VOA慢速英语听力2013年01月（WORD文本）：BARACK-OBAMA-BEGINS-2ND-TERM-AS-PRESIDENT.doc

1、From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。This week, Barack Obama began his second term as president of the United States. The public swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the Capitol building in Washington.本周，巴拉克奥巴马开始了美国总统第二任期，周一在华盛顿国会山举行了公众就职仪式。In a s

2、peech, Mr. Obama read from parts of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.奥巴马演讲中宣读了美国宪法和独立宣言的部分内容。What makes us exceptional, what makes us American is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. We hold these truths to be self

3、-evident, that all men are created equal.“让我们变得独特、让我们成为美国人的，是我们对两个多世纪前一项宣言中明确表达出来的一种信念的忠诚，我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等。”Officials estimated that over one million people gathered on Washingtons National Mall for the inaugural ceremonies. Some came for the musical performances. But others wanted to hear how

4、President Obama would define goals for the next four years.有关官员估计超过100万人聚集在华盛顿国家广场观看就职仪式。有的人前来表演音乐节目，但也有人想要听听奥巴马如何明确未来四年的目标。In his speech, Mr. Obama said he will make climate change one of his top goals. He said that failing to deal with the threat from rising temperatures would betray the worlds ch

5、ildren.在奥巴马的演讲中，他将把气候变化作为他的首要目标之一。他说，如果无法解决气候变暖带来的危险，就对不起子孙后代。Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms. “一些人可能仍然不承认科学的压倒性判断，但没有人能够避免熊熊火灾、严重旱灾、更强力风暴带来的灾难性打击。”Environmental groups

6、welcomed the presidents desire to act on climate change. The Sierra Club called his comments heartening. It said global warming is an urgent issue for the whole world. But many opponents of Mr. Obamas policies disagree. They say it would cost too much for the American economy to move away from using

7、 oil and other fossil fuels.环境保护组织对奥巴马的这一表态表示欢迎。塞拉俱乐部（Sierra Club）称奥巴马演讲“振奋人心”。该俱乐部表示，全球变暖是整个世界迫切解决的一个问题。但反对奥巴马政策的人表示不赞同，他们说减少使用石油和其他化石燃料会大大损害美国经济。The president raised other issues of disagreement between the Republican and Democratic Parties. For example, he made it clear that now is the time to re

8、-examine American immigration policies. The president predicted that some immigrants could one day become the countrys technological leaders.奥巴马还提到了共和党和民主党之间的分歧等问题。比如，他明确表示，现在是重审美国移民政策的时候了，总统预测一些移民将会成为美国的科技领袖。After the speech, political leaders were quick to comment on the ceremonies. Senator Johnny

9、 Isakson, a Republican, thought the event was great.演讲结束后，政界领袖们纷纷对仪式发表看法。共和党参议院约翰尼艾萨克森（ Johnny Isakson）认为仪式非常伟大。I thought it was a great program, an uplifting program. I thought the music was fantastic, the poem was fantastic. The presidents speech was thoughtful. I thought it was another testament

10、to our constitution and our democracy.“我认为这是一个非常伟大、令人振奋的仪式。我认为音乐、诗歌非常美妙，奥巴马总统的演讲很有见地。我想这再次证明了我们的宪法和民主。”Democratic Congressman John Conyers praised the inaugural address. He said he thinks President Obama will make his second term even more powerful than the first.民主党议员约翰.科尼尔斯（John Conyers）称赞了就职演讲，他说

11、，总统奥巴马的第二任期将比第一任期更加强大。Mr. Obama said that with 10 years of war coming to an end, and the economy recovering, now is the time for America to unite. But, Republican Senator John McCain found the speech lacking. He said it failed to improve cooperation between the two parties. Yet Senator Robert Casey,

12、 a Democrat, noted that inaugural addresses are important.奥巴马表示，随着十年战争即将结束和经济开始复苏，现在是美国团结起来的时候了。但共和党参议院约翰麦凯恩（John McCain）认为演讲内容还不够充分，他说奥巴马的这次演讲未能改善两党之间的合作。但民主党参议员罗伯特凯西（Robert Casey）说就职演讲很重要。I know there are cynics who say that speeches do not matter and nothing will cut through the cynicism and part

13、isanship. But I disagree. I think all of us at our core share some basic values as Americans. And we need to be reminded of it.“我知道总会有些愤世嫉俗者，他们认为演讲无关紧要，但没有什么能减少愤世嫉俗和党派之争。但我不同?意这么说。我认为我们所有人共享一些美国人的基本价值观，我们需要谨记这点。”Mr. Obama took the oath of office on two historic Bibles. One book had been used by Pres

14、ident Abraham Lincoln in his 1861 inauguration. The other Bible belonged to the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Junior. People across the United States observed the Martin Luther King federal holiday on Monday.奥巴马把手按两本历史悠久的圣经上宣誓就职。一本是林肯总统1861年就职典礼时用过的圣经，另一本圣经属于民权领袖马丁路德金。周一，全美国人庆祝了马丁路德金联邦假日。*更多资料请访问VOA英语学习网（）*VOA慢速英语新闻听力（VOA Special English），每天更新： VOA常速英语新闻听力（VOA Standard English），每天更新： BBC英语新闻听力，每天更新： CNN英语新闻听力，每天更新： CRI英语新闻听力，每天更新： NPR英语新闻听力，每天更新： AP NEWS英语新闻听力，每天更新：