Obama to Address Nation on Gulf Oil Disaster
Weekly Address from Obama
Weekly Address from ObamaWeekly Address: America’s Fiscal FutureSaturday, April 16, 2011 Washington, DCThis week, I laid out (展示;安排；提议；花钱)my plan for our fiscal （财政的）future.It’s a balanced plan that reduces spending and brings down the deficit, putting America back on track（重回正轨；重上轨道；改过自新）toward paying down our debt.We know why this challenge is so critical. If we don’t act, a rising tide of borrowing will damage our economy, costing us jobs and risking our future prosperity by sticking our children with the bill.At the same time, we have to take a balanced approach to reducing our deficit ? an approach that protects the middle class, our commitments to seniors, and job-creating investments in things like education and clean energy. What’s required is an approach that draws support from both parties, and one that’s based on the values of shared responsibility and shared prosperityNow, one plan put forward by some Republicans in the House of Representatives (众议院)aims to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion over the next ten years. But while I think their goal is worthy, I believe their vision is wrong for America.It’s a vision that says at a time when other nations are hustling to out-compete us for the jobs and businesses of tomorrow, we have to make drastic cuts in education, infrastructure, and clean energy ? the very investments we need to win that competition and get those jobs.It’s a vision that says that in order to reduce the deficit, we have to end Medicare as we know it, and make cuts to Medicaid (医疗补助计划)that would leave millions of seniors, poor children, and Americans with disabilities without the care they need.But even as this plan proposes these drastic cuts, it would also give $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest 2% of Americans ? an extra $200,000 for every millionaire and billionaire in the country.I don’t think that’s right. I don’t think it’s right to ask seniors to pay thousands more for health care, or ask students to postpone college, just so we don’t have to ask those who have prospered so much in this land of opportunity to give back a little more.To restore fiscal responsibility, we all need to share in the sacrifice ? but we don’t have to sacrifice the America we believe in.That’s why I’ve proposed a balanced approach that matches that $4 trillion in deficit reduction. It’s an approach that combs the entire budget for savings, and asks everyone to do their part. And I’ve called on Democrats and Republicans to join me in this effort ? to put aside their differences to help America meet this challenge. That’s how we’ve balanced our budget before, and it’s how we’ll succeed again.We’ll build on the savings we made from last week’s bipartisan（两党联立的）budget agreement, while protecting the job-creating investments that are critical to our future.We’ll find additional savings in our defense budget. Over the last two years, the Secretary of Defense has taken on wasteful spending that does nothing to protect our troops or our nation, saving $400 billion in current and future spending. I believe we can do that again.We’ll reduce health care spending, and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid through common-sense reforms that will get rid of wasteful subsidies and increase efficiency. We’ll reduce spending in our tax code with tax reform that’s fair and simple ? so that the amount of taxes you pay doesn’t depend on how clever an accountant you can afford. And we should end the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, too. Because people like me don’t need another tax cut.So that’s my approach to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 12 years while protecting the middle class, keeping our promise to seniors, and securing our investments in our future. I hope you’ll check it out for yourself on . And while you’re there, you can also find what we’re calling the taxpayer（纳税人）receipt（收据）. For the first time ever, there’s a way for you to see exactly how and where your tax dollars are spent, and what’s really at stake （在紧要关头，处于危险中）in this debate.Going forward, Democrats and Republicans in Washington will have our differences, some of them strong. But you expect us to bridge those differences. You expect us to work together and get this done. And I believe we can. I believe we can live within our means and live up to the values we share as Americans. And in the weeks to come, I’ll work with anyone who’s willing to get it done.Thanks for listening. Have a great weekend.Weekly Address: "Instead of Subsidizing Yesterday's EnergySources, We Need to Invest in Tomorrow's"This is a time of year when people get together with family and friends to observe Passover and to celebrate Easter. It’s a chance to give thanks for our blessings and reaffirm（再次肯定，重申）our faith, while spending time with the people we love. We all know how important that is – especially in hard times. And that’s what a lot of people are facing these days.Even though the economy is growing again and we’ve seen businesses adding jobs over the past year, many are still looking for work. And even if you haven’t faced a job loss,it’s still not easy out there. Your paycheck isn’t getting bigger, while the cost of everything from college for your kids to gas for your car keeps rising. That’s something on a lot of people’s minds right now, with gas prices at $4 a gallon.It’s just another burden when things were already pretty tough.Now, whenever gas prices shoot up（发芽，暴涨，迅速成长）, like clockwork（顺利地，极有规律性和准确性地）, you see politicians racing to the cameras, wavingthree-point plans for two dollar gas. You see people trying to grab headlines or score a few points. The truth is, there’s no silver bullet（良方，高招，捷径）that can bring down gas prices right away.But there are a few things we can do. This includes safe and responsible production of oil at home, which we are pursuing. In fact, last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003. On Thursday, my Attorney General（司法部长）also launched a task force(特别小组，特遣部队) with just one job: rooting out（根除）cases of fraud or manipulation（操纵，处理，篡改）in the oil markets that might affect gas prices, including any illegal activity by traders and speculators（投机者）. We’re going to make sure that no one is taking advantage of the American people for their own short-term gain. And another step we need to take is to finally end the $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies we give to the oil and gas companies each year. That’s $4 billion of your money going to these companies when they’re making record profits and you’re paying near record prices at the pump（加油站，抽水机）. It has to stop.Instead of subsidizing（资助，向。
新托福阅读材料：Obama sets battle plan on oil spill and energy reform
