民主先生成就台灣現代史
Taiwan’s first directly elected president Lee Teng-hui passed away on July 30 at the age of 97.
台灣第一任直接民選總統李登輝於7月30日去世，享壽97歲。
directly(adv.)直接地elect(v.)選舉
Lee’s political career began when he returned from the US with a PhD in agricultural economics and started to work in the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction.
李登輝於美國取得農業經濟博士學位返台，任職於農復會，其政治生涯自此展開。
political(adj.)政治的PhD博士=doctor of philosophyagricultural(adj.)農業的economics(n.)經濟學Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction農復會
In 1972, the then-premier Chiang Ching-kuo recruited him as cabinet minister without portfolio responsible for agriculture. Lee was later appointed as the mayor of Taipei City in 1978 and served for three years. In 1984, Chiang nominated Lee to become his vice president, and in 1988 Lee succeeded Chiang as president when he died. The 1990s were Lee’s golden years.
1972年，時任行政院院長的蔣經國延攬李登輝以農經專長擔任行政院政務委員。李登輝隨後於1978年任官派台北市市長，任職3年。1984年，蔣經國提名李登輝為副總統，後來1988年蔣經國去世，由李登輝接任總統，為其90年代的政治黃金生涯揭開序幕。
then(adj.)當時的premier(n.)行政院長recruit(v.)招募cabinet(n.)內閣minister without portfolio政務委員、無任所大臣appoint(v.)派任nominate(v.)提名succeed as接替成為golden years黃金年代、黃金期
His most celebrated political accomplishments, including collaborating with the then opposition Democratic Progressive Party to hold Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, completing constitutional amendments and becoming Taiwan’s first democratically elected President, were all made in this decade.
李登輝備受推崇的政治成就多於此時完成，包括與當時的在野黨民進黨聯合推動總統民選、完成修憲、成為台灣首位民選總統等。
celebrated(adj.)受稱讚的、被頌揚的accomplishment(n.)成就=achievementcollaborate with…與…合作opposition(n.)敵對、對手Democratic Progressive Party民進黨hold election舉辦選舉constitutional(adj.)憲法的amendment(n.)修訂、修正democratically(adv.)民主地
Lee was politically skillful and excelled in combining forces with both allies and political enemies. It was under his governance that Taiwan gradually enjoyed the sweet fruits of democracy.
李登輝政治手腕高明且善於與黨內外人士合作。在任職總統期間，台灣社會逐漸品嘗到民主果實的滋味。
politically(adv.)政治地skillful(adj.)有技巧的S+excel in N or V-ing某人善於某事ally(n.)同黨人士governance(n.)治理
As chairman of the Kuomintang and the leader of the country, Lee handed over the presidency to the DPP in 2000. The transition of power was peaceful, which was quite rare in contemporary history. International media therefore dubbed Lee Taiwan’s “Mr. Democracy.”
李登輝在領導國民黨及台灣一段時間後，於2000年移交政權給民進黨，標誌了當代罕見的和平政黨輪替，國際媒體也因此稱其為「民主先生」。
hand over移交transition(n.)過渡=transfercontemporary(adj.)當代的therefore(adv.)因此dub(v.)冠上名號
After Lee stepped down as president in 2000, his influence continued. His “two-state” theory regarding Taiwan-China relations had upset Beijing, prompting Chinese authorities to halt many political exchange activities.
李登輝卸任總統後，仍持續維持影響力。他在任期尾聲提及的「兩國論」惹惱了中國，讓北京當局停止了許多雙方的政治交流。
step down卸任、離職“two-state” theory兩國論upset(v.)使生氣、使惱怒prompting…=which promptedauthority(n.)當局、政權halt(v.)停止
Lee’s life, as described by some Taiwanese researchers, was a reflection of the country’s modern history. Both his merits and demerits will be an essential part of Taiwan and the progress of democracy.
如一些台灣學者所言，李登輝的一生便是一部台灣近代史。他的功過是非是台灣以及民主進程所不可或缺的一部份。
reflection(n.)反映merit(n.)功績demerit(n.)缺失essential(adj.)必要的progress(n.)過程