ฝึก Listening + Reading กับ 10 ประวัติผู้ทรงอิทธิพลของอเมริกา

ฝึกภาษาอังกฤษ Listening + Reading

ผ่าน 10 ประวัติคนดังฝั่งอเมริกา

เพื่อให้ฝึกแล้วได้ประโยคสูงสุด อาจจะทำซ้ำหลายรอบหน่อยเช่น

 

1. George Washington: The First US President

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

There may be no greater American than George Washington. Washington became the first United States President in 1789 with his ___1____ victory in the first American election. He was also unanimously elected to a second term in 1793, the only president ever to garner 100 percent of the electoral votes. Washington was also the Commander-in-Chief of the First Continental Army that fought the British when the country was not yet ____2____.

His epic "Crossing of the Delaware" river to recover New York City is still considered one of the greatest military moves in the history of warfare. At the time of the crossing, the British had taken Boston and New York. The Continental Army was on the run and disorganized, but Washington had a plan. He decided to take his ___3___ across the Delaware River in the middle of winter. This was a move that many military minds thought impossible, but not Washington. The Americans were able to take New Jersey, and change the course of the war.

Another landmark monument for Washington was the winter at Valley Forge. In 1777, Washington led an army of more than 11,000 troops into Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where the army ___4___ through a cold winter that claimed the lives of 3,000 men. When the spring arrived, instead of a demoralized, beaten group of soldiers, the army emerged battle-ready and able to continue the fight against the English in New York. The army was able to survive the __5__ winter because of the training, and preparedness of Washington's officers. Washington earned the nickname, "The Father of His Country," because of his military intelligence, and his concern for the people of the United States.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/people/p/people001.htm

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1. unanimous / 2. established / 3. troops / 4. suffered / 5. fierce

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

unanimous (adj.) เป็นเอกฉันท์

garner (v.) รวบรวม

troop (n.) กองทหาร

demoralized (adj.) ที่หมดขวัญกำลังใจ

 

2. Neil Armstrong: The First Person to Walk on the Moon

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

The United States of America is the only country ever to land a manned spacecraft on the surface of the moon. The first person to walk on the moon was Neil Armstrong. Armstrong set foot on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, in what was one of the most-watched telecasts in the history of the country. Armstrong became an __1__ celebrity, whose name became a household word for generations to come.

The lunar landing mission was carried out on the Apollo 11 Spacecraft. Armstrong was the mission commander for the historic flight and was the second and last mission flown by him. There were __2__ involving the landing module that Armstrong dealt with at the time of the landing. The module was coming in faster than planned. It was destined to miss the landing site by several miles, but some quick thinking by Armstrong prevented a potential __3__.

When Armstrong did step onto the lunar surface, his words echoed throughout the country and the world: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for Mankind." Years later, Armstrong and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) __4__ that the quote was incorrect and was obscured by interference. However, the quote is remembered forever in its original form.

Armstrong received the Congressional Medal of Freedom from President Richard Nixon and was later awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Jimmy Carter. The program was __5__ in the early 1970s. Other countries have landed unmanned missions to the Earth's largest satellite, but to date, no other person has walked on the moon since then. Neil Armstrong, a true American hero, died in 2012 following complications from a surgical procedure.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/people/p/people046.htm

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1. instant / 2. complications / 3. disaster / 4. insisted / 5. discontinued

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

household word (household name) (n.) คนดัง

complication (n.) ความยุ่งยากซับซ้อน

disaster (n.) ความพินาศ, หายนะ

insist (v.) ยืนกราน

obscure (v.) บดบัง

interference (n.) สิ่งรบกวน, คลื่นรบกวน

 

3. Oprah Winfrey: The Richest African American in the 20th Century

▶ กดฟังเทป

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful women in the history of the United States of America. Winfrey was born in a small town in Mississippi in 1954 into a poor family. She is now one of the richest people in the world, and one of the richest black Americans in the country. She was also named as the richest African American in the 20th Century. Winfrey is known to most Americans through her daytime show called "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Her show is very popular among television viewers because she likes to __1__ the tough issues many other daytime TV hosts avoid.

Winfrey's early life was difficult. She lived with her mother and grandmother at times. While living with her grandmother, she learned to read by the age of three, and had __2__ many bible passages. Her mother was an unwed teenager at the time of her birth and had a difficult time raising her. Winfrey had two half-sisters. One died young as a result of cocaine __3__ and she did not learn about her other sister until 2010. Winfrey also was not certain who her father was.

Winfrey suffered from sexual abuse from her uncle, cousin, and family friend, and became pregnant at 14. She lost her baby shortly after birth though. Winfrey survived her early years, and at 17 won a local beauty contest before getting her first break in the media industry as a radio __4__. This was her first step into the media market.