新托福阅读材料：Obama sets battle plan on oil spill and energy reformWASHINGTON （Reuters）－ President Barack Obama on Tuesday laid out what he called a battle plan to tackle the BP oil spill and exhorted Americans in warlike terms to embark on a mission to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels．The president used the solemn setting of the Oval Office for a televised address to counter criticism he has not shown enough leadership in America's worst environmental crisis but offered few specifics on how he intended to get the job done．Obama vowed that BP Plc would pay the price for its "recklessness" in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and sought to harness public outrage over the disaster to build momentum for his goals of a "greener" energy future．"We will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long as it takes． We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused，" Obama said in a speech aimed at restoring confidence in his handling of the crisis before it further tarnishes his presidency．Obama's stern message for BP was a centerpiece of his high－stakes speech on the oil spill， which threatens to distract from his domestic agenda of reducing nearly double－digit U．S． unemployment and reforming Wall Street．How forcefully Obama responds to America's worst ecological disaster will have implications not only for the British energy giant but also for the future of U．S．offshore drilling and any hopes he has of reviving climate change legislation stalledin Congress．Adding a fresh sense of urgency， a team of U．S． scientists on Tuesday raised their high－end estimate of the amount of crude oil flowing from the well by 50 percent， to a range of 35，000 to 60，000 barrels （1．47 million to 2．52 million gallons/5．57 million to 9．54 million liters） per day．Obama spoke in a measured tone devoid of anger as he assured Americans the stricken Gulf region would recover． He predicted containment efforts should succeed in capturing up to 90 percent of the oil gushing from the well in coming weeks．Obama also sought to rally them by casting his effort in the language of war． He described the onslaught of oil as a "siege" and warned the public to gird itself for the long haul． "Tonight I'dlike to lay out for you what our battle plan is going forward，" Obama said．While urging Americans to "seize the moment" to break their addiction to fossil fuels， he spoke in mostly vague terms， offering no detailed prescription or timetable for passing comprehensive energy legislation．"Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash American innovation and seize control of our own destiny，" he said．Obama has made clear he supports a comprehensive energy bill that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions， and a senior administration official said the president still believed that putting a price on carbon pollution was essential．But he stopped short of talking specifically about the climate change component in his speech， perhaps mindful of the political obstacles during a stuttering economic recovery．"Basically， a non－event here． It was really backwards looking． When he talked about alternative energy， he talked about what he already did －－ and not what he needed to do． I don't think it's going to do too much for the alternative energy sector tomorrow，that's for sure，" said Ben Pang， an analyst at Caris & Company in San Francisco．Obama's choice of the Oval Office setting underscored the gravity of the situation．Presidents in the past have used it to respond to national tragedies， as Ronald Reagan did after the 1986 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger and George W． Bush after the attacks of September 11， 2001．ELECTION YEARAnother crucial question is whether Obama can placate angry voters in a congressional election year when his Democratic party's grip on legislative power is at risk．Opinion polls show most Americans believe Obama has been too detached in dealing with the crisis and has not been tough enough in dealing with BP．Seeking to counter criticism that he has not shown enough leadership in the nearly two－month－old crisis， Obama took a hard line with BP but did not go as far as reiterating an earlier assertion that he was looking for an "ass to kick．""Tomorrow， I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness，" he said．"And this fund will not be controlled by BP． In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner，the account must and will be administered by an independent， third party．"Congressional leaders have called for the fund to start off with at least $20 billion，a figure BP has not endorsed． Obama made no mention on how much money should be allocated．Ahead of the televised speech， major oil company executives told a U．S．congressional hearing that BP had not adhered to industry standards in building its deep－sea well that blew out on April 20，unleashing a torrent of crude that has causedthe biggest environmental disaster in U．S． history．But their efforts to distance themselves from BP did not stop Democratic lawmakers from criticizing as "virtually worthless" industry plans to handle deepwater oil disasters．Millions of gallons have poured into the Gulf， fouling 120 miles of U．S． coastline，imperiling multibillion－dollar fishing and tourism industries and killing birds， sea turtles and dolphins．BP SHARESDuring BP's congressional testimony， its U．S．－listed shares jumped and trading volumes spiked． They rose 4 percent at one point in afternoon trading before closing up 2．35 percent． They had plunged 9 percent on Monday． In London， shares of BP， which could face billions of dollars in damage claims from the spill， closed down 3．78 percent on Tuesday．Rating agency Fitch smacked BP with a hefty six－notch downgrade on its debt rating．That puts BP's debt just two notches above junk，which would mean a significant boost in the company's cost of borrowing． BP has lost about half of its market value since thespill began two months ago．Bank of America Merrill Lynch has ordered its traders not to enter into oil trades with BP that extend beyond June 2011， a market source familiar with the directive told Reuters．Investors in solar energy company stocks might be disappointed that Obama offered few concrete plans on clean energy， after bidding the share up on Tuesday．Ahead of his speech， Obama was in Florida finishing a two－day tour of Gulf communities hit by the 57－day－old spill．It is a critical week for BP －－ top executives including chairman Carl－Henric Svanberg are due to meet Obama at the White House on Wednesday．"We share the president's goal of shutting off the well asquickly as possible，cleaning up the oil and mitigating the impact on the people and environment of the Gulf Coast，" BP said in a statement after Obama's address．"We look forward to meeting with President Obama tomorrow for a constructive discussion about how best to achieve these mutual goals，" it said．Chief Executive Tony Hayward， the public face of BP's response to the spill， is due to testify for the first time at aU．S． congressional hearing on Thursday．。
奥巴马总统在巴黎气候变化大会上英语演讲稿
奥巴马总统在巴黎气候变化大会上英语演讲稿President Hollande, Mr. Secretary General, fellow leaders, We have e to Paris to show our resolve.We offer our condolences to the people of France for the barbaric attacks on this beautiful city. We stand united in solidarity not only to deliver justice to the terrorist work responsible for those attacks but to protect our people and uphold the enduring values that keep us strong and keep us free. And we salute the people of Paris for insisting this crucial conference go on – an act of defiance that proves nothing will deter us from building the future we want for our children. What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it? Nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week – a declaration that for all the challenges we face, the growing threat of climate change could define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other. What should give us hope that this is a turning point, that this is the moment we finally determined we would save our pla, is the fact that our nations share a sense of urgency about this challenge and a growing realization that it is within our power to do something about it.Our understanding of the ways human beings disrupt the climate advances by the day. Fourteen of the fifteen warmest years on record have occurred since the year 20xx – and 20xx is on pace to be the warmest year of all. No nation – large or small, wealthy or poor – is immune to what this means.This summer, I saw the effects of climate change firsthand in our northernmost state, Alaska, where the sea is already swallowing villages and eroding shorelines; where permafrost thaws and the tundra burns; where glaciers are melting at a pace