英语听力精选进阶版 6153

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 inauguration¹ 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 humbled² by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed³, 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 spoke⁴ of a "sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging⁵ fear that America's decline is inevitable⁶, 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, unity⁷ 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

1 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。

2 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。

3 bestowed   

赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• 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。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• 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。

5 nagging   

adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责

参考例句：

• 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》

6 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• 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。

7 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。