Obama inauguration part

Obama inauguration¹ part

In 1881, Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, went to the White House to find something for President James

Garfield. Was it:

Listen to the programmeObama inauguration party

a) gold

b) hidden bottles of wine

c) a bullet²

Yvonne:  This is '6 Minute English', I'm Yvonne Archer³ - and thanks to Callum for joining me today.

Callum: Hello Yvonne!

Yvonne:  Hi Callum. As the world knows, recently, the United States of America got its very first African American President.

And today, we find out how one French-Londoner decided⁴ to mark this historic⁵ event. But first, I've a question for you Callum!

Callum: OK – go on Yvonne.

Yvonne:        Right! In 1881, Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, went to the White House to find something

for President James Garfield. Was it a) gold b) hidden bottles of wine OR c) a bullet

Callum:I have to say, I have absolutely no idea on this one. Err⁶ – I'm just going to go for hidden bottles of wine. That's my

answer.

Yvonne:  It's a good, but we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on. Now Alice Gbelia is the editor of an internet

listings site. So she tells people who visit the website about the most interesting plays, clubs, films and other events in

and around London. So of course, Alice knew the best places for people in London to watch the new American president being

'sworn in'. Callum, could you explain what being 'sworn in' means please?

Callum:  Certainly. When someone is 'sworn in', it means that they take an oath（誓言，誓约） – which is a serious, sincere⁷

promise. For example, at the beginning of a court trial（法庭审判）, a witness is 'sworn in' -to promise to tell the truth.

And politicians are 'sworn in' when they take office – when they start their new job – to show that they will do everything

their new job requires. 

Yvonne:  Thanks Callum. Now Alice uses the word 'inauguration' which is the special name for a swearing-in ceremony – in this

case, making it official that Barak Obama is now the President. But Alice also mentions 'promoters（促进器）'. What are they

Callum? 

Callum:  'Promoters' are people who help organise⁸ public events such as films, concerts, parties and trips. And 'promoters'

use their own money for the events – so they also make money from them. 

Yvonne:  They certainly do! And what's 'a cocktail⁹ party'（鸡尾酒会）? 

Callum:  Oh 'a cocktail party' is a party where 'cocktails¹⁰' are served! And they're drinks which are made from two or more

ingredients¹¹ and usually include some alcohol¹², but they don't have to. So for example – a cocktail could be made from

pineapple, coconut（椰子）, fresh mint（薄荷）, cabbage, lemon and rum. 

Yvonne: Callum, is that a real cocktail?! 

Callum:  No, I made that one up! But some cocktails are made from very unusual ingredients – so their names are often unusual

and even entertaining. 

Yvonne: A bit like you really, Callum! Anyway, now as we hear from Alice Gbelia, try to find out why she decided to mark the

historic inauguration of President Obama at the event where I met her. 

 

ALICE GBELIA

Because all the events, you have all these promoters doing something around it, you know, and throwing some cocktail parties

and some DJ parties and I just wanted to watch the inauguration with like-minded people.

Yvonne: Callum, why did Alice choose to go to one particular event rather than any of the others she knew about?

Callum: Well, she wasn't interested in watching the inauguration at a cocktail party or at a DJ party – where someone was

playing recorded music. Alice just wanted to watch the inauguration.

Yvonne: And you may have noticed that she also wanted to watch it with who she calls 'like-minded people'. Callum, who are

they?

Callum: People who are 'like-minded' have similar views or interests to us – so we usually get on with them very well. Their

minds often work in a similar way to our own, so we can call them 'like-minded people'.

Yvonne:Well I asked Alice to explain who she means by 'like-minded people'…

 

ALICE GBELIA

…People who are for Obama – who support Obama and who are happy to have a Black president of the United States of America.

Yvonne:Now as someone who is happy that President Obama is in the White House, I wondered what Alice expects from him…

 

ALICE GBELIA

Well, I think that people are putting too many expectations on Obama. Personally, all I'm asking is that he's a good president

for the United States first because most people think that he's going to be the president for all Black people around the

world but that's not the case.

Callum: So at this point, Alice only asks that President Obama does his job well for his own country.

Yvonne: Hmmm – but she also thinks that people expect too much of him – they want him to do more than he'll be able to do.

Do you think she has a point there, Callum?

Callum: I think she does. There are such high expectations that I think it will be nearly impossible for him to live up to

everybody's dreams.

Yvonne:  I agree. Well, it's time now for the answer to today's big question. Callum, 

what was Alexander Bell looking for in the White House back in 1881? 

Callum:  Well, I thought it was some wine. Was I right? 

Yvonne:  No - for a change, you were wrong! Yes, he was looking for a bullet. President 

Garfield had been shot and the bullet was still in his body. 

Callum:  Oh, I see. 

Yvonne:  Anyway, that's it for today's '6 Minute English' from BBC Learning¹³ English. 

C/Y:  Goodbye!  (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 bullet   

n.枪弹，子弹

参考例句：

• The bullet wound in his shoulder was opened up for treatment.切开他肩上的枪伤进行治疗。
• The bullet missed me by a hair's s breadth.那颗子弹差一点就打中了我。

3 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

6 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

7 sincere   

adj.真诚的，诚挚的，诚恳的

参考例句：

• He is sincere and easy to get along with.他为人诚恳，很好相处。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

9 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

10 cocktails   

n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物

参考例句：

• Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
• Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句

11 ingredients   

n.（混合物的）组成部分( ingredient的名词复数 )；（烹调的）原料；（构成）要素；因素

参考例句：

• All ingredients are readily available from your local store. 所有的原料都可以方便地从你当地的商店买到。
• We never use second quality ingredients to build building. 我们决不使用次等材料用于建筑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

13 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。