unprecedented in modern times. And it was a preview of one possible future – a glimpse of our children's fate if the climate keeps changing faster than our efforts to address it. Submerged countries. Abandoned cities. Fields that no longer grow. Political disruptions that trigger new conflict, and even more floods of desperate peoples seeking the sanctuary of nations not their own.That future is not one of strong economies, nor is it one where fragile states can find their footing. That future is one that we have the power to change. Right here. Right now. But only if we rise to this moment. As one of America's governors has said, “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.” I've e here personally, as the leader of the world's largest economy and the second-largest emitter, to say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it. Over the last seven years, we've made ambitious investments in clean energy, and ambitious rctions in our carbon emissions. We've multiplied wind power threefold, and solar power more than twentyfold, helping create parts of America where these clean power sources are finally cheaper than dirtier, conventional power. We've invested in energy efficiency in every way imaginable. We've said no to infrastructure that would pullhigh-carbon fossil fuels from the ground, and we've said yes to the first-ever set of national standards limiting the amount ofcarbon pollution our power plants can release into the sky.The advances we've made have helped drive our economic output to all-time highs, and driveour carbon pollution to its lowest levels in nearly two decades.But the good news is this is not an American trend alone. Last year, the global economy grewwhile global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels stayed flat. And what this means can'tbe overstated. We have broken the old arguments for inaction. We have proved that strongeconomic growth and a safer environment no longer have to conflict with one another; theycan work in concert with one another.And that should give us hope. One of the enemies that we'll be fighting at this conference iscynicism, the notion we can'tdo anything about climate change. Our progress should give ushope during these two weeks – hope that is rooted in collective action.Earlier this month in Dubai, after years of delay, the world agreed to work together to cut thesuper-pollutants known as HFCs. That's progress. Already, prior to Paris, more than 180countries representing nearly 95 percent of global emissions have put forward their ownclimate targets. That is progress. For our part, America is on track to reach the emissionstargets that I set six years ago in Copenhagen – we will rce our carbon emissions in therange of 17 percent below 20xx levels by 202x. And that's why, last year, I set a new target:America will rce our emissions 26to 28 percent below 20xx levels within 10 years from now.So our task here in Paris is to turn these achievements into an enduring framework forhuman progress – not a stopgap solution, but a long-term strategy that gives the worldconfidence in a low-carbon future.Here, in Paris, let's secure an agreement that builds in ambition, where progress paves theway for regularly updated targets – targets that are not set for each of us but by each of us,taking into account the differences that each nation is facing.Here in Paris, let's agree to a strong system of transparency that gives each of us theconfidence that all of us are meeting our mitments. And let's make sure that the countrieswho don't yet have the full capacity to report on their targets receive the support that theyneed.Here in Paris, let's reaffirm our mitment that resources will be there for countries willingto do their part to skip the dirty phase of development. And I recognize this will not be easy.It will take a mitment to innovation and the capital to continue driving down the cost ofclean energy. And that's why, this afternoon, I'll join many of you to announce an historicjoint effort to accelerate public and private clean energy innovation on a global scale.Here in Paris, let's also make sure that these resources flow to the countries that need helppreparing for the impacts of climate change that we can no longer avoid. We know the truththat many nations have contributed little to climate change but will be the first to feel its mostdestructive effects. For some,particularly island nations – whose leaders I'll meet withtomorrow – climate change is a threat to their very existence. And that's why today, in concertwith other nations, America confirms our strong and ongoing mitment to the LeastDeveloped Countries Fund. And tomorrow, we'll pledge new contributions to risk insuranceinitiatives that help vulnerablepopulations rebuild stronger after climate-related disasters.And finally, here in Paris, let's show businesses and investors that the global economy is on afirm path towards a low-carbon future. If we put the right rules and incentives in place, we'llunleash the creative power of our best scientists and engineers and entrepreneurs to deployclean energy technologies and the new jobs and new opportunities that they create allaroundthe world. There are hundreds of billions of dollars ready to deploy to countries around theworld if they get the signal that we mean business this time. Let's send that signal. That's what we seek in these next two weeks. Not simply an agreement to roll back thepollution we put into our skies, but an agreement that helps us lift people from povertywithoutcondemning the next generation to a pla that's beyond its capacity to repair. Here,in Paris, we can show the world what is possible when we e together, united in moneffort and by a mon purpose.And let there be no doubt, the next generation is watching what we do. Just over a week ago, Iwas in Malaysia, where I held a town hall with young people, and the first question I receivedwas from a young Indonesian woman. And it wasn't about terrorism,it wasn't about theeconomy, it wasn't about human rights. It was about climate change. And she asked whether Iwas optimistic about what we can achieve here in Paris, and what young people like her coulddo to help.I want our actions to show her that we're listening. I want our actions to be big enough to drawon the talents of all our people – men and women, rich and poor – I want to show herpassionate, idealistic young generation that we care about their future. For I believe, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that there is such a thing as being toolate. And when it es to climate change, that hour is almost upon us. But if we act here, ifwe act now, if we place our own short-term interests behind the air that our young people willbreathe, and the food that they will eat, and the water that they will drink, and the hopes anddreams that sustain their lives, then we won't be too late for them.And, my fellow leaders, accepting this challenge will not reward us with moments of victorythat are clear or quick. Our progress will be measured differently – in the suffering that isaverted, and a pla that's preserved. And that's what's always made this so hard. Ourgeneration may not even live to see the full realization of what we do here. But the knowledgethat the next generation will be better off for what we do here – can we imagine a more worthyreward than that? Passing that on to our children and our grandchildren, so that when they lookback and they see what we did here in Paris, they can take pride in our achievement.Let that be the mon purpose here in Paris. A world that is worthy of our children. A worldthat is marked not by conflict,but by cooperation; and not by human suffering, but byhuman progress. A world that's safer, and more prosperous, and more secure, and more freethan the one that we inherited.Let's get to work. Thank you very much.。
