《美国总统42 巴拉克奥巴马.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国总统42 巴拉克奥巴马.docx（3页珍藏版）》请在课桌文档上搜索。
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
