VOA标准英语2013--Thirty New US Citizens Swear Their Allegiance

 

Thirty New US Citizens Swear Their Allegiance

Among them was Ashraf Mokhdar from Egypt.

“I’m so proud I’m a U.S. citizen. I wish to do my promise to be a good citizen," said Mokhdar.

And Jacqueline Frye from the United Kingdom.

“It’s been hard. It’s been a long, long road. But it’s good. I’m happy," said Frye.

The end of that long road was a ceremony presided over by U.S. Treasury¹ Secretary Jack² Lew who led the recital³ of the Pledge of Allegiance.

A first-generation American whose father immigrated⁴ from Poland, Lew praised his new fellow Americans for overcoming challenges to become U.S. citizens.

“We are celebrating all of you, not only for what you have given, but for what you will continue to give to this country," said Lew.

What these new Americans have given is years of hard work mastering the English language, studying U-S history and government, and for many… waiting with uncertainty⁵.

But Herbert Crooks⁶ from Panama says he knew this day would come.

“Deep down inside I always felt American. It’s a dream come true. Finally, I’ve done it," said Crooks.

As Americans celebrate another year of independence, these 30 new U.S. citizens are joining the celebration.

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 recital   

n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会

参考例句：

• She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
• I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内，他们完全被我吸引了。

4 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

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 crooks   

n.骗子( crook的名词复数 )；罪犯；弯曲部分；（牧羊人或主教用的）弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The police are getting after the crooks in the city. 警察在城里追捕小偷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cops got the crooks. 警察捉到了那些罪犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》