VOA标准英语2010年-New US Citizens Sworn In At Joyful NYC

Hundreds of immigrants officially became American citizens in New York on Friday in a sometimes emotional ceremony of swearing-in and welcoming.

That is the sound of 165 newly minted U.S. citizens representing 48 nations of the world, pledging their allegiance to the American flag and what it represents.

It was just one high point in an hour long public ceremony that included the awarding of citizenship¹ certificates, many congratulatory words, and much applause.

All those assembled put their hand-held American flags to rest and listened closely while New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed them.

"Whether you are originally from Palermo [Sicily] or Pakistan or Hungary or Haiti, today you are all Americans, and we are delighted that you have chosen the United States as your new nation, and New York City as your new home," he said. "So thank you for doing that. May God bless you all and may God bless the most wonderful country in the world, America!"

Like the nearly seven million others who have became American citizens over the past decade, all of Friday's honorees were required to pass an official citizenship test that demonstrated a basic knowledge of spoken and written English, and a working knowledge of American history and the Constitution.

In his speech, Bob Kerrey, the New School University's president and a former U.S Senator, acknowledged the audience for the hard work it takes to become educated and informed Americans citizens. It's a legal status he said many native born Americans take for granted.

"When something is given to you, unfortunately you don't appreciate it as much as when you have to work for it. And it is my experience that all of you, as soon to be new citizens of this great country, have more to teach us of what it means to be American, [and] more to teach us of what this country is at its best, than perhaps we have to teach you. So, thank you. You are an inspiration to all of us, as Americans who were given this right of citizenship at birth. Good luck to all of you," he said.

US Army private David Aminolte, originally from Ghana, was beaming. Because he has served in the U.S. military for over a year, he was put on a fast track to becoming officially an American. Minutes after taking the oath of allegiance, he spoke² to the VOA about Friday's milestone³ on his road to the American dream.

"It means a lot in my heart that, you know, that America is giving the opportunity to excel. And being a citizen is actually going to open more doors for me in the Untied⁴ States to succeed. I'm privileged, I'm honored to be a citizen," he said.

Jamaican-born Natisha Bowen was also looking to a bright and interesting future in her adopted homeland. "Today, I am glad to officially be in the land of opportunity and I am loving it. America is a place of opportunity [and] diverse cultures. Even just walking outside to the store, you will see different cultures - and I love that. And I look forward to growing my kids to appreciate different cultures," she said.

Brazilian born Rosetta Egan loves the American democratic system.

"What I most like in this country is that people fight for their rights, and the system works well here. And things change. In many other countries, you have someone in power that is doing bad things and nothing happens. And I am proud to be an American for many things. But the fact that we live in a country that is always trying to do the right thing makes me feel very good," she said.

Indeed, there were as many rational reasons to celebrate the rights, responsibilities, and rewards of being American as there were people in the room. But when a New School student took the stage to sing God Bless America for these newest Americans, all faces in the room told a profoundly emotional story as well.
 

1 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。

2 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。

3 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

4 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。