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Crocodile Hunter Dead at 44 鳄鱼先生辞世　得年44

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 Crocodile Hunter Dead at 44  鳄鱼先生辞世　得年44

“The main aim in our entire lives is to promote education about wildlife and wilderness areas, save habitats, and save endangered species.” – Steve Irvin

Steve Irvin, the enthusiastic Australian conservationist known as the “Crocodile Hunter,” was killed on September 4^th by a stingray while filming on the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44. Irwin rose to global fame for his death-defying stunts involving dangerous animals such as poisonous snakes and deadly crocodiles.

推动保育不遗余力、人称「鳄鱼先生」的澳洲人史帝夫．厄文，九月四日在大堡礁拍摄影片时被魟鱼刺死，得年44岁。厄文以逗弄毒蛇、致命鳄鱼这类危险动物的不怕死举动红遍全球。

As news of his death spread, Irwin’s fans flocked to the Queensland wildlife park that was run by him. They brought notes of condolence and flowers, setting up a makeshift memorial to one of Australia’s favorite sons. Australian Prime Minister John Howard offered to honor Irwin with a state funeral. Irwin’s father respectfully declined, however, saying his son would want to be remembered as “an ordinary bloke.”

死讯传开后，厄文迷涌入他经营的昆士兰野生动物园。他们带来悼念文字及鲜花，设立临时纪念馆，以追悼这位受人喜爱的澳洲之子。澳洲总理霍华德欲为厄文举行国葬，但被厄文的父亲婉谢，他表示儿子会希望以「平凡人」的身分留在人们心中。

It’s a Boy for Japan’s Royal Family  日本皇室喜获麟儿

Conservatives in Japan breathed a sigh of relief as Princess Kiko gave birth to a baby boy on September 6^th. It ended calls to allow a woman to ascend Japan’s ancient throne. The boy is the first male heir born to the Japanese royal family in more than four decades.

纪子妃于九月六日产下一子后，日本保守派人士松了一口气。这终止了容许女性登上日本历史悠久的王座之呼声。此男婴为日本皇室40多年来出生的首位男性继承人。

Many Japanese favor giving women equal rights, including the right to the throne. However, others believe in the old traditions and insist that emperors must always be male, as they have been for over 2,000 years. Though the monarch holds no political authority, it is an important symbolic post held dear by the Japanese public. Upon news of the boy’s birth, streamers flew in his honor, and locals toasted his arrival with rice wine.

许多日本人支持赋予妇女平等的权利，包含王位继承权。然而也有人坚信固有传统，坚持天皇须皆为男性，就如过去两千多年一样。尽管天皇不具政治实权，其重要的象征性地位却受日本民众重视。皇室男婴出生的消息一传出，四处便旗海飘扬以示敬意，当地人并以清酒庆贺其诞生。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

stunt [stʌnt] n. 绝技；惊险动作

deadly [ˋdɛdlɪ] adj. 致命的

condolence [kənˋdoləns] n.（常复数）吊辞；吊唁；慰问

memorial [məˋmorɪəl] n. 纪念碑

funeral [ˋfjunərəl] n. 丧葬

decline [dɪˋklaɪn] v. 婉拒；谢绝

conservative [kənˋsɝvətɪv] n. 因循守旧者﹐保守者

give birth to  生产, 生育

ascend [əˋsɛnd] v. 攀登；登上

throne [θron] n. 王座

monarch [ˋmɑnɚk] n. 君主

hold dear 【文】喜爱; 高度重视  cherish, treasure, care for

More Information

单词发音

conservationist [͵kɑnsɚˋveʃənɪst] n.〔动植物等或古旧建筑〕保护工作者

stingray [ˋstɪŋ͵re] n. 黄貂鱼; 魟

Great Barrier Reef 大堡礁

defy [dɪˋfaɪ] v. 公然反抗，蔑视

makeshift [ˋmek͵ʃɪft] adj. 临时代用的

bloke [blok] n.【俚】小子；家伙

breathe a sigh of relief  松了一口气,  宽慰地舒一口气  to feel comfortable again after worrying about something

post [post] n. 职位 a place to which someone is assigned for duty.

streamer  [ˋstrimɚ] n. 长旗；幡

in one's honor 向...表示敬意 showing respect or admiration for someone

When the Crocodile hunter died (Steve Irwin)