六级英语晨读经典100篇 10

Chief Justice Rehnquist, President Carter, President Bush, President

Clinton, distinguished¹ guests and my fellow citizens, the peaceful

transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country. With

a simple oath, we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings.

 

 

As I begin, I thank President Clinton for his service to our nation.

And I thank Vice² President Gore³ for a contest conducted with spirit and

ended with grace.

I am honored and humbled⁴ to stand here, where so many of America's leaders

have come before me, and so many will follow.

We have a place, all of us, in a long story -- a story we continue, but

whose end we will not see. It is the story of a new world that became a

friend and liberator⁵ of the old, a story of a slave-holding society that

became a servant of freedom, the story of a power that went into the world

to protect but not possess, to defend but not to conquer.

It is the American story -- a story of flawed and fallible people, united

across the generations by grand and enduring ideals.

The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding American promise that

everyone be

longs, that everyone deserves a chance, that no insignificant⁶ person was

ever

born.

Americans are called to enact⁷ this promise in our lives and in our laws.

And t

hough our nation has sometimes halted, and sometimes delayed, we must

follow n

o other course.

Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy

was

a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in

many nations.

Our democratic faith is more than the creed⁸ of our country, it is the

inborn⁹ h

ope of our humanity, an ideal we carry but do not own, a trust we bear and

pass along. And even after nearly 225 years, we have a long way yet to

travel.

While many of our citizens prosper¹⁰, others doubt the promise, even the

justice, of our own country. The ambitions of some Americans are limited

by failing schools and hidden prejudice and the circumstances of their

birth. And sometimes our differences run so deep, it seems we share a

continent, but not a country.

We do not accept this, and we will not allow it. Our unity¹¹, our union, is

the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation. And this is

my solemn pledge: I will work to build a single nation of justice and

opportunity.

I know this is in our reach because we are guided by a power larger than

ourselves who creates us equal in His image.

And we are confident in principles that unite and lead us onward¹².

America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by

ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests

and teach us what it means to be citizens. Every child must be taught

these principles. E

very citizen must uphold them. And every immigrant, by embracing these

ideals, makes our country more, not less, American.

Today, we affirm a new commitment to live out our nation's promise through

civility, courage, compassion¹³ and character.

America, at its best, matches a commitment to principle with a concern for

civility. A civil society demands from each of us good will and respect,

fair dealing¹⁴ and forgiveness.

Some seem to believe that our politics can afford to be petty because, in

a time of peace, the stakes of our debates appear small.

But the stakes for America are never small. If our country does not lead

the cause of freedom, it will not be led. If we do not turn the hearts of

children toward knowledge and character, we will lose their gifts and

undermine their idealism. If we permit our economy to drift and decline,

the vulnerable will su

ffer most.

We must live up to the calling we share. Civility is not a tactic¹⁵ or a

sentime nt. It is the determined¹⁶ choice of trust over cynicism, of

community over chaos¹⁷. And this commitment, if we keep it, is a way to

shared accomplishment¹⁸.

America, at its best, is also courageous¹⁹.

Our national courage has been clear in times of depression and war, when

defending common dangers defined our common good. Now we must choose if

the example of our fathers and mothers will inspire us or condemn²⁰ us. We

must show courage in a time of blessing²¹ by confronting problems instead of

passing them on to

future generations.

Together, we will reclaim²² America's schools, before ignorance and apathy²³

claim more young lives.

We will reform Social Security and Medicare, sparing our children from

struggles we have the power to prevent. And we will reduce taxes, to

recover the momentum²⁴ of our economy and reward the effort and enterprise

of working Americans.

We will build our defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness invite

challenge.

We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is

spared

new horrors.

The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake: America

remains²⁵ engaged in the world by history and by choice, shaping a balance

of power tha

t favors freedom. We will defend our allies and our interests. We will

show purpose without arrogance²⁶. We will meet aggression²⁷ and bad faith with

resolve and strength. And to all nations, we will speak for the values

that gave our nation birth.

America, at its best, is compassionate²⁸. In the quiet of American

conscience, we know that deep, persistent²⁹ poverty is unworthy of our

nation's promise.