【奥巴马总统就职演说】Text.of.President.Barack.Obama's.Inaugural.Address
Text of Barack Obama's Inaugural AddressFull text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address, as prepared for deliveryTuesday, January 20, 2009My fellow citizens:I stand here today humbled by the taskbefore us, grateful for the trust you havebestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borneby our ancestors. I thank President Bushfor his service to our nation, as well as thegenerosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war , against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed andirresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidencethat the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threatenBarack Obama takes oath of office as President of theUnited Statesour planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shiftedbeneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. 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 that we are ready to lead once more.Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualitiesof humility and restraint.We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources withoutregard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. 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 grudgingly 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.This is the price and the promise of citizenship.This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]." America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.。
西安外国语大学翻译硕士考试试题
西安外国语大学2011年翻译硕士专业学位研究生招生试题科目：翻译硕士英语（代码：211）A卷注意事项：1. 请核对本场考试科目及代码与你所报考专业的考试安排是否一致。
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Task One: Vocabulary and Grammatical StructureSection ADirections: This section is designed to test your ability to interpret the meanings of words in different contexts. Read each of the following sentences carefully and select one word or phrase from the four choices that is closest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence, and then write your answer on the Answer Sheet. (20%)1. Psychologists have done extensive studies of how well patients comply with doctors orders.[A] obey [B] understand[C] improve with [D] agree with2. Stars are composed of intensely hot gases and derive their energy from nuclear reactions occurring in the interiors.[A]extremely [B]uniformly[C]explosively [D] continually3. From1775 to 1776 the Americans undertook an unsuccessful campaign against the British in Canada.[A] wage [B] headed[C] Paid for [D] attended to4. Because of its old mannerisms, the praying mantis has always intrigued human beings.[A]fascinate [B]aggravated[C]offended [D]terrified5. Industrial self-sufficiency in the United States developed simultaneously with the mass production of textiles in New England.[A]smoothly [B]concurrently[C]effectively [D]spontaneously6. The initial appearance of the silver three-cent piece coincided with the first issue of three-cent stamps in 1851.[A] occurred at the same time as [B] collided with[C] was necessitated by [D] was similar to7. Chicago’s O’ Hare International Airport accommodates forty-four million passengers per year.[A] amazes [B] lures[C] handles [D] counts8. Regional planning deals with proposals concerning outlying communities and highways as well as with urban affairs.[A] outlandish [B] exclusive[C] exempted [D] remote9. The introduction of the bus signaled the eventual demise of the trolley car asa form of travel.[A] designation [B] mechanization[C] disappearance [D] friskiness10. In Silent Spring, Rachel Carson forcefully decried the indiscriminate use of pesticides.[A] haphazard [B] unpleasant[C] regional [D] periodic11.After its founding, the United States government followed a policy explicitly designed to aid national shipping.[A] prematurely [B] economically[C] specifically [D] proudly12.Before social inequality can be alleviated, its principal causes must be diagnosed.[A] denounced [B] relieved[C] analyzed [D] controlled13. Astronauts are subjected to the most rigorous training that has ever been devised for human beings.[A] demanded [B] created[C] diagnosed [D] allowed14. Weight lifting is the gymnastic sport of lifting weights in a prescribed manner.[A] vigorous [B] popular[C] certain [D] careful15. Project Skylab was designed to demonstrate that a person can work and live inspace for prolonged periods without ill effects[A] unexpected [B] obvious[C] adverse [D] immediate16. Plays that entail direct interaction between actor and audience present no unusual difficulties for actors.[A] advocate [B] involve[C] elicit [D] exaggerate17. Since speech is such a familiar activity, it is often regarded as a universal endowment.[A] event [B] habit[C] trait [D] gift18. In the Pacific Northwest, as climate and topography vary, so do the species that prevail in the forests.[A] rebuild [B] invade[C] dominate [D] tend19. In North America, the first canoes were constructed from logs and propelled by means of wooden pad.[A] carved [B] docked[C] driven forward [D] carried upright20. United States citizens are now enjoying better dental health, as shown by the declining incidence of tooth decay.[A] treatment [B] consequences[C] occurrence [D] misfortuneSection BDirections: In each of the following sentences, some part of the sentence or the whole is underlined. Rephrase the underlined part so as to express most effectively what is presented in the original sentence. Your correction should be dear and exact, without awkwardness, ambiguity or redundancy. Write your answers on the Answer Sheet. (10%)21. Credit cards are now accepted in exchange for many goods and services around the world and in some countries, like the Americans, is used even more widely than cash.22. Scholars recognized immediately that thelanguage experiments in Finnegan’s Wake are different than any other novel.23. When it rains outside, most parents prefer small children to play indoors.24. Required by law to register by the end of the year, the post office was crowded with legal aliens attempting to comply with the law before the deadline.25. In the past few years, significant changes have take place in the organization of our economy that will profoundly affect thecharacter of our labor unions as well as influencing consumer and industrial life.Task Two: Reading ComprehensionSection ADirections: Read the following two texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing [A], [B], [C] or [D]; write your answers on the Answer Sheet. (20%)Text1The ancient Greeks and the Chinese believed that we first clothed our bodies for some physical reason, such as protecting ourselves from theelements. Ethnologists and psychologists have invoked psychological reasons: modesty, taboo, magical influence, or the desire to please. Anthropological research indicates that the function of the earliest clothing was to carry objects. Our hunting-gathering ancestors had to travel great distances to obtain food. For the male hunters, carrying was much easier if they were wearing simple belts or animal skins from which they could hang weapons and tools. For the female gatherers, more elaborate carrying devices were necessary. Women had to transport collected food back to the settlement and also had to carry babies, so they required bags or slings.Another function of early clothing-providing comfort and protection—probably developed at the same time as utility. As human beings multiplied and spread out from the warm lands in which they evolved, they covered their bodies more and more to maintain body warmth. Today, we still dress to maintain warmth and to carry objects in our clothes. And like our hunting-gathering ancestors, most men still carry things on their person, as if they still needed to keep their