美国总统42 巴拉克奥巴马.docx

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1、美国总统42巴拉克奥巴马BarackObama:Africa11-AmericanVOALearningEnglishpresentsAmericasPresidents.OfficialportraitofPresidentBarackObamaintheOvalOffice,Dec.6z2012.TodaywearetalkingaboutBarackObama.Hefirsttookofficein2009andwasre-electedin2012.Becausehispresidencyissorecent,thisprogramwillnottrytoofferahistorica

2、lperspective.Butonepartofhislegacyisalreadyclear.ObamaistheUnitedStatesfirstAfrican-Americanpresident.HisfatherwasablackmanfromKenya;hismotherwasawhiteAmericanfromtheMidwesternstateofKansas.FormanyAmericans,Obamaspresidencywasanimportantsymbolinacountrythatpermittedblackpeopletobeenslaved.And,evenaf

3、tertheU.S.Constitutionofficiallybannedslaveryin1865,African-Americanshavebeenextremelyunder-representedintheU.S.government.By2009zonlyfiveAfrican-AmericanshadeverservedintheU.S.Senate-andObamawasoneofthem.EvenmanypeoplewhodidnotvoteforObamasaidhiselectiontothecountryshighestofficemadethemproudorhope

4、ful.ApublicopinionsurveyimmediatelyafterElectionDayfoundthattwo-thirdsofAmericansbelievedthatthecountrysracialconflictscouldberesolved.EarlylifeObamasparentsmetasstudentsattheUniversityofHawaii.Hisfatherhadwonascholarshiptostudyeconomics.Hismotherwentontoearnadegreeinmaththere,aswellasagraduatedegre

5、e.Thetwomarriedandhadason,whomtheynamedafterhisfather:BarackHusseinObama,Jr.Butthecouplesoonseparated.TheolderBarackObamareturnedtoKenya,wherehelaterdiedinacaraccident.Baracksmotherwentontomarryanotherman.HewasfromIndonesia.ThefamilymovedtoJakarta,andthecouplehadadaughternamedMaya.BarackObamawithhis

6、motherathishighschoolgraduationWhenBarackwas10zhismothersenthimbacktoHawaiitolivewithherparents.Shewantedhimtogetagoodeducation.BarackfinishedhighschoolinHawaii,thenwentontoOccidentalCollegeinLosAngeles.Aftertwoyears,hetransferredtoColumbiaUniversityinNewYork.There,hecompletedadegreeinpoliticalscien

7、ce.ButObamasaidthebesteducationhereceivedwasinoneofhisfirstjobs.HeworkedasacommunityorganizerinChicago.Hehelpedpeoplewholivedinpublichousingputpressureonthecitygovernmenttoimprovetheirconditions.Obamalatersaidtheworkshowedhimhowimportantitwastounderstandthelegalprocess.SoheenteredHarvardLawSchool.Ov

8、erthenextyears,Obamaworkedasalawyer,wroteabookabouthisexperienceasapersonofmixedracezandmarriedMichelleRobinson,awomanheworkedwithatalawfirm.SheandBarackObamasettledinChicagoandhadtwodaughters,MaliaandSasha.TheObamafamilyin2011Whenhewasinhismid-30s,Obamabeganhispoliticalcareer.Hewaselectedthreetimes

9、totheIllinoisstatesenate.After10yearsthere,hewonaseatintheU.S.Senateinalandslidevictory.Thatsameyear,ObamaattendedtheDemocraticNationalConvention-themeetingwherethepartyofficiallynominatesapresidentialcandidate.Obamawasnotoneofthecandidates.ButtheDemocratsaskedhimtomakeanimportantspeech.Init,Obamafa

10、mouslytalkedabouthowhislifestorywasanAmericanstory.HesaidhewasconfidenttheU.S.couldovercomeitsdivisionsandachieveunity.TheresnotaliberalAmericaandaconservativeAmerica,hesaid.TheresnotablackAmericaandwhiteAmericaandLatinoAmericaandAsianAmerica.TheresaUnitedStatesofAmerica.Onlyfouryearslater,Obamawoul

11、dbeelectedits44thpresident.mKellyJeanKelly.KellyJeanKellywrotethisstoryforLearningEnglish.HaiDowastheeditor.WordsinThisStoryperspective-n.awayofthinkingaboutandunderstandingsomethingfirm-n.abusinessorganizationliberal-adj.believingthatgovernmentshouldbeactiveinsupportingsocialandpoliticalchangeconservative-adj.believinginthevalueofestablishedandtraditionalpracticesinpoliticsandsociety