2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Seeks to Repair Frayed Ties During Mexico
时间：2019-01-31 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（三月）
By Paula Wolfson
Merida, Mexico
14 March 2007
President Bush spent Tuesday highlighting U.S. ties with Mexico, and his desire to find common ground on the controversial issue of immigration. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from Merida - the last stop on his five nation Latin America tour.
Presidents George Bush (r) and Felipe Calderon touring Mayan city of Uxmal
President Bush spent much of the day behind closed doors with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
At the top of the agenda was what to do about the flow of illegal Mexican immigrants across their common border.
Speaking at an arrival ceremony in the sun-drenched grounds of a restored country estate turned luxury hotel, Mr. Bush promised action.
"And so Mr. President, my pledge to you and your government - but more importantly, the people of Mexico - is I will work as hard as I possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform," said President Bush.
But President Calderon made clear his country is impatient, noting the toll 1 illegal immigration has taken on Mexico.
"Mexicans lose in each migrant, the best of our people, young people, working people, and audacious people, strong people - people that leave Mexico because they don't find the opportunities here in order to pull through with their lives," he said.
His public comments were direct - far more so than those uttered by any of the other Latin American leaders who met with Mr. Bush during his travels.
Mr. Calderon criticized a new U.S. law that authorizes 2 funding for a fence along parts of the border. And he recalled the promise President Bush made shortly after taking office to make hemispheric relations a priority - a vow 3 that was broken after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
"I believe that it is now time to retake the spirit of these words and to direct our relationship toward a path of mutual 4 prosperity," said Felipe Calderon.
Dan Bartlett
A top aide to President Bush - White House Counselor 5 Dan Bartlett - said Mr. Bush was not surprised by the criticism, noting immigration is a tough topic for all concerned.
"It's a very emotional debate," said Dan Bartlett. "It's an emotional debate in our own country, and I'm sure it's a very emotional debate in this country, because the lives - so many lives are affected 6, and children are affected, and moms and dads are affected."
Trade and development were also on the agenda for the Bush-Calderon talks, along with the growing threat of narco-trafficking.
It was the first meeting between the two men since Mr. Calderon's inauguration 7 in December after a razor-thin election victory.
Following their talks, they took some time off to visit the remains 8 of an ancient Mayan city at Uxmal. Throughout President Bush's visit, security was tight. But there were no signs of the kind of boisterous 9 demonstrations 10 seen earlier during his Latin America tour.
Mexico was the last stop in a journey that took the president to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Guatemala. He returns to Washington on Wednesday.
- The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
- The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。
- The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
- The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。
- My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
- I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。
- We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
- Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
- The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
- Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
- The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
- Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
- I don't condescend to boisterous displays of it.我并不屈就于它热热闹闹的外表。
- The children tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play.孩子们经常是先静静地聚集在一起，不一会就开始吵吵嚷嚷戏耍开了。
- Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
- The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。