VOA标准英语2011--Bhutan Celebrates Surprise 'Historic' Ro

Bhutan Celebrates Surprise 'Historic' Royal Wedding Announcement

The world's youngest monarch¹, in one of the world's most remote and enchanting² kingdoms, has surprised his country by announcing wedding plans. All of Bhutan is abuzz with talk of the country's soon-to-be Queen.
Bhutan's King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, spoke³ to members of parliament for a while Friday about the progress the country was making in establishing democratic institutions. And then, came the real headline.
He says the time has come for him to marry. He says he has found a queen who, though young, is kind and warm at heart, and good in character. He says her name is Jetsun Pema.
Parliament member Sangay Khandu, was in the chamber⁴ for the announcement in the country's capital, Thimpu. He says the King plans to hold the royal wedding in October.
"His Majesty⁵'s announcement came as a surprise to most of us but nonetheless a very good one. Everybody's really happy, overjoyed, and we're all looking forward to October to formally have our Queen," said Khandu.
Bhutan is a small, landlocked Buddhist⁶ nation tucked away in the Himalayas between India and China. It has spent much of its history in relative isolation⁷, and is often described in fairy tale-like language by world travelers who get the rare chance to visit.
The kingdom only began allowing television broadcasting 11 years ago. Friday's royal announcement was broadcast live. Khandu says nearly everyone in Bhutan was watching, and caught the good news.
"The excitement is really across the country, and I foresee that in the days to come we will see a lot of expression of joy and happiness in all ways possible," he said.
View the slide show of King Coronation in 2008
In addition to being the world's youngest monarch, 31-year-old Jigme Khesar became Bhutan's first constitutional monarch in 2008. His coronation followed parliamentary elections and came at the end of a gradual two-year power transfer process from his father, aimed at helping⁸ Bhutan evolve into a more modern participant in the international community.
The King's Oxford⁹ education may have helped him with the task of governance, but Khandu says many Bhutanese are glad His Majesty will no longer be going it alone.
"Our King, although very young, has taken up a big responsibility. He really went out of his way. And we're very happy now that he has someone who will be there to share his burden," he said.
The nuptial¹⁰ plans are raising hopes among some there may be an eventual¹¹ heir to the Bhutan throne. They are also drawing comparisons with that other recent royal wedding - the one a few weeks ago in London. However, Bhutan's King told lawmakers Friday he does not want "a grand celebration."

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 enchanting   

a.讨人喜欢的

参考例句：

• His smile, at once enchanting and melancholy, is just his father's. 他那种既迷人又有些忧郁的微笑，活脱儿象他父亲。
• Its interior was an enchanting place that both lured and frightened me. 它的里头是个吸引人的地方，我又向往又害怕。

3 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。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 majesty   

n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权

参考例句：

• The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
• Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

6 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

7 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

8 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。

9 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

10 nuptial   

adj.婚姻的，婚礼的

参考例句：

• Their nuptial day hasn't been determined.他们的结婚日还没有决定。
• I went to the room which he had called the nuptial chamber.我走进了他称之为洞房的房间。

11 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。