaker this year is the actor and comedian⁵ Bill Cosby. He spoke at the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts and at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. He also spoke at Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bill Cosby has spoken at Temple University many times. That is where he went to college.

 
Graphic⁶ Image
Bono was also in Philadelphia. The singer from the Irish rock band U2 spoke last month at graduation ceremonies at the University of Pennsylvania. University officials praised Bono for using his popularity to help developing nations and fight against AIDS. He also received an honorary doctorate⁷ degree.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. This is Steve Ember.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

5 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

6 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

7 doctorate   

n.(大学授予的)博士学位

参考例句：

• He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
• Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士？