VOA标准英语2011--Michele Obama Promotes Fitness on White

Michele Obama Promotes Fitness on White House Lawn

On a recent sunny afternoon, first lady Michelle Obama hosted the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team and a group of local children who got to spend some time playing soccer on the White House lawn.
Early last year, First Lady Michelle Obama launched an ambitious national campaign called "Let's Move." It is aimed at solving the problem of childhood obesity¹ in only one generation.
"One of my biggest initiatives is making sure that kids like you all across this country are getting the exercise you need, and that you are eating the proper foods, and you are understanding how that's going to help you in so many different ways," said Obama.
The "Let's Move" campaign involves many sectors² and partnerships³, but one of the lighter⁴ programs involves sporting events held on the south lawn of the White House. For this one, six players from the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team showed the youngsters some drills on the grass. It was a special privilege and a thrill for the budding players.
Exercise is close to the first lady's heart, and on this day she was not afraid to show it. She ran around with the kids and encouraged them in the various drills.
"You don't have to be a superstar athlete to enjoy sports and to move, but getting involved in something like this can help you in so many different ways," added Obama. "There is a direct connection between how healthy you are, the kind of food you put in your body, and how your mind operates."
In the past three decades, childhood obesity has tripled in the United States. Today, nearly one in three children in America is overweight or obese⁵. The first lady would like to make a difference in that situation before her husband leaves office.

1 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

2 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

4 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

5 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。