VOA慢速英语2016--奥巴马的国情咨文演讲

AS IT IS 2016-01-12 Obama to Give 'State of the Union' Speech 奥巴马的国情咨文演讲

President Barack Obama is making final preparations for his State of the Union address to Congress.

The address is the last State of the Union speech he will give as president. In a radio broadcast Saturday, Obama previewed part of the speech. He said that “America can do anything”.

Tuesday night, the president will remember his accomplishments² in office. But White House staff members say Obama will also talk of the country’s future.

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said, “He (the president) doesn’t want this to be your traditional policy speech that outlines a series of proposals. Rather, he wanted to take a step back and look at the future of this country.”  

Obama will surely talk about the growing number of jobs during his years as president. He is also expected to note actions aimed at improving the health of the environment and passage of the Affordable³ Care Act, known as Obamacare. And he will note the 2009 government bailout of American automakers General Motors and Chrysler. He considers that financial rescue effort his biggest success, according to USA Today.

The Republican Party has long dismissed Obama’s economic record. Republican critics differ over what has been accomplished⁴ over the past seven years and what should be done in the future.

“The president is going to talk about the future and try to paint a rosy⁵ picture where one does not exist,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican. He spoke⁶ on ABC Television’s This Week program. “What we’d love to hear from the president is a real plan to defeat ISIL (the Islamic State),” he added.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will present the Republican response to the president’s speech. Haley is Indian-American and considered a possible Republican vice⁷ presidential nominee⁸.

Words in This Story

preview – n. a description of something that will happen or be available in the future

accomplishment¹ – n. the successful completion of something

bailout – n. the act of saving or rescuing something, such as a business, from money problems

rosy – adj. having or producing hope for success or happiness in the future

1 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

2 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

4 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

5 rosy   

adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
• She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。

6 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。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。