英语听力精选进阶版 6153
时间：2019-02-13 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
A New Day, a New Dawn 新的一天，新的开始
History was made in Washington this week as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in front of a crowd of two million people.
President Obama made an impassioned and emotional speech to the multitude of people who had braved the elements to witness the inauguration 1 of America’s first African-American President.
President Obama’s speech touched on many subjects of significance to the American people, including the fragile state of their economy and security matters such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But he began by addressing his personal feelings on his election and the weight of responsibility he felt in taking on such an important office.
"I stand here today humbled 2 by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed 3, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors," said President Obama.
The President went on to talk about the fears that many Americans have that their country is becoming less successful and diminishing as a global power.
He spoke 4 of a "sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging 5 fear that America's decline is inevitable 6, and that the next generation must lower its sights".
However, President Obama continued to say that America would respond to the challenges before it, and that the nation would pull together and overcome its problems by working together in a spirit of co-operation.
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity 7 of purpose over conflict and discord," said the President.
After such a stirring speech, the world waits to see if America’s new president’s actions will match his lofty words and ideals.
GLOSSARY 词汇表
sworn in 宣誓就职
impassioned 慷慨激昂的
multitude 众多（的人）
braved the elements 勇敢面对恶劣天气
inauguration 就职仪式
fragile state （经济）疲软局势
weight of responsibility 身上的重任
office （总统）职务
humbled 谦卑的
bestowed 授予
sacrifices 牺牲
diminishing 逐渐缩小的
sapping of confidence 逐渐失去了信心
lower its sights 降低目标
pull together 齐心协力
spirit of co-operation 协作精神
unity of purpose 共同目标
discord 不和，分歧
stirring 令人激动地
lofty words 寓意深厚的演讲
- 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。
- It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
- He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。
- I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
- The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。