VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Urges Students to Work Hard

A new school year in the United States has begun with a touch of controversy¹. It surrounds a welcome back speech to students from President Barack Obama that was seen in classrooms around the country. In some communities, parents staged a boycott² of the president's address - an example of how politically divided the nation has become.

The president's message to students was simple: study hard, pay attention in class and embrace the opportunity to learn.
　
President Barack Obama delivers speech on education at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, 8 Sep 2009

"We can have the most dedicated³ teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the world. And none of it will make a difference; none of it will matter, unless all of you fulfill⁴ your responsibilities," Mr. Obama said.

It was a presidential pep talk delivered at a time of economic uncertainty⁵ for many American families. Mr. Obama said he understands the tensions many students face.

"The circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher or cutting class or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying," he said

Mr. Obama spoke⁶ at a high school in Arlington, Virginia - a short drive from the White House - where the student body is ethnically⁷ and economically diverse. His message was broadcast far beyond the campus of Wakefield High to classrooms around the country on the Internet and cable television.

Critics of the president denounced the speech as an effort by the White House to promote the president's domestic agenda. Some parents told their children to boycott the address.

This Colorado student stayed away.

"It's just a family decision to not come. I think our parents should be the ones to push us more in our education and what not than the president," the student said.

But this mother in North Carolina said she thought the speech could have a positive impact.

"When kids get to hear something about motivation from someone like that, it's fantastic," she said.

The White House took the unusual step of posting the president's remarks on its website 24 hours before the speech was delivered. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the address was simply meant to give students a boost at the start of a new school year.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

3 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

6 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。

7 ethnically   

adv.人种上，民族上

参考例句：

• Ethnically, the Yuan Empire comprised most of modern China's ethnic groups. 元朝的民族成分包括现今中国绝大多数民族。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• Russia is ethnically relatively homogeneous. 俄罗斯是个民族成分相对单一的国家。 来自辞典例句