VOA慢速英语--特鲁多访美

AS IT IS 2016-03-13 US Welcomes Charismatic Trudeau 特鲁多访美

U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House Thursday.

The day started with a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. The two leaders traded compliments and jokes comfortably. Canada and the U.S. are strong allies, and the exchange between Obama and Trudeau showed that.

Obama told the audience that America and Canada share many customs and ideals. He cited anti-terrorism, universal health care, freedom of religion, and a love for ice hockey.

“The United States and Canada are blessed to be neighbors. By choice, we are steadfast¹ allies and the closest of friends,” Obama said at the welcoming ceremony.

Trudeau, who is 44, campaigned in Canada last autumn on a message of hope and change. His political style is like Obama’s. While Trudeau joked with the president that Canada’s best exports to the U.S. are ice hockey players, he was serious about the bond between the nations.

“The relationship between our two countries has always been vital,” Trudeau said. “We remain united in a common purpose.”

Both leaders are also fighting climate change. Both leaders plan on putting the international climate control pact² into practice.

Obama said: “Both are nations are threatened by rising seas, melting permafrost, disappearing glaciers⁴, and sea ice.”

The state dinner guest list included National Hockey League Commissioner⁵ Gary Bettman and Canadian-born actors Michael J. Fox, Mike Myers and Ryan Reynolds.

It ended with a state dinner at the White House. The media gushed⁶ about Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, and their personal style.

It was the 10th state dinner the Obamas have hosted. The state dinner for Trudeau and his wife, Sophie was the first for a Canadian head of government since 1997.

Words in This Story

lawn – n. an area of ground, such as the ground around a house or in a garden or park, that is covered with short grass

ice hockey – n. a game played on ice rink in which two teams try to shoot a puck into the opponent's goal

steadfast – adj. very loyal to a person, belief or cause

vital – adj. extremely important

permafrost – n. a layer of soil that is always frozen in very cold areas

glacier³ – n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly over a wide area of land

gushed – v. to speak excitedly

1 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

2 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

3 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

4 glaciers   

冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills. 冰川把丘陵地带冲出一条条山谷。
• It has ice and snow glaciers, rainforests and beautiful mountains. 既有冰川，又有雨林和秀丽的山峰。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 gushed   

v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• Oil gushed from the well. 石油从井口喷了出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Clear water gushed into the irrigational channel. 清澈的水涌进了灌溉渠道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》