VOA标准英语2012--Americans Celebrate Independence Day

 

Americans Celebrate Independence Day

In Washington, D.C., the annual July fourth parade made its way down Constitution Avenue. Later, a large crowd gathered on the national mall for a patriotic¹ concert, and watched as fireworks lit up the sky behind the Washington Monument.

The spectacle got high marks from a visitor to Washington named Donna.

"They were wonderful," she said. "They were amazing, they were awesome² and just marvelous. This was our first time in the city so we've enjoyed it very much.''

Obama honors military

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed 25 active-duty U.S. service members as new American citizens sworn in at the White House.

"Immigration makes America stronger, immigration makes us more prosperous, and immigration positions America to lead in the twenty-first century - and these young men and women are testaments³ to that," he said.

The president later paid tribute to the military families and invited them to join him for a barbecue and a performance by the U.S. Marine⁴ Corps⁵ Band.

Romney's family celebration

Obama's likely Republican opponent in the November general election, Mitt⁶ Romney, spent the holiday marching in a parade in New Hampshire.

"Well, we're just here with my family," he said. "There are 30 of us in total, with the grandkids and kids and daughters-in-law. The Wolfboro parade is a tradition in my family, so it's fun to be back, and campaigning this time."

Hot dog-eating frenzy⁷

American Joey Chestnut⁸ chewed his way to victory for the 6th consecutive⁹ year at the hot dog-eating contest at Coney Island in New York City. He consumed 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

"I was pushing my body to the absolute limit," he said. "The last minute is the hardest. Right now its all settling and I'm feeling much better and eventually I'm just going to have to take a nap."

This year's celebration marked the 236th anniversary of the United States' declaration of independence from Britain. 

1 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

2 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

3 testaments   

n.遗嘱( testament的名词复数 )；实际的证明

参考例句：

• The coastline is littered with testaments to the savageness of the waters. 海岸线上充满了海水肆虐过后的杂乱东西。 来自互联网
• A personification of wickedness and ungodliness alluded to in the Old and New Testaments. 彼勒《旧约》和《新约》中邪恶和罪孽的化身。 来自互联网

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

7 frenzy   

n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动

参考例句：

• He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
• They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。

8 chestnut   

n.栗树，栗子

参考例句：

• We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
• In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。

9 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。