And whatever our views of its cause, we can agree that children at risk

are not at fault. Abandonment and abuse are not acts of God, they are

failures of lo

ve.

And the proliferation of prisons, however necessary, is no substitute for

hope and order in our souls.

Where there is suffering, there is duty. Americans in need are not

strangers, they are citizens, not problems, but priorities. And all of us

are diminished when any are hopeless.

Government has great responsibilities for public safety and public health,

for civil rights and common schools. Yet compassion is the work of a

nation, not just a government.

And some needs and hurts are so deep they will only respond to a mentor's

touch or a pastor's prayer. Church and charity, synagogue and mosque³⁰ lend

our communities their humanity, and they will have an honored place in our

plans and in our laws.

Many in our country do not know the pain of poverty, but we can listen to

those who do.

And I can pledge our nation to a goal: When we see that wounded traveler

on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side.

America, at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued

and expected.

Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats³¹, it is a call to

concience. And though it requires sacrifice, it brings a deeper

fulfillment. We find the fullness of life not only in options, but in

commitments. And we find that children and community are the commitments

that set us free.

Our public interest depends on private character, on civic³² duty and family

bonds and basic fairness, on uncounted, unhonored acts of decency³³ which

give direction to our freedom.

Sometimes in life we are called to do great things. But as a saint of our

times has said, every day we are called to do small things with great

love. The most important tasks of a democracy are done by everyone.

I will live and lead by these principles: to advance my convictions with

civility, to pursue the public interest with courage, to speak for greater

justice and compassion, to call for responsibility and try to live it as

well.

In all these ways, I will bring the values of our history to the care of

our times.

What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek

a common good beyond your comfort; to defend needed reforms against easy

attacks;

to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be

citizens:

citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens,

building communities of service and a nation of character.

Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in

ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit

of citizenship³⁴ is missing, no government program can replace it. When this

spirit is pre

sent, no wrong can stand against it.

After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John

Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: "We know the race is not to the swift nor

the batt

le to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and

directs this storm?"

Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration³⁵. The

years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know:

our nation's grand story of courage and its simple dream of dignity.

We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity³⁶ with his

purpose.

Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in

service to one another.

Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose

today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity

of our lives and every life.

This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the

whirl wind and directs this storm.

God bless you all, and God bless America.

1 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

4 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

5 liberator   

解放者

参考例句：

• The best integrated turf quality was recorded in Ram I、Midnight、America、Connie、Liberator, which could be adopted in Shanxi. RamI、Midnight、America、Connie、Liberator综合质量表现均衡且分值较高，是山西省推广应用的重点品种。
• It is the story of a new world that became a friend and liberator of the old. 这是一部新世界的发展史，是一部后浪推前浪的历史。

6 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

7 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

8 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

9 inborn   

adj.天生的，生来的，先天的

参考例句：

• He is a man with an inborn love of joke.他是一个生来就喜欢开玩笑的人。
• He had an inborn talent for languages.他有语言天分。

10 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

12 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

13 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

14 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

15 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

16 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

17 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

18 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

19 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

20 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

21 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

22 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

23 apathy   

n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡

参考例句：

• He was sunk in apathy after his failure.他失败后心恢意冷。
• She heard the story with apathy.她听了这个故事无动于衷。

24 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

25 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• 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。

26 arrogance   

n.傲慢，自大

参考例句：

• His arrogance comes out in every speech he makes.他每次讲话都表现得骄傲自大。
• Arrogance arrested his progress.骄傲阻碍了他的进步。

27 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

28 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

29 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

30 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

31 scapegoats   

n.代人受过的人，替罪羊( scapegoat的名词复数 )v.使成为替罪羊( scapegoat的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They were made the scapegoats for the misfire of the program. 他们成了那个计划失败的替罪羊。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Only some of the guards and a minor hotel employee, chosen as scapegoats, were imprisoned. 只有一些保镖和那个旅馆的小职员当了替罪羊，被关进了监狱。 来自辞典例句

32 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

33 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

34 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

35 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• 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。

36 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。