voa标准英语2008年-Bush Promises Smooth White House Transition

U.S. President George Bush and President-elect Barack Obama will meet at the White House on Monday. As VOA's Paula Wolfson reports, Mr. Bush says they will discuss the major issues facing the nation.
　

President Bush assembled members of his Cabinet to make remarks on the transition at the White House, 6 Nov. 2008

Two days after the election, President Bush gathered his staff on the South Lawn of the White House and gave them instructions for the rest of his term in office.

He said a smooth transition is his top priority.

"This seamless transfer of authority is one of the hallmarks of a true democracy," he said.

But Mr. Bush also made clear that they have plenty of other work to do besides preparing for the handover to the Obama administration.

"We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in," he said. "This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades. We're in a struggle against violent extremists determined¹ to attack us. And they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people."

President Bush noted² that key members of Senator Obama's team are already being briefed on critical issues and that an effort is underway to provide them with all of the information they need. He said that throughout the executive branch of government, Bush administration officials will be working with the replacements³ chosen by the president-elect.

"Taken together, these measures represent an unprecedented⁴ effort to ensure that the executive branch is prepared to fulfill⁵ its responsibilities at all times," President Bush said.
　

President-elect Barack Obama with his wife Michelle and daughters during election night gathering6 in Chicago, 04 Nov 2008

Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, are coming to the White House on Monday. President Bush will meet with the president-elect, while Mrs. Obama gets a look at the historic mansion⁷ that will become their new home on January 20.

Meanwhile, intelligence community officials have begun another presidential rite⁸ of passage. They have started to provide Mr. Obama with daily briefings on the global situation - the kind of briefings provided only to the president of the United States.

　

1 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。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 replacements   

n.代替( replacement的名词复数 )；替换的人[物]；替代品；归还

参考例句：

• They infiltrated behind the lines so as to annoy the emery replacements. 他们渗透敌后以便骚扰敌军的调度。 来自辞典例句
• For oil replacements, cheap suddenly looks less of a problem. 对于石油的替代品来说，价格变得无足轻重了。 来自互联网

4 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

5 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

7 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

8 rite   

n.典礼，惯例，习俗

参考例句：

• This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
• Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。