arms free for hunting, while women tend to have a separate bag for carrying, as if they were still food-gatherers. But these two functions of clothing are only two of many uses to which we put the garments that we wear today.There is a clear distinction between attire that constitutes “clothing” and attire that is more aptly termed “costume”. We might say that clothing has to do with covering the body, and costume concerns the choice of a particular form of garment for a particular purpose. Clothing depends primarily on such physical conditions as climate, health, and textile, while costume reflects social factors such as personal status, religious beliefs, aesthetics, and the wish to be distinguished from or to emulate others.Even in early human history, costume fulfilled a function beyond that of simple utility. Costume helped to impose authority or inspire fear. A chieftain’s costume embodied attributes expressing his power, while a warrior’s costume enhanced his physical superiority and suggested he was superhuman. Costume often had a magical significance such as investing humans with the attributes of other creatures through the recent times, professional or administrative costume is designed to distinguish the wearer and to express personal or delegated authority. Costume communicates the status of the wearer, and with very few exceptions, the aim is to display as high a status as possible. Costume denotes power, and since power is often equated with wealth, costume has come to be an expression of social class and material prosperity.A uniform is a type of costume that serves the important function of displaying membership in a group: school, sports team, occupation, or armed force. Military uniform denotes rank and is intended not only to express group membership but also to protect the body and to intimidate.A soldier’s uniform says. “I am part of a powerful machine, and when you deal with me, you deal with my whole organization.” Uniforms are immediate beacons of power and authority. If a person needs to display power—a police officer, for example—then the body can be virtually transformed. Height can be exaggerated with protective headgear, thick clothing can make the body look broader and stronger, and boots can enhance the power of the legs. Uniforms also convey low social status; at the bottom of the scale, the uniform of the prisoner denotes membership in the society of convicted criminals.Religious costume signifies spiritual or superhuman authority and possesses a significance that identifies the wearer with a belief or god.A successful clergy has always displayed impressive investments of one kind or another that clearly demonstrate the religious leader’s dominant status.26. According to the passage, what aspect of humanity’s hunting-gathering past is reflected in the clothing of today?[A]People cover their bodies because of modesty.[B]Most men still carry objects on their person.[C] Women like clothes that are beautiful and practical.[D]Men wear pants, but women wear skirts or pants.27. Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?[A] Clothing serves a physical purpose, while costume has a personal, social, or psychological function.[B] We like clothing to fit our body well,but different costumes fit differently depending on the purpose.[C] Both clothing and costume are types of attire, but it is often difficult to distinguish between them.[D] People spend more time in choosing special costumes than they do in selecting everyday clothing.28. It can be inferred from paragraph 4 that the author most likely believes whichof the following about costume?[A] We can learn about a society’s social structure by studying costume.[B] Costume used to serve a simple function, but now it is very complex.[C] The main purpose of costume is to force people to obey their leaders.[D] Costume is rarely a reliable indicator of a person’s material wealth.29. Why does the author discuss the police officer’s uniform in paragr aph 5?[A] To describe the aesthetic aspects of costume.[B] To identify the wearer with a hero.[C] To suggest that police are superhuman.[D] To show how costume conveys authority.30. All of the following are likely to be indicated by a person’s costume except[A] playing on a football team.[B] being a prisoner[C] having a heart condition.[D] leading a religious ceremony.Text2The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in political rather than economic or social terms. And they talked about education as essential to the public good—a goal that took precedence over knowledge as occupational training or self-improvement. Over and over again, the Revolutionary generation, both liberal and conservative in outlook, asserted its conviction that the welfare of the Republic rested upon an educated citizenry and that schools, especially free public schools, would be the best means of educating the citizenry in civic values and the obligations required of everyone in a democratic republican society. All agreed that the principal ingredients of a civic education were literacy and the inculcation of patriotic and moral virtues, some others adding the study of history and the study of principles of the republican government itself.The founders, as was the case of almost all their successors, were long on exhortation and rhetoric regarding the value of civic education, but they left it to the textbook writers to distill the essence of those values for school children. Texts in American history and government appeared early as the 1790s. The textbook writers turned out to be very largely of conservative persuasion, more likely Federalist in outlook than Jeffersonian, and almost universally agreed that political virtue must rest upon moral and religious precepts. Since most textbook writers were New Englanders, this means that the texts were infused with Protestant and, above all, Puritan outlooks.In the first half of the Republic, civic education in the schoolsemphasized the inculcation of civic values and made little attempt to develop participatory political skills. That was a task left to incipient political parties, town meetings, churches, and the coffee or alehouses where men gathered for conversation. Additionally, as a reading of certain federalist papers of the period would demonstrate, the press probably did more to disseminate realistic as well as partisan knowledge of government than the schools. The goal of education, however, was to achieve a higher form of un um for the new Republic. In the middle half of the nineteenth century, the political values taught in the public and private schools did not change substantially from those celebrated in the first years of the Republic. In the textbooks of the day, their rosy hues if anything became golden. To the resplendent values of liberty, equality, and a benevolent Christian morality were now added the middle-class virtues—especially of New England—of hard work, honesty and integrity, the rewards of individual effort, and obedience to parents and legitimate authority. But of all the political values taught in school, patriotism was preeminent; and whenever teachers explained to school children why they should love their country above all else, the idea of liberty assumed pride of place.31. The passage deals primarily with the[A] content of early textbooks on American history and government.[B] role of education in late 18th- and early to mid-19th-century America.[C] influence of New England Puritanism on early American values.[D] establishment of universal, free public education in America.32. According to the passage, the founders of the Republic regarded education primarily as[A] a religious obligation. [B] a private matter[C] a matter of individual choice. [D] a political necessity.33. The author states that textbooks written in the middle part of the nineteenth century[A] departed radically in tone and style from earlier textbooks.