背景閱讀：

　　對于外國人而言，泰國國王普密蓬·阿杜德的駕崩只是個重要新聞。

　　但對泰國人而言，普密蓬國王是“父親”、是支柱，是“天”。

　　毫不夸張。

　　國王駕崩，對泰國人而言，舉國悲慟，因為，普密蓬國王對他們，有因，有緣，有情，有恩。

　　用泰國學者葛潘·納卜帕的話說：“他是為了每一個子民而呼吸的國王�！�

　　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. 內閣; 柜櫥; (有特殊用途的) 小房間; 展覽藝術品的小陳列室;

　　adj.內閣的; 秘密的; 通常陳列于柜櫥內的，可保存的; 細木工制作的;

　　例句：

　　The star of my medicine cabinet is the humble aspirin.

　　我家藥柜里的壓箱寶要算是那不起眼的阿司匹林。

　　其他：

　　復數(shù)：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. 參加某事; 分享某事;

　　vt.得到或接受某部分東西;

　　例句：

　　They expected him to participate in the ceremony.

　　他們希望他參加典禮。

　　其他：

　　第三人稱單數(shù)：participates 現(xiàn)在分詞：participating 過去式：participated過去分詞：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. 數(shù)不清的; 很多的，許多的; 數(shù)量龐大的數(shù)量龐大的;

　　例句：

　　Sex crimes were just as numerous as they are today.

　　當時性犯罪和現(xiàn)在一樣多。

　　其他：

　　比較級：more numerous 最高級：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; 難以對付的;

　　例句：

　　We have a formidable task ahead of us.

　　我們面臨著一項艱巨的任務。