2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Delivers State of the Union, Sets Out

By Paula Wolfson
White House
01 February 2006

President Bush has delivered his 2006 State of the Union address to Congress and the nation. Mr. Bush vowed¹ to stand tough against the enemies of freedom, and proposed steps to wean America off its dependence² on foreign oil.

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George Bush, delivering his 2006 State of the Union address   
  

The president says in challenging times, America cannot afford to shut itself off and retreat from the world.

"The only way to protect our people; the only way to secure the peace; the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership; so the United States of America will continue to lead," he said.

Mr. Bush came into this State of the Union address hoping to shore up his own leadership credentials³ at a time of low public approval ratings, growing concern over casualties in Iraq, and stubbornly high gas prices.

With fuel prices close to record levels and oil companies reporting huge profits, the president said he has a plan to break America's dependence on foreign oil by looking for alternative fuel sources. He said the goal is to replace more than 75 percent of American oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

"America is addicted⁴ to oil which is often imported from unstable⁵ parts of the world," Mr. Bush said. "The best way to break this addiction⁶ is through technology."

The president's call for a strong commitment to research in alternative energy was one of a handful of new proposals contained in the speech. The others dealt with domestic issues sure to be key in this congressional election year: health care and American competitiveness in the world economy.

He spoke⁷ of the rapidly growing economies of China and India. And, he emphasized that, although America continues to be the economic leader, it cannot afford to be complacent⁸.

"Tonight I will set out a better path: an agenda for a nation that competes with confidence - an agenda that will raise standards of living and generate new jobs," he said. "Americans should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape it."

The president proposed a substantial increase in funding for basic scientific research and a greater emphasis on math and science education and training. He also called on Congress to provide tax incentives⁹ to encourage businesses to create and invest in new technology.

His comments on world affairs were more philosophical¹⁰ in tone. There were no major changes in policy announced. Instead, Mr. Bush argued the United States must remain aggressively engaged through the world. He spoke at length of the fight to bring democracy to Iraq and said he would also like to see freedom take root in Iran.

"Tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you and we respect your country," he said. "We respect your right to choose your own futures¹¹ and win your own freedom."

President Bush stressed America supports democratic reform across the Middle East. He says elections are vital; but that they are only the beginning - a reference to recent balloting¹² in Egypt and the victory in Palestinian parliament elections by the Islamic militant¹³ group Hamas.

"Now the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm¹⁴, reject terrorism, and work for lasting¹⁵ peace," said Mr. Bush.

The official Democratic Party response was delivered by the new governor of the state of Virginia, Tim Kaine. He pointed¹⁶ to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as one of several instances where the Bush administration has failed the American people.

"Families in the Gulf¹⁷ Coast see that as they wait to rebuild their lives," he said. "Americans who lose their jobs see that as they look to rebuild their careers. And, our soldiers in Iraq see that as they try to rebuild a nation."

In his State of the Union address, the president urged Democrats¹⁸ to work with Republicans to address serious problems. But the realities of an election year are at play and, although Mr. Bush is planning to campaign around the country for his proposals, they face an uncertain future in Congress.

1 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

2 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

3 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

4 addicted   

adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的

参考例句：

• He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。
• She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

5 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

6 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

7 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。

8 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。

9 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

10 philosophical   

adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的

参考例句：

• The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
• She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。

11 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

12 balloting   

v.（使）投票表决( ballot的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clark took a commanding leading in the early balloting. 在最初投票时，克拉克遥遥领先。 来自辞典例句
• The balloting had stagnated, he couldn't win. 投票工作陷于停顿，他不能得胜。 来自辞典例句

13 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

14 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

15 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

16 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

17 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

18 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》