[B] mentioned for the first time the value of liberty.[C] treated traditional civic virtues with even greater reverence.[D] were commissioned by government agencies.34. Which of the following would LEAST likely have been the subject of an early American textbook?[A] the American Revolution.[B] patriotism and other civic virtues[C] principles of American government.[D] vocational education35. The author implies that an early American Puritan would likely insist that[A] moral and religious values are the foundation of civic virtue.[B] textbooks should instruct students in political issues of vital concern to the community.[C] textbooks should give greater emphasis to the value of individual liberty than to the duties of patriotism.[D] private schools with a particular religious focus are preferable to public schools with no religious instruction.Section BDirections: Read the following text and answer the questions that follow. Write your answers on the Answer Sheet. (15%)The Greenhouse Effect and Global WarmingCarbon dioxide and other naturally occurring gases in the earth’s atmosphere create a natural greenhouse effect by trapping and absorbing solar radiation. These gases act as a blanket and keep the planet warm enough for life to survive and flourish. The warming of the earth is balanced by some of the heat escaping from the atmosphere back into space. Without this compensating flow of heat out of the system, the temperature of the earth’s surface and its atmosphere would rise steadily. Scientists are increasingly concerned about a human-driven greenhouse effect resulting from a rise in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases. The man-made greenhouse effect is the exhalation of industrial civilization. A major contributing factor is the burning of large amounts of fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Another is the destruction of the world’s forests, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide converted to oxygen by plants. Emissions of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and methane from human activities will enhance the greenhouse effect, causing the earth’s surface to become warmer. The main greenhouse gas, water vapor, will increase in response to global warming and further enhance it.There is agreement within the scientific community that the buildup of green house gases is already causing the earth’s average surface temperature to rise. This is changing global climate at an unusually fast rate. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the earth’s average temperature climbed about 1 degree F in the past century, and nine of the ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1990. A United Nations panel has predicted that average global temperatures could rise as much as 10.5degrees F during the next century as heat-trapping gases from human industry accumulate in the atmosphere.What are the potential impacts of an enhanced green house effect? According to estimates by an international committee, North American climatic zones could shift northward by as much as 550 kilometers (340miles). Such a change in climate would likely affect all sectors of society. In some areas, heat and moisture stress would cut crop yields, and traditional farming practices would have to change. For example, in the North American grain belt, higher temperature and more frequent drought during the growing season might require farmers to switch from corn to wheat and to use more water for irrigation.Global warming may also cause a rise in sea level by melting polar ice caps. A rise in sea level would accelerate coastal erosion and inundate islands and low-lying coastal plains, some of which are densely populated. Millions of acres of coastal farmland would be covered by water. Furthermore, the warming of seawater will cause the water to expand, thus adding to the potential danger.Global warming has already left its fingerprint on the natural world. Two research teams recently reviewed hundreds of published papers that tracked changes in the range and behavior of plant and animal species, and they found ample evidence of plants blooming and birds nesting earlier in the spring. Both teams concluded that rising global temperatures are shifting the ranges of hundreds of species—thus climatic zones—northward. These studies are hard evidence that the natural world is already responding dramatically to climate change, even though the change has just begun. If global warming trends continue, changes in the environment will have an enormous impact on world biology. Birds especially play a critical role in the environment by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations; thus, changes in their populations will reverberate throughout the ecosystems they inhabit.36. According to the passage, how do carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases affect the earth-atmosphere system?37. What can e inferred from paragraph 3 about global climate change?38. According to paragraph 4, what is one effect that climate change could have on agriculture in North America?39. What evidence does the author give that climate zones have shifted northward?40. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by writing THREE sentences that express the most important ideas in the passage.Scientists are concerned about the greenhouse effect and its role in global warming.Task Three: Composition WritingDirections: Read the following essay question carefully, formulate a title based on the question and write a 400-word composition on the Answer Sheet. (35%)“Education has become the main provider of individual opportunity in our society. Just as property and money once were the key to success, education has now become the element that most ensures success in life.”Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your point of view with reasons and/or examples from your own experience.西安外国语大学2011年翻译硕士专业学位研究生招生试题汉语写作与百科知识（代码：448）A卷注意事项：1. 请核对本场考试科目及代码与你所报考专业的考试安排是否一致。
美国总统拜登宣布,禁止从俄罗斯进口石油等语法填空--2022届高考英语二轮专训
语法填空美国总统拜登宣布，禁止从俄罗斯进口石油阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
American President Joe Biden announced Tuesday a ban on "all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy."___1___ move increases economic pressure against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. But it could bring higher energy prices and affect the world's economies. The United States Energy Information Administration said, in 2021, the United States imported about 245 million barrels of oil from Russia. That adds up ___2___ 8% of the country's energy imports. As for natural gas, the U.S. ___3___(be) an exporter since 2017.In London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain ___4___(end) imports of Russian oil and oil products by the end of the year. British officials said that would give businesses time to replace Russian imports，___5___ make up 8% of demand.Other European nations, however, are more ___6___(depend) on Russian energy supplies. European Union (EU) leaders will meet Thursday ___7___(discuss) a plan to replace them without ___8___(hurt) their economies.Russia supplies almost 40 percent of EU natural gas for home heating and 25 percent of its oil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ___9___(repeat) asked the U.S. and Western nations to stop Russian oil imports. Before the invasion, Russian oil and gas exports brought in more than a third of government revenues. Energy prices have since increased greatly, making Russian oil exports even ___10___(valuable).答案星期二（3月8日），美国白宫在其网站上发表声明，称美国总统拜登正式签署了禁止美国从俄罗斯进口能源的行政令。
Obama's Weekly Address：Everyone Should Be Able To Afford Hi
