VOA标准英语2013--Oklahomans Have Long Tradition of Resilience, Perseverance
时间：2018-12-08 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2013年(五月)
Oklahomans Have Long Tradition of Resilience, Perseverance 1
In a rural area of Oklahoma, Todd Mauldin lost his house and truck.
"I have had three close calls, and this was the third one, and it got me!" he said.
This kind of pluck and good-humored determination is what people admire about Oklahomans.
In this devastated 2 neighborhood in the suburb called Moore, most people plan to rebuild and remain. This is not the first time this state has faced tragedy. It has suffered more disasters per capita than any other state and not all were natural.
On April 19, 1995 a bomb blew up in front of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 3 168 people.
Timothy McVeigh was later tried, convicted and executed for the crime.
Oklahomans came together to help the victims and later built a monument, with metal chairs set in rows where the building once stood.
Sue Craig, a guide, explains the symbolism. "There are 168 chairs, one for each person, and at the base there is their name inscribed," she said.
Craig remembers that day well, even though she was not there at the time.
"I was teaching school in Moore, where the tornado 4 happened Monday," she recalled.
The response to the bombing established what became known as the “Oklahoma Standard.” President Obama referred to it when he visited here on Sunday.
"This area has known more than its share of heartbreak but people here pride themselves on the Oklahoma standard - being able to work through disasters like this and come out stronger on the other side," he said.
The Oklahoma Standard was on display after the tornado.
Volunteers have poured in with food, water and other items. Baptist Student Pastor 5 Joey Dean says this is typical Oklahoma behavior.
"Any time disaster happens, we just roll up our sleeves and we want to help," he said. "We aren't so much interested in staying in our home and getting comfortable, we really want to get out there and help our neighbor."
That help is appreciated by victims, like Brooklyn Pearce and her family.
"Oklahoma is an awesome 6 place to live, and they come together really fast, and they are here to help, and they do their job well," she said.
State officials are pleased by the response. But they say they take lessons from each disaster in order to respond better next time.
People will eventually rebuild and move on with their lives, but as the bombing memorial demonstrates, they will also keep a place in their hearts for those who were lost.
- It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
- Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。
- The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
- His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。
- Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
- Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
- A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
- The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。