VOA标准英语2012--Obama Hosts Top Teenage Scientists

Obama Hosts Top Teenage Scientists

Fourteen-year-old business owner Joe Hudy and one of his inventions, a compressed air cannon¹ that shoots marshmallows, attracted President Obama’s attention at the White House Science Fair.
The president invited Joe and several other young scientists from across the country to share the products of their imaginations…
…including this portable² disaster relief shelter designed by Jessica D’Esposito and her Indiana schoolmates, inspired by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
“We really saw how many people could actually use these, and so we designed this, and so this is extremely lightweight," she said.
Champion athletes are often welcomed at the White House. But Mr. Obama said academic and science achievement should also be honored.
“If we invite the team that wins the Super Bowl to the White House, then we need to invite some science fair winners to the White House as well," said President Obama.
Despite the presense of these young scientists, the U.S. now trails many other indutrialized countries in science and math.
So the president announced several new goals, to change that in the coming years.
“One million more American graduates in science, technology, engineering and math over the next 10 years," said Obama. "That is a goal we can achieve.”
To teach those students, Mr. Obama wants $80 million in the new government budget to train 100,000 new math and science teachers.
He also announced a $22 million initiative³ from private organizations and individuals to help train new instructors⁴ in science and math.
The president told the science fair participants they strengthen his faith in the country’s future.
“You guys inspire me," he said. "It is young people like you that make me so confident that America’s best days are still to come.”
The president is hoping that these young people and others like them can launch a return to America’s dominance of science and technology.

1 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

2 portable   

adj.轻便的，手提式的；n.便携的东西

参考例句：

• I have a portable typewriter.我有一个便携式打字机。
• There is a pretty portable pair of steps in one corner of the room.屋角放着一架小巧玲珑的折梯。

3 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

4 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。