Obama's Weekly Address：Everyone Should Be AbleTo Afford Hi-third of the rate for those without a high school diploma.but for too many families across the country, paying for higher education is a constant struggle. earlier this year, a young woman named elizabeth cooper wrote to tell me how hard it is for middle-class families like hers to afford college. as she said, she feels “not significant enough to be addressed, not poor enough for people to worry [about], and not rich enough to be cared about.”michelle and i know the feeling – we only finished paying off our student loans ten years ago. and so as president, i’m working to make sure young people like elizabeth can go to college without racking up mountains of debt. we reformed a student loan system so that more money goes to students instead of big banks. we expanded grants and college tax credits for students and families. we took action to offer millions of students a chance to cap their student loan payments at 10% of their income. and congress should pass a bill to let students refinance their loans at today’s lower interest rates, just like their parents can refinance their mortgage.but as long as college costs keep rising, we can’t just keep throwing money at the problem -- colleges have to do their part to bring down costs as well. that’s why we proposed a plan to tie federal financial aid to a college’s performance, and create a new college scorecard so that students and parents can see which schools provide the biggest bang for your buck. we launched a new $75 million challenge to inspire colleges to reduce costs and raise graduation rates. and in january, more than 100 college presidents and nonprofit leaders came to the white house and made commitments to increase opportunities for underserved students.since then, we’ve met with even more leaders who want to create new community-based partnerships and support school counselors. and this week, my secretary of education, arne duncan, announced a series of commitments to support students who need a little extra academic help getting through college.this is a challenge i take personally. and to all you young people, now that you’re heading back to school, your education is something you have to take personally, also. it’s up to you to push yourself; to take hard classes and read challenging books. science shows that when you struggle to solve a problem or make a new argument, you’re actually forming new connectionsin your brain. so when you’re thinking hard, you’re getting smarter. which means this year, challenge yourself to reach higher. and set your sights on college in the years ahead. your country is counting on you.and don’t forget to have some fun along the way, too.thanks everybody. good luck on the year ahead.---来源网络整理，仅供参考。
State of the Union Address( Obama 2011)
Here is the text of President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address as prepared for delivery at 9 p.m. ET.Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:Tonight I want to begin by congratulating the men and women of the 112th Congress, as well as your new Speaker, John Boehner. And as we mark this occasion, we are also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and pray for the health of our colleague and our friend Gabby Giffords.We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back. Corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.But we have never measured progress by these yardsticks alone. We measure progress by the success of our people. By the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer. By the prospects of a small business owner who dreams of turning a good idea into a thriving enterprise. By the opportunities for a better life that we pass on to our children.That's the project the American people want us to work on. Together.We did that in December. Thanks to the tax cuts we passed, Americans' paychecks are a little bigger today. Every business can write off the full cost of the new investments they make this year. These steps, taken by Democrats and Republicans, will grow the economy and add to the more than one. million private sector jobs created last year.But we have more work to do. The steps we've taken over the last two years may have broken the back of this recession but to win the future, we'll need to take on challenges that have been decades in the making.Many people watching tonight can probably remember a time when finding a good job meant showing up at a nearby factory or a business downtown. You didnÂ't always need a degree, and your competition was pretty much limited to your neighbors. If you worked hard, chances are youÂ'd have a job for life, with a decent paycheck, good benefits, and the occasional promotion. Maybe youÂ'd even have the pride of seeing your kids work at the same company.That world has changed. And for many, the change has been painful. I've seen it in the shuttered windows of once booming factories, and the vacant storefronts of once busy Main Streets. I've heard it in the frustrations of Americans who've seen their paychecks dwindle or their jobs disappear proud men and women who feel like the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.They're right. The rules have changed. In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business. Steel mills that once needed 1,000 workers can now do the same work with 100. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there's an internet connection.Meanwhile, nations like China and India realized that with some changes of their own, they could compete in this new world. And so they started educating their children earlier and longer, with greateremphasis on math and science. They're investing in research and new technologies. Just recently, China became home to the world's largest private solar research facility, and the world's fastest computer.So yes, the world has changed. The competition for jobs is real. But this shouldn't discourage us. It should challenge us. Remember for all the hits we've taken these last few years, for all the naysayers predicting our decline, America still has the largest, most prosperous economy in the world. No workers are more productive than ours. No country has more successful companies, or grants more patents to inventors and entrepreneurs. We are home to the world's best colleges and universities, where more students come to study than any other place on Earth.What's more, we are the first nation to be founded for the sake of an idea the idea that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. That is why centuries of pioneers and immigrants have risked everything to come here. It's why our students don't just memorize equations, but answer questions like 'What do you think of that idea? What would you change about the world? What do you want to be when you grow up?'The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can't just stand still. As Robert Kennedy told us, 'The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.' Sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice, and struggle, and meet the demands of a new age.Now it's our turn. We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business. We need to take responsibility for our deficit, and reform our government. That's how our people will prosper. That's how we'll win the future. And tonight, I'd like to talk about how we get there.The first step in winning the future is encouraging American innovation.None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be, or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn't know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do what America does better than anyone is spark the creativity and imagination of our people. We are the nation that put cars in driveways and computers in offices; the nation of Edison and the Wright brothers; of Google and Facebook. In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It's how we make a living.Our free enterprise system is what drives innovation. But because it's not always profitable for companies to invest in basic research, throughout history our government has provided cutting-edge scientists and inventors with the support that they need. That's what planted the seeds for the Internet. That's what helped make possible things like computer chips and GPS.Just think of all the good jobs from manufacturing to retail that have come from those breakthroughs.Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik，we had no idea how we'd beat them to the moon. The science wasn't there yet. NASA didn't even exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a waveof innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.This is our generation's Sputnik moment.Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America's success. But if we want to win the future if we want innovation to produce jobs in America and not overseas then we also have to win the race to educate our kids.Think about it. Over the next ten years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school degree. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren't even finishing high school. The quality of our math and science education lags behind many other nations. America has fallen to 9th in the proportion of young people with a college degree. And so the question is whether all of us as citizens, and as parents are willing to do what's necessary to give every child a chance to succeed.That responsibility begins not in our classrooms, but in our homes and communities. It's family that first instills the love of learning in a child. Only parents can make sure the TV is turned off and homework gets done. We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair; that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.Our schools share this responsibility. When a child walks into a classroom, it should be a place of high expectations and high performance. But too many schools don’t meet this test. That’s why instead of just pouring m oney into a system that’s not working, we launched a competition called Race to the Top. To all fifty states, we said, “If you show us the most innovative plans to improve teacher quality and student achievement, we’ll show you the money.”One last point about education. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense.Now, I strongly believe that we should take on, once and for all, the issue of illegal immigration. I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult and take time. But tonight, let’s agree to make that effort. And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses, and further enrich this nation.The third step in winning the future is rebuilding America. To attract new businesses to our shores, we need the fastest, most reliable ways to move people, goods, and information from high-speed rail to high-speed internet.Our infrastructure used to be the best but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways thanwe do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a “D.”We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, and constructed the interstate highway system. The jobs created by these projects didn’t just come from laying down tracks or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp.Over the last two years, we have begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry. Tonight, I’m proposing that we redouble these efforts.We will put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We will make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based on what’s best for the economy, not politicians.Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80% of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car. For some trips, it will be faster than flying without the pat-down. As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway.Within the next five years, we will make it possible for business to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98% of all Americans. This isn’t just about a faster internet and fewer dropped calls. It’s about connecting every part of America to the digital age. It’s about a rural community in Iowa or Alabama where farmers and small business owners will be able to sell their products all over the world. It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook; or a patient who can have face-to-face video chats with her doctor.From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That’s how we win the future.We are a nation that says, “I might not have a lot of money, but I have this g reat idea for a new company.I might not come from a family of college graduates, but I will be the first to get my degree. I might not know those people in trouble, but I think I can help them, and I need to try. I’m not sure how we’ll reach that better p lace beyond the horizon, but I know we’ll get there. I know we will.”We do big things.The idea of America endures. Our destiny remains our choice. And tonight, more than two centuries later, it is because of our people that our future is hopeful, our journey goes forward, and the state of our union is strong.。
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Broadcast date: 6-16-2010 / Written by Kent Klein
From /voanews/english/ President Barack Obama will address the American people from the Oval Office at 0000 GMT. The president's speech will focus mostly on the government's response to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. President Obama will speak after returning from his fourth trip to the Gulf region since the April 20 explosion and fire, which killed 11 workers and ruptured a deepck Obama and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist walk along Casino Beach on Pensacola Beach, Florida, 15 Jun 2010
The oil is starting to reach the Gulf beaches in Florida, and Mr. Obama told military personnel at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, his administration is working hard to contain the damage. "So, I want the people of this region to know that my administration is going to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to deal with this disaster," said President Obama. The president also emphasized that the White House will continue to hold the energy company BP responsible for paying the costs of dealing with the disaster. "And that includes something else, making sure BP pays for the damages that it has caused," he added. A White House spokesman says the president will talk to the nation about what his administration has done to help clean up the oil, limit the environmental damage and direct BP to stop the leak. He says Mr. Obama will also discuss efforts to minimize the economic impact on the people of the Gulf region, and to enact new safety regulations to prevent future disasters. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, top executives of other major oil companies told lawmakers their companies would not have drilled the well the way BP did. The leaders of ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips and Chevron, as well as BP America, testified before a House of Representatives committee Tuesday. The committee chairman, Representative Edward Markey, was among the lawmakers who rejected the argument, saying the other companies' emergency response plans are no better than BP's. "The Gulf of Mexico response plans for ExxonMobil, Chevron, Conoco Phillips and Shell are virtually identical to BP's, and just as deficient," said Markey. The president and chairman of BP America, Lamar McKay, again expressed his company's sorrow and regret for the incident, and promised that BP will pay for all damages related to the disaster.