VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Honored With Massive Parade After Taking

A carnival¹ atmosphere has engulfed² downtown Washington, where more than a million people watched Barack Obama become the 44th President of the United States and America's first African American leader. Mr. Obama took the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and later participated in an inaugural³ parade along Washington's Pennsylvania Avenue.
　
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle walk on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House in Washington, during his inaugural parade, 20 Jan 2009

Joyous⁴ cheers and wild screams greeted President Obama and First Lady Michele Obama as they stepped out of the presidential limousine⁵ to walk a few blocks at the head of a parade between the Capitol and the White House.
　
Barack and Michelle Obama walk at the head of the inaugural parade in Washington, 20 Jan 2009

For hundreds of thousands of people who could not gain access to the packed National Mall to view the swearing in ceremony, it was their last chance to see the Obamas before they entered the White House as America's new First Family.

Hours earlier, President Obama took the oath of office and received a military 21-gun salute⁶.

In his inaugural address, he noted⁷ that he takes office in a time of crisis.

"Our nation is at war, against a far reaching network of violence and hatred," said President Obama. "Our economy is badly weakened - a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some - but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age."
　
Crowds along the inaugural parade route, 20 Jan 2009

The president urged bold action to create new jobs and end a year-long recession, and he called on all Americans to do their part to solve the challenges confronting the nation.

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility, a recognition on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world - duties that we do not grudgingly⁸ accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task," said Mr. Obama.

Mr. Obama promised to defeat those who employ violence and terrorism, and to remain true to America's core ideals while defending the nation.

The 47-year-old president is the son of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother. He grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. And on Tuesday, he held out a friendly hand to those overseas who watched his address.

"And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today - from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born - know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity and we are ready to lead once more," continued Barack Obama.

Many African American families attended the inauguration⁹ of the country's first black president, including this woman from Pennsylvania:

"I could not be happier or more proud," she said. "I am an 81-year-old black lady who has seen an awful lot in my lifetime. And never, in all my years, did I think that this day would come and one of us would be in the White House."

Public opinion polls show that Barack Obama enjoys some of the highest approval ratings of any new president.

Presidential historian Allan Lichtman of American University says President Obama will bring major changes, in both style and substance, to the White House.

"Barack Obama represents and celebrates not only the diversity of America, but the diversity of a knit-together global world," said Allan Lichtman. "In addition, I think, so far Barack Obama has indicated that he is likely to take American foreign policy in new directions as part of this new political era."

Between the swearing in ceremony and the parade, President Obama ate lunch with U.S. senators and representatives at the Capitol. During the event, Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy suffered an apparent seizure¹⁰ and was rushed to a hospital. Kennedy was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. Another elder senator, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, also became ill and required medical attention.

Mr. Obama's inauguration closed eight years of Republican leadership under George Bush, who flew home to Texas aboard the plane Mr. Obama will use as Air Force One.

1 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

2 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

4 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

5 limousine   

n.豪华轿车

参考例句：

• A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.司机为这个高贵的女士打开了豪华轿车的车门。
• We arrived in fine style in a hired limousine.我们很气派地乘坐出租的豪华汽车到达那里。

6 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

7 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。

8 grudgingly   

参考例句：

• He grudgingly acknowledged having made a mistake. 他勉强承认他做错了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Their parents unwillingly [grudgingly] consented to the marriage. 他们的父母无可奈何地应允了这门亲事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 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。

10 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。