Obamas Welcomed at Britain's Buckingham Palace

     U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have spent the day in London with Britain's royal family.  It was the start of President Obama's first state visit to Britain and it may bolster¹ the longtime relationship between Britain and the United States.

    Obama and the first lady arrived in London late Monday, 12 hours early because of a volcanic² ash cloud that is disrupting air travel.

    But Tuesday they were back on schedule, with a day marked by the pomp and pageantry that typifies state visits to Britain.

    London's streets were cleared for the presidential convoy's high security trip to Buckingham Palace, the royal family's main residence.

    There, Obama and his wife were met by Queen Elizabeth and her consort³, Prince Philip.

    The group have met before, two years ago, and Mrs. Obama even brought the couple's two daughters to England for a recent trip.  But this is the first state visit by the president and his wife.  The U.S. president was honored with a 41-gun salute⁴ and, in the palace gardens, the United States national anthem⁵.

    State visits are an important form of diplomatic contact between nations, and this trip is designed to show the close relationship between Britain and the United States.

    When asked a few Britons had opinions about the strength of the relationship.

    "I think it is pretty good.  They both help each other out with the wars and politics and everything," said one man.  "Barack's very involved with our parliament, as we are with America.  We have helped to fight terrorism and a lot of holiday people leave here to go to America.""There tends to be the thought that Britain still thinks that we are a bit of a superpower when we are not really anymore," said another man.  "But America is and it is good to be allied⁶ with the most powerful country in the world, we would be stupid to turn our backs on that.""I just think certain prime ministers of our country have not always hit it off with presidents," one woman said. "It has to be a warm relationship and obviously there are personalities⁷ that do not always hit it off amazingly, but I think the present leaders do."Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife hosted Mr. and Mrs. Obama at Downing Street.

    The two elected leaders have plenty to discuss.  At the top of the agenda is the ongoing⁸ crisis in Libya, Afghanistan, and Israel-Palestine, as well as the Arab Spring and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

    Those conversations will be addressed further on Wednesday when Obama is to hold talks with British politicians and address Britain's parliament.

    But for Tuesday evening, the president’s plans call him back to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, where he and Mrs. Obama will be guests of honor at an evening banquet, sure to be marked with the same splendor⁹ and ceremony as the day’s events.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

3 consort   

v.相伴；结交

参考例句：

• They went in consort two or three together.他们三三两两结伴前往。
• The nurses are instructed not to consort with their patients.护士得到指示不得与病人交往。

4 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

5 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

6 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

7 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

9 splendor   

n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌

参考例句：

• Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor.他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
• All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。