Snapshots of New York's Mood after 9/11
Corky Siemaszko
话题演讲
Lead-in
Listening Task
The following is an eyewitness's account of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Listen to it and see what he says.
I was on the first floor of the Marriott World Trade Center when the first plane hit the North Tower. First, I felt a jolt, like a small earthquake. Then there was a huge boom, and the room shook. The hotel staff directed the guests out pretty quickly.
When we got to a safe distance across the street, we gathered in groups and tried to figure out what had happened. A stray commuter plane seemed like the most likely guess. All the while fire was spreading.
Then I heard some people scream and moan. I looked up and saw people jumping out from the building. While transfixed by this scene, I heard the roar of a large jet plane.
When this second plane hit the South Tower, the sickening truth became crystal clear: This was not an accident. It was a deliberate attack. Instinct told me to get away from the buildings.
So I kept walking. When I came close to Trinity Church, the Towers collapsed. The choking dust and smoke were unbearable.
The church people took us in. I stayed there for two hours, until it was sufficiently clear outside for me to go out. I walked by a warehouse, and saw young boys holding signs advising that they had bathrooms and telephones available to all.
People were doing what they could, even though they could not do much. As I passed hospitals, I saw long lines of people waiting to donate blood.
But I was disheartened to see medical personnel waiting at the emergency entrances with nothing to do. It was then that the reality hit me: there were few survivors. You either got away or you were dead. I certainly feel blessed to have survived the attacks.
While I'll always have the ugly memories of September 11, I will also remember many acts of kindness that day, and I am determined to move on and do my part in meeting the challenge our country faces.
September 11 Attacks
It is a series of coordinated terrorist attacks upon the United States on September 11, 2001. On that morning, 19 militants associated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners and used them as weapons. Two of the airliners were intentionally flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Both buildings collapsed within two hours. Everyone on board and many others working in the Twin Towers were killed. The third airliner was crashed into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania after its passengers and flight crew tried to retake control of the plane. 2,973 victims and the 19 hijackers died as a result of the horrific attacks.
9.11后纽约市长电视讲话
https://www.bilibili.com/video/av14357486?from=search&seid=13497798908798436276
【TED】我的父亲是恐怖分子，但我选择了和平
【TED】我的父亲是恐怖分子，但我选择了和平