Her show began in Chicago in 1983, and within a few years, it became the No. 1 daytime, talk show in the country. She has interviewed some of the most famous people in the country on her popular show. Winfrey starred in the movie The Color Purple, and now owns her own production company called Harpo Films. She is a philanthropist who is famous for her generosity and remains one of the most __5__ Americans in the country.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/people/p/people020.htm

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1. tackle / 2. memorized / 3. addiction / 4. newscaster / 5. influential

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

tackle (v.) จัดการปัญหา, เข้าถึงปัญหา

unwed (adj.) ที่ไม่ได้แต่งงาน

addiction (n.) การเสพติด

sexual abuse (n.) การทารุณทางเพศ

newscaster (n.) ผู้ประกาศข่าว

philanthropist (n.) คนใจบุญ

generosity (n.) ความมีน้ำใจ

influential (adj.) ทรงอิทธิพล

 

4. Barack Obama: The First African-American President in the US

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

Since 2008, Barack Obama has been president of the United States of America. He is a historic figure primarily because he is the first African American to hold the position of president. His policies have gained him many supporters, as well as many detractors. He is possibly one of the most divisive presidents to govern the country in the history of the United States. Obama is a __1__ of the Democratic Party with his presidency coming after the controversial George W. Bush left office.

One of the defining aspects of his __2__ is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly and inaccurately called Obamacare. This act, passed into law by the U.S. Congress and signed by the president in March 2010, became __3__ on January 1, 2014. It is the single, most significant change in government healthcare since Medicare was implemented in 1965. This act was intended to increase the affordability of care for Americans, expand insurance coverage, and lower the uninsured rate in the country. It is a controversial act that has many detractors, but most Americans now carry health insurance, which was not true before 2014.

Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1961. He is a graduate of both Columbia University in New York City, and Harvard Law School. Before becoming president, he served as a senator for the state of Illinois. He is __4__ a liberal by many southern conservatives, but this may be an unfair label. The perception is largely due to the Affordable Care Act, and his attempts at immigration reform. Additionally, Obama ended the U.S. involvement in the Iraq war. He also ordered the military operation that __5__ resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden. Obama was re-elected as president in November 2012.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/people/p/people018.htm

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1. representative / 2. presidency / 3. effective / 4. considered / 5. eventually

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

detractor (n.) คนกล่าวร้าย, คนที่วิจารณ์อย่างไม่เป็นธรรม

divisive (adj.) ที่ก่อให้เกิดการแตกแยก

govern (v.) ปกครองดูแล

controversial (adj.) ก่อให้เกิดการโต้แย้ง

inaccurately (adv.) อย่างผิดๆ

act (n.) กฎหมาย

senator (n.) สมาชิกวุฒิสภา, สมาชิกสภาสูง

liberal (n.) คนที่มีแนวคิดเสรีนิยม

conservative (n.) คนที่มีแนวคิดอนุรักษ์นิยม

reform (n.) ปฏิรูป

 

5. Amelia Earhart: The First Female Aviator to Fly Solo Across the Atlantic Ocean

▶ กดฟังเทป

There is perhaps no greater mystery in the annals of American history as that of the Amelia Earhart story. Earhart's story is one of controversy, and__1__. She was an accomplished aviator, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo. She accomplished this during a time when women were not highly regarded in the United States. American women during the 1930s did not have the same __2__ men had. There were few employment opportunities. Educated women were a scarcity. Women who did find employment during this era were working as grade-school teachers, nannies, and maids for the most part. Amelia Earhart did a lot to change that perception.

Although Earhart was born into a family that did see financial success, that success was fleeting. There were times in her life when her family __3__ to make ends meet because of poor money management. Earhart was homeschooled for most of her life, and she gained her pilot’s license at an early age. In December of 1920, Earhart's father took Amelia to an airshow in Long Beach, California. This is where she first became interested in flying. After earning her aviator's license, she accomplished a feat that only a few men had ever done, flying solo across the Atlantic. She earned national fame for this and was soon a household name.

Tragically, Earhart lost in an attempt to fly around the world in 1937. She was never found. The theories about how she met her end are __4__. Many think she fell victim to the Japanese prior to the start of World War II. This thinking was rooted in the idea that Earhart was a spy. Other outlandish theories include alien kidnapping, but most likely she had mechanical difficulties flying over the Pacific Ocean. Earhart was either killed instantly, or survived, according to one popular theory, and lived out her days on a __5__ island.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/eslread/ss/s326.htm

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1. intriguing / 2. advantages / 3. struggled / 4. countless / 5. deserted

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

annal (n.) บันทึก, จดหมายเหตุ

intriguing (adj.) น่าทึ่ง

aviator (n.) นักบิน

scarcity (n.) ความขาดแคลน

fleeting (adj.) ชั่วขณะ, ประเดี๋ยวเดียว

make ends meet (idm.) มีรายได้แค่พออยู่รอดไปวันๆ

outlandish (adj.) แปลกประหลาด

deserted (adj.) ร้าง

 

6. The Wright Brothers: Aviation Pioneers

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

In today's world, it is not unusual for people to board a plane and be halfway around the world within hours. The jumbo jetliners in use today are commonplace in most developed countries, but there was a time, not long ago, before air travel was even possible. That was before Orville, and Wilbur Wright built and flew their first aircraft in the early 20th century.

