英文新闻选编.docx

1、英文新闻选编VOA慢速英语2017-08-26After Twenty Years, by O.HenryWe present the short story After Twenty Years, by O. Henry. The story wasoriginallyadapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.Thecopmoved along the street, looking strong and important. This was the way he always moved. He was not thinki

2、ng of how he looked. There were few people on the street to see him. It was only about ten at night, but it was cold. And there was a wind with a little rain in it.He stopped at doors as he walked along, trying each door to be sure that it was closed for the night. Now and then he turned and looked

3、up and down the street. He was a fine-lookingcop, watchful, guarding the peace.People in this part of the city went home early. Now and then you might see the lights of a shop or of a small restaurant. But most of the doors belonged to business places that had been closed hours ago.Then thecopsudden

4、ly slowed his walk. Near the door of adarkenedshop a man was standing. As thecopwalked toward him, the man spoke quickly.“Its all right, officer,” he said. “Im waiting for a friend. Twenty years ago we agreed to meet here tonight. It sounds strange to you, doesnt it? Ill explain if you want to be su

5、re that everythings all right. About twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this shop stands. Big Joe Bradys restaurant.”“It was here until five years ago,” said thecop.The man near the door had a colorless square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye. He had a lar

6、ge jewel in hisnecktie.“Twenty years ago tonight,” said the man, “I had dinner here with Jimmy Wells. He was my best friend and the best fellow in the world. He and I grew up together here in New York, like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the We

7、st. I was going to find a job and make a great success. You couldnt have pulled Jimmy out of New York. He thought it was the only place on earth.“We agreed that night that we would meet here again in twenty years. We thought that in twenty years we would know what kind of men we were, and what futur

8、e waited for us.”“It sounds interesting,” said thecop. “A long time between meetings, it seems to me. Have you heard from your friend since you went West?”“Yes, for a time we did write to each other,” said the man. “But after a year or two, we stopped. The West is big. I moved around everywhere, and

9、 I moved quickly. But I know that Jimmy will meet me here if he can. He was as true as any man in the world. Hell never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand here tonight. But Ill be glad about that, if my old friend comes too.”The man waiting took out a fine watch, covered with small jewels.“Thr

10、ee minutes before ten,” he said. “It was ten that night when we said goodbye here at the restaurant door.”“You were successful in the West, werent you?” asked thecop.“I surely was! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a slow mover. Ive had to fight for my success. In New York a man doesnt chan

11、ge much. In the West you learn how to fight for what you get.”Thecoptook a step or two. “Ill go on my way,” he said. “I hope your friend comes all right. If he isnt here at ten, are you going to leave?”“I am not!” said the other. “Ill wait half an hour, at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth, hell be

12、here by that time. Good night, officer.”“Good night,” said thecop, and walked away, trying doors as he went.There was now a cold rain falling and the wind was stronger. The few people walking along that street were hurrying, trying to keep warm. At the door of the shop stood the man who had come a t

13、housand miles to meet a friend. Such a meeting could not be certain. But he waited.About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long coat came hurrying across the street. He went directly to the waiting man.“Is that you, Bob?” he asked,doubtfully.“Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cried the man

14、 at the door.The new man took the other mans hands in his. “Its Bob! It surely is. I was certain I would find you here if you were still alive. Twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant is gone, Bob. I wish it were here, so that we could have another dinner in it. Has the West been good to you

15、?”“It gave me everything I asked for. Youve changed, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall.”“Oh, I grew a little after I was twenty.”“Are you doing well in New York, Jimmy?”“Well enough. I work for the city. Come on, Bob, Well go to a place I know, and have a good long talk about old times.”The tw

16、o men started along the street, arm in arm. The man from the West was beginning to tell the story of his life. The other, with his coat up to his ears, listened with interest.At the corner stood a shop bright with electric lights. When they came near, each turned to look at the others face.The man f

17、rom the West stopped suddenly and pulled his arm away. “Youre not Jimmy Wells,” he said. “Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change the shape of a mans nose.”“It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one,” said the tall man. “Youve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob. Chicagoco

18、psthought you might be coming to New York. They told us to watch for you. Are you coming with me quietly? Thats wise. But first here is something I was asked to give you. You may read it here at the window. Its from acopnamed Wells.”The man from the West opened the little piece of paper. His hand be

19、gan to shake a little as he read.“Bob: I was at the place on time. I saw the face of the man wanted by Chicagocops. I didnt want to arrest you myself. So I went and got anothercopand sent him to do the job.JIMMY.”Download activities to help you understand this story here.Now its your turn to use the

20、 words in this story. How much do people change over time? What is it like to try to connect with a friend you have not seen in a long time? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page._QUIZ_Words in This Storycop n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make

21、 arrestsshop n. a building or room where goods and services are soldnecktien. a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and under a collar and that is tied in front with a knot at the topcoat n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry

22、VOA NEWSSeptember 4, 2017From Washington, this is VOA news. Im Jonathan Smith reporting.President Trump said on Twitter Sunday that the United States is considering cutting trade with any country doing business with North Korea. Earlier, North Korea said it had tested an advanced hydrogen bomb for a

23、 long-range missile.On Fox News Sunday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said theadministrationhad decided to consider excluding from U.S. trade any country supporting North Korea.Weve already started withsanctionsagainst North Korea, but I am going to draft asanctionspackage to send to the pr

24、esident for his strong consideration that anybody that wants to do trade or business with them would be prevented from doing trade or business with us. Were going to work with our allies. Well work with China, but people need to cut off North Koreaeconomically. This is unacceptable behavior.In Twitt

25、er comments, President Trump said, North Korea has become a great threat andembarrassmentto China, which is trying to help but with little success.In another tweet, Trump criticized South Korea. He said Seoul is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not w

26、ork, they only understand one thing!Nine days after a powerful hurricane dropped record amounts of rain on the city of Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in America, people are finally beginning to return home and assess the damage.Texas Governor Greg Abbott is saying the cost to help the state

27、 recover will be high well more than $100 billion. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said some people must leave their homes near two overflowing reservoirs. He said up to 20,000 homes will remain flooded for another two weeks.This is VOA news.Australias Northern Territory is to rename racist names on

28、a number of landmarks that have long demeaned indigenous groups. It follows similar measures in the state of Queensland. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.The official Northern Territory place names register shows several entries with thepejorativeterm blackgin.This refers to a phrase used by white A

29、ustralians to describe an Aboriginal woman, or gin, who were used for sexual services. Other racially insensitive place names, including murdering creeks and skull holes, which are derived from the slaughter of indigenous people, will also be changed.The Northern Territory government has asked a for

30、mal committee to look at ways to replace offensive place names with Aboriginal words or phrases.The Territorys chief minister, Michael Gunner, says some colonial-era place names should be changed.There are some obvious ones that will be fixed up, but I think it is really important (to) take a deep b

31、reath, work through these things in a way that provides proper meaning and recognition of the First people and those languages that were here thousands of years before we were.Phil Mercer, for VOA news, Sydney.Kenyas opposition leader Raila Odinga says his coalition will not share power. He made the comment two days after the Supreme Court annulled presidential election results, citing irregularities.Odinga spoke at a church service in Nairobi. He said his party would not share power with thieves.Incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta similarly said a day