2017年雅思考试阅读热门资讯每日读（44）

　　背景阅读：

　　对于外国人而言，泰国国王普密蓬·阿杜德的驾崩只是个重要新闻。

　　但对泰国人而言，普密蓬国王是“父亲”、是支柱，是“天”。

　　毫不夸张。

　　国王驾崩，对泰国人而言，举国悲恸，因为，普密蓬国王对他们，有因，有缘，有情，有恩。

　　用泰国学者葛潘·纳卜帕的话说：“他是为了每一个子民而呼吸的国王。”

　　Thai king death: Nation mourns loss of revered royal

　　The people of Thailand are mourning the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, who died on Thursday aged 88.

　　Thousands clad in black are lining the streets of Bangkok for the king's funeral procession, as his body is moved to a temple in the Grand Palace.

　　The government has declared a year-long official mourning period.

　　Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is expected be the new monarch, but has asked for a delay in succession.

　　The cabinet has declared Friday a government holiday, and flags are to fly at half-mast for the next 30 days.

　　cabinet

　　n. 内阁; 柜橱; (有特殊用途的) 小房间; 展览艺术品的小陈列室;

　　adj.内阁的; 秘密的; 通常陈列于柜橱内的，可保存的; 细木工制作的;

　　例句：

　　The star of my medicine cabinet is the humble aspirin.

　　我家药柜里的压箱宝要算是那不起眼的阿司匹林。

　　其他：

　　复数：cabinets

　　People have been asked to wear black, and avoid "joyful events" during this period. Cinema screenings, concerts and sports events have been cancelled or postponed.

　　News websites have turned their pages black and white, and all television channels in Thailand are airing programmes about the king's life.

　　One person in Bangkok told the Associated Press: "There is no word to explain my feeling right now."

　　"I lost one of the most important people in my life. I feel like I haven't done enough for him. I should have done more," said Gaewkarn Fuangtong.

　　From early in the morning there were long queues leading to Bangkok's Grand Palace.

　　Dressed in black, tens of thousands of Thais have been standing in the baking sun to participate in the first rituals of the mourning period.

　　participate

　　vi. 参加某事; 分享某事;

　　vt.得到或接受某部分东西;

　　例句：

　　They expected him to participate in the ceremony.

　　他们希望他参加典礼。

　　其他：

　　第三人称单数：participates 现在分词：participating 过去式：participated过去分词：participated

　　Banners are being put up along the route that the king's cortege will follow.

　　Soldiers dressed in ceremonial outfits have been gathering outside the palace, where the grass appears to have been freshly laid overnight.

　　The king's body will be moved from Siriraj Hospital to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace.

　　Later in the evening on Friday, the Crown Prince will conduct the bathing ceremony of the king's body, a traditional Thai Buddhist funeral rite.

　　The king had been ill for a long time. When news of his death was announced on Thursday evening, many in the large crowds outside the hospital where he died broke down.

　　King Bhumibol was widely respected across Thailand, and thought of by many as semi-divine.

　　He earned the devotion of Thais for his efforts to help the rural poor, such as agricultural development projects, and works of charity.

　　The monarch was also seen as a stabilising figure in a country often wracked by political turmoil.

　　Thailand remains under military rule following a coup in 2014.

　　The country has suffered from political violence and upheaval over the past decade, as well as a long-running Muslim separatist insurgency in the southern provinces which sees regular small-scale bomb attacks.

　　Though a constitutional monarch with limited official powers, many Thais looked to King Bhumibol to intervene in times of high tension. He was seen as a unifying and calming influence through numerous coups and 20 constitutions.

　　numerous

　　adj. 数不清的; 很多的，许多的; 数量庞大的数量庞大的;

　　例句：

　　Sex crimes were just as numerous as they are today.

　　当时性犯罪和现在一样多。

　　其他：

　　比较级：more numerous 最高级：most numerous

　　However, his critics argued he had endorsed military takeovers and at times had failed to speak out against human rights abuses.

　　Our correspondents say a more uncertain era for Thailand has begun, and while the succession process initially appeared straightforward, it is now likely to take longer to be clarified, with the prince saying he will not formally take the crown immediately as he needs time to mourn.

　　Heir's challenge

　　The crown prince, who is 64, is much less well known to Thais and has not attained his father's widespread popularity. He spends much of his time overseas, especially in Germany.

　　Strict lese-majeste laws protect the most senior members of Thailand's royal family from insult or threat. Public discussion of the succession can be punishable by lengthy jail terms.

　　Given the pivotal role the king has played in maintaining the balance of power in Thailand's volatile political environment, the succession will be a formidable challenge for the government, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.

　　formidable

　　adj. 可怕的; 令人敬畏的; 难以对付的;

　　例句：

　　We have a formidable task ahead of us.

　　我们面临着一项艰巨的任务。