On December 17, 1903, the brothers made their historic flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, officially opening a new era in travel. Their __1__ to the new science of aeronautics continued for at least 10 years after that historic day. What separated the Wright brothers from other aviation __2__ was that the brothers developed an effective mechanism to control their airplane. Their three-axis control system is still in use today, more than 100 years after its development.

The first flight was not a very long one. It totaled only 120 feet long, 10 feet high, and only 12 seconds in duration, but it was flight. Orville piloted the plane, as Wilbur ran alongside. There were only five eyewitnesses to the flight, but one photographer captured the image on film, and the rest was aviation history.

The brothers were very protective of their new invention and made it difficult for reporters to chronicle their efforts. This led to __3__ rumors that the entire thing was a hoax. For the next several years, the brothers worked to refine their flying machine in secret, leading to more doubt. However, in 1908, the brothers took their __4__ to Le Mans, France to put on an exhibition. Wilbur guided his aircraft making turns and other maneuvers, which __5__ the crowd. Soon, the Wright Brothers were famous. They changed the way people travel.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/eslread/ss/s340.htm

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1. contributions / 2. pioneers / 3. widespread / 4. invention / 5. amazed

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

commonplace (adj.) ธรรมดา, ที่เกิดขึ้นทุกวัน

aeronautics (n.) ศาสตร์ด้านการออกแบบ สร้างเครื่องบิน

pioneer (n.) ผู้บุกเบิก

eyewitness (n.) พยาน, ผู้เห็นเหตุการณ์

hoax (n.) เรื่องหลอกลวง

 

7. Steve Jobs: Co-founder of Apple Computer

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

Steve Jobs was a self-made billionaire, who brought personal computers into the homes of nearly every American in the country. He is credited with developing the technology that has personalized the computers. Jobs, along with his childhood friend Steve Wozniak, co-founded Apple Computers in 1976, working out of Jobs'__1__.

Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, to parents who gave him up for adoption shortly after birth. He was adopted by Clara and Paul Jobs. His father was a machinist who liked to spend time with his son taking electronic __2__ apart and reassembling them. This is when and where Jobs developed his interest in mechanical reconstruction. Jobs was not the best student in high school. He was known as a class clown, although he was very intelligent. It was in high school that he met Wozniak.

Both Jobs and Wozniak had a great interest in electronics, and the pair was known for making computer technology smaller, cheaper, and more __3__ to average persons. Jobs got his start working as a video game designer for the Atari Corporation. Once Jobs got Apple going, he sold his first computers, which were called the Apple I, for $666.66 each. The Apple I earned Jobs nearly $800,000 its first year, and that was just the __4__. The Apple II earned the fledgling company nearly $140 million, and by 1980, the company was worth $1.2 billion.

Jobs branched out his financial kingdom venturing into other businesses such as Pixar Animation Studios, which was also very successful. He __5__ left Apple to found the NeXT Corporation, which produced both software and hardware, but NeXT floundered, and Jobs went back to Apple to develop iPhone and iPad. Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, and eventually lost his battle with cancer in October 2011.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/eslread/ss/s363.htm

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1. garage / 2. components / 3. accessible / 4. beginning / 5. briefly

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

adoption (n.) การรับอุปการะ

machinist (n.) ช่างเครื่อง

reassemble (v.) ประกอบขึ้นใหม่

branch out (phrv.) ขยายออกไป, แตกสาขา

found (v.) ก่อตั้ง

flounder (v.) ตกต่ำ, ทุลักทุเล

diagnose (v.) วินิจฉัย

pancreatic cancer (n.) มะเร็งตับอ่อน

 

8. Mark Zuckerberg: Co-founder of Facebook

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

The next time you decide to check your Facebook page to see if you have any new messages, likes, or just to see what your friends are up to, you can thank Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg is the man that changed the way people keep in touch with each other. He literally changed the world.

Born in White Plains, New York on May 14, 1984, Zuckerberg __1__ an interest in computer programming at an early age. When he was just 12 years old, he had developed a working messaging system that his father Edward used in his dental office. Zuckerberg had many friends who were artists, and they would come by and draw pictures for Mark. He would then design a computer game based on the characters drawn. In high school, Zuckerberg developed a music software program that drew interest from several large companies. He __2__ into Harvard University in 2002, where he developed his first social networking site for students only. The site was very popular, but it was shut down by the school for being __3__.

