Unit 6,Text A A Legendary Figure of Our Age,Text B A Brilliant Star in Grassland,Text A: A Legendary Figure of Our Age,“It is the realization of our hopes and dreams that we have cherished for decades. We are now one nation.” Nelson Mandela Millions of people came out, simply to vote. Black people, whites, coloreds, and Asianall stood patiently in line. After they cast their votes, many people walked outside crying, some were dancing, and others, singing. It was a beautiful day. The Party that won was the African National Congress, with Nelson Mandela as its leader. In 1994, the first universal free election was held in South Africa and Nelson Mandela, a legendary figure of the African National Congress, or ANC, became the first black President of South Africa. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in the Transkei on the 18 July 1918 where his father was a chief. He was raised in the traditional tribal culture of his family and influenced by the cases that came before the headmans court. He determined to become a lawyer. Having heard his ancestors stories of bravery during the resistance wars defending their motherland, he dreamed of making his own contribution in the struggle to free his people.,课文,For most of the 20th century, South Africa was under a racist system called apartheid. Thousands and thousands of South Africans were bravely organized in the struggle for their freedom. Demonstrations and strikes were the most important weapons of their campaign. People and governments around the world were encouraged to oppose the apartheid government in South Africa. Nelson Mandela was one of the great moral and political leaders of that time. As a man with a natural air of authority, Nelson is passionate, emotional, sensitive and quickly stung by bitterness. He is an international hero whose lifetime is a contribution to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. He joined the African National Congress and was elected President of the Transvaal branch. In the same year he became Deputy National President. In 1961, Nelson Mandela led a general strike during which almost all black residents stayed home. In 1964, Mandela was found to be disloyal to his country and sentenced to five years in prison, which was subsequently increased to a life sentence. While in prison, his jailers offered Mandela a remission of his sentence on condition that he accepted the Bantustan policy by recognizing the independence of the Transkei and agreeing to settle there. He continually rejected these offers and again, in the 1980s he rejected a further offer of release on condition that he gave up violence.,During this time, Nelson Mandelas reputation steadily grew stronger. He was widely accepted as the most vital black leader in South Africa, becoming a powerful symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength. Nelson Mandela has never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. In spite of urging, he has never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all the oppressed and disadvantaged people both in South Africa and throughout the world. In 1990, South African President, F. W. de Klerk, announced plans to end apartheid. After 27 hard years in prison, Mandela was released and, six years later, South Africas new constitution went into effect. It marked a new beginning, putting an end to the violence and injustice that caused so much pain for so long. Mandela accepted the Nobel Peace Prize as recognition for all the people who had worked for peace and stood against racism. It was as much an award to his personal efforts as it was to the ANC and all South Africa people. Since his release from prison in 1990 after more than a quarter-century, Mandela has been at the center of the most compelling and inspiring political drama in the world. As President of the African National Congress and head of South Africas anti-apartheid movement, he played an important role in moving the nation toward multiracial government and majority rule. He is respected everywhere as a vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality. (675 words),New Words legendary a.传说中的 n.传奇故事 realization n. 实现；认识；领会 cherish vt.珍爱；怀抱(希望等) vote vi.投票，投票决定 n. 投票，表决 patiently ad.有耐性地, 有毅力地 cast v.投掷；计算 congress n.(代表)大会；(美国等国的)国会, 议会 universal a.普遍的；全体的；世界的 election n.选举, 当选 chief n.首领, 领袖；酋长 tribal a.部落的, 种族的 ancestor n.祖先, 祖宗 resistance n.反抗, 抵抗 racist n.种族主义者,生词,apartheid n.(南非)种族隔离 demonstrations n.示范；实证 campaign n.军战役；竞选运动 encouraged a.被鼓励的 oppose vt.反对, 抗争 vi.反对 moral a.道德(上)的, 精神的 passionate a.充满热情的 sensitive