VOA标准英语2011-New Year, Old Battles for US Leaders

As millions of Americans welcome in 2011 with celebrations and fireworks, U.S. politicians are greeting the new decade with some familiar promises.

Far removed from raucous¹ New Year celebrations like the one in New York City's Times Square, U.S, President Barack Obama had a somber² message for the American people.

"We're still just emerging from a once-in-a-lifetime recession that's taken a terrible toll³ on millions of families," said President Obama. "We all have friends and neighbors trying to get their lives back on track."

In his weekly address, Mr. Obama promised to work harder to strengthen the country's shaky economy recovery, and said recent economic data suggests the situation is starting to improve.

He also pledged to work more closely with opposition⁴ Republican lawmakers, who made significant gains in November's elections.

"I'm willing to work with anyone of either party who's got a good idea and the commitment to see it through," added President Obama. "And we should all expect you to hold us accountable for our progress or our failure to deliver."

When lawmakers return to Washington later this month, Republicans will control the House of Representatives and have an additional 6 seats in the Senate. Republicans say change is coming.

"The American people sent us to Congress with clear instructions: make....government smaller, not bigger," said newly-elected Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte. "And stop spending money we don't have on programs that aren't working. It's now our responsibility to carry out the will of the people."

Giving the weekly Republican address, Ayotte said that for her, like many Americans, the challenge is personal.

"As the mother of two children, I'm like parents across the country who worry that our nearly $14 trillion debt threatens America's economic future and our children's future," added Ayotte. "To ensure generations to come have even more opportunities than we've had, Congress must get serious about meaningful debt reduction."

Both President Obama and the senator-elect say while the challenges facing the United States at the start of this new decade are great, they remain hopeful. Mr. Obama says there is even reason for optimism.

"I'm confident that we are poised⁵ for a period of progress - one in which our economy is growing, our standing⁶ in the world is rising, and we do what it takes to make sure America remains⁷ in the 21st century what it was in the 20th: the greatest country in the world," said Obama.

As the New Year celebrations come to an end, and Americans go back to work and their daily routines, they will be watching to see if the president and lawmakers can make good on that promise.

1 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。

2 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。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

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 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。