During his sophomore year at Harvard, Zuckerberg began working on Facebook, a site that allowed its users to create a profile, share photos, and communicate with other members. He dropped out his sophomore year to __4__ his work to his site. He moved his operation to Palo Alto, California. By the end of 2004, Facebook had had more than 1,000,000 members.

Zuckerberg's rise to the top has not been without controversy. Some of his Harvard peers claimed he stole their ideas and filed suit against Zuckerberg. The case was settled, but it continues to be an issue. Facebook __5__ more than $1.5 billion in net revenues today.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/eslread/ss/s365.htm

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1. developed / 2. enrolled / 3. inappropriate / 4. dedicate / 5. generates

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

enroll (v.) สมัคร, ลงทะเบียน

inappropriate (adj.) ไม่เหมาะสม

sophomore (n.) นักเรียนชั้นปีที่ 2

drop out (phrv.) ลาออกกลางคัน

dedicate (v.) ทุ่มเท

controversy (n.) เรื่องอื้อฉาว

peer (n.) เพื่อนร่วมชั้น, เพื่อนวัยเดียวกัน

file suit (against) (v.) ฟ้องร้อง, ยื่นเรื่องต่อศาล

revenue (n.) รายได้

 

9. Ronald Reagan: The First Actor-turned President

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular United States presidents in modern times. He served from January 1981 through December 1989, making him a __1__ president. He won both elections by very wide margins over his Democratic opponents, incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980, and Walter Mondale in 1984. In the election, Reagan took every state with the exception of Minnesota, which was Mondale's home state. Reagan had an __2__ quality that served him well when addressing the country. This came from his days as a Hollywood actor, where he starred in several movies after a short career in radio broadcasting.

Born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan grew up in small towns throughout the state. At one time, the family lived in an apartment above a department store. After he won the presidency and moved into the White House, Reagan joked that he was "living above the store again." It was this type of __3__ humor that endeared him to the American public.

As a teenager attending Dixon High School in California, Reagan began developing an interest in acting, sports, and storytelling. After a brief career as a radio broadcaster, Reagan auditioned for a part in a movie in 1937. He landed the role and signed a seven-year contract with the Warner Brothers Studio. He __4__ in several films before being called into the military, effectively ending his Hollywood career.

Reagan served as Governor of California for four years prior to becoming president. His presidential term was very successful as he presided over many of the landmark events during the 1980s. During his final term, Reagan suffered from the effects of Alzheimer's Disease, which negatively __5__ his ability to govern, but he carried out his term, and his legacy as a great president remained intact.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/people/p/people083.htm

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1. two-term / 2. endearing / 3. down-to-earth / 4. appeared / 5. affected

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

term (n.) สมัย, วาระ

opponent (n.) ฝ่ายตรงข้าม

incumbent (adj.) ที่ดำรงตำแหน่งอยู่

endearing (adj.) เป็นที่รัก

down-to-earth (adj.) ติดดิน, ไม่ถือตัว

preside over (v.) เป็นประธาน, เป็นคนควบคุมดูแล

legacy (n.) เรื่องเล่าสืบทอด

intact (adj.) ไม่เสื่อม, ไม่เสียหาย

 

10. Mark Twain: A Great American Author

▶ กดฟังเทป

 

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, best known as Mark Twain, is an American author and humorist. He wrote two of the most significant novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which provided the __1__ for his novels.

Clemens held a variety of odd jobs as a young man. He was a journalist, miner, printer's apprentice, and typesetter, but __2__ was what he liked doing best. His writing style earned him __3__ from critics worldwide. William Faulkner, another great American author, called him "The Father of American Literature."

Twain was already a very successful writer when he wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The main character Tom Sawyer was based on his own experiences as a child. His best friends were also based on real-life friends Twain grew up with. Huckleberry Finn, the main character of his finest work, was also based on a __4__ friend.

Twain was a prolific writer who penned several books, and other publications. Most of his writing was taken from his life in the western part of the United States while traveling with his brother Orion. He was born Christian, but later in life questioned his faith, and developed __5__ feelings toward organized religion. He was once quoted as saying, "If Christ were here, now there is one thing he would not be - Christian." Twain died in 1910 from a heart attack at the age of 74.

source : https://www.eslfast.com/people/p/people047.htm

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1. settings / 2. journalism / 3. praise / 4. childhood / 5. negative

 

ศัพท์น่ารู้

humorist (n.) นักเขียน, เล่าเรื่องตลก

apprentice (n.) ลูกศิษย์, เด็กฝึก

prolific (adj.) ผลิตผลงานออกมามาก

(source: eslfast.com)

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