NPR 2009-01-21

Led by a phalanx of motorcycles, President Barack Obama was greeted by a crowd of tens of thousands today as the presidential motorcade moved down Pennsylvania Avenue. Many waited outside in the cold for eight hours or more just to get a glimpse of the nation's 44th president. NPR's Scott Horsley was there, he says the President and First Lady Michelle Obama emerged from a limousine² to thunders of applause.

"They really won over the top when the presidential limousine stopped and President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stepped out and began walking hand in hand down the center of Pennsylvania Avenue. The crowds lined up, can't beat, cheered madly and the President and First Lady walked along Pennsylvania Avenue for about five blocks before getting back into their limousine. All along the way, military troops and law enforcement officers have been saluting³ gracefully⁴. And spectators behind them have been cheering not so gracefully with great enthusiasm".

NPR's Scott Horsley at today's inaugural⁵ parade.

More than 13,000 people from all 50 states were taking part in the parade which covered a route of around a mile and a half, stretching from the US Capitol to the White House, where the President arrived a short time ago.

Earlier today with the huge crowds standing⁶ by the National Mall to witness the history, Mr. Obama took the oath of office, with  Supreme⁷ Court Chief Justice John Roberts, then speaking at the Capitol. Mr. Obama delivered his inaugural address. He referred to a tattered⁸ US image abroad by saying a new era's at hand.

“To all the 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 we are ready to lead once more." President Obama said the nation must ”choose hope over fear, unity⁹ of purpose over conflict and discord¹⁰.” The 47-year-old president spoke¹¹ for just under 20 minutes.

It was a somber¹² moment during President Obama's post-inaugural luncheon¹³ at US Capitol when Democrat¹⁴ Senator Ted¹ Kennedy of Massachusetts fell ill. Kennedy was taken by ambulance to Washington Hospital Center where a spokeswoman says he is awake and answering questions. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.

Senator Kennedy, who is battling a brain tumor¹⁵, collapsed¹⁶ in the Capitol's Statuary Hall as members of Congress honored the new president with the traditional luncheon. Mr. Obama went to Kennedy's site and spoke of the 76-year-old senator during his remarks.

"I would be lying to you if I did not say that right now a part of me is with him. And I think that's true for all of us." The president said his prayers were with Senator Kennedy, his family and wife Vicki. Debbie Elliott, NPR News, Washington.

On Wall Street, the major stock market averages each lost four percent or more today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 332 points.

This is NPR.

Thousands of people were hamstrung by chaotic¹⁷ bus and metro¹⁸ system and blocked from exiting near the parade today. They found shelter, however, in Smithsonian Museums. NPR's Laura Sullivan has that story.

After a day of long lines, the lines after the inauguration¹⁹ only got longer. This time for people trying to find warmth inside the nation's most prestigious²⁰ museums, most look like refugee camps as hundreds of people crowded in. At the Dillon Ripley Center, a largely underground museum, people lined the walls, squatting²¹ under priceless pieces of art, kicking off their shoes and layers of clothing. The bathroom lines were half an hour long, security gave up on bag checks and many said they would stay here until the roads re-open later. Laura Sullivan, NPR News on the Mall in Washington.

Italian automaker Fiat²² confirmed today it's agreed to take a 35% stake in struggling US automaker Chrysler as an exchange for access to technology and overseas markets. The deal announced jointly²³ by the two car companies comes just 18 months after private investment firm of Cerberus capital management bought Chrysler from German automaker Daimler. With the deal, Chrysler which last month got a 4-billion-dollar cash infusion²⁴ from US government gains access to Fiat's technology for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and a distribution system outside the US.

General Mills, Kroger and Safeway are joining the growing list of companies pulling items amid a nationwide salmonella scare. The announcement comes as the Food and Drug Administration says it’s traced an outbreak which has sickened more than 470 people in 43 states to peanut butter and peanut paste made at a Georgia plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America. Peanut butter sold to consumers by the jar is not included in the recall.

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 limousine   

n.豪华轿车

参考例句：

• A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.司机为这个高贵的女士打开了豪华轿车的车门。
• We arrived in fine style in a hired limousine.我们很气派地乘坐出租的豪华汽车到达那里。

3 saluting   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• 'Thank you kindly, sir,' replied Long John, again saluting. “万分感谢，先生。”高个子约翰说着又行了个礼。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• He approached the young woman and, without saluting, began at once to converse with her. 他走近那年青女郎，马上就和她攀谈起来了，连招呼都不打。 来自辞典例句

4 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

5 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

8 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

9 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

10 discord   

n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐

参考例句：

• These two answers are in discord.这两个答案不一样。
• The discord of his music was hard on the ear.他演奏的不和谐音很刺耳。

11 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。

12 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

13 luncheon   

n.午宴，午餐，便宴

参考例句：

• We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
• I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

14 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

15 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

16 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

17 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

18 metro   

n.地铁；adj.大都市的；(METRO)麦德隆(财富500强公司之一总部所在地德国，主要经营零售)

参考例句：

• Can you reach the park by metro?你可以乘地铁到达那个公园吗？
• The metro flood gate system is a disaster prevention equipment.地铁防淹门系统是一种防灾设备。

19 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。

20 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

21 squatting   

v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。

参考例句：

• They ended up squatting in the empty houses on Oxford Road. 他们落得在牛津路偷住空房的境地。
• They've been squatting in an apartment for the past two years. 他们过去两年来一直擅自占用一套公寓。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 fiat   

n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布

参考例句：

• The opening of a market stall is governed by municipal fiat.开设市场摊位受市政法令管制。
• He has tried to impose solutions to the country's problems by fiat.他试图下令强行解决该国的问题。

23 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

24 infusion   

n.灌输

参考例句：

• Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
• Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。