Barack Obama (n.奧巴馬) has told the American (adj.美國的) people to "seize (v.把握) the moment (n.一刻、時機)", in a speech (n.演說) in Washington (n.華盛頓) DC (n.哥倫比亞特區) inaugurating (v.為……舉行就職典禮) his second term (n.任期) as US (n.美國) president (n.總統).
He issued (v.發出) a plea (n.呼籲) for political (adj.政治的) unity (n.團結) while embracing (v.信奉、宣揚) liberal (adj.開明的) causes (n.目標) such as immigration (n.移民) reform (n.改革), gay (adj.同性戀的) rights (n.權益) and the fight against climate change (n.氣候變化).
Mr Obama, 51, who is the 44th US president, was sworn in (v.使宣誓就職) for his second term by Chief Justice (n.首席大法官) John Roberts (n.羅伯茨).
Hundreds of thousands of people crammed (v.擠滿) the ceremony (n.典禮) on the National (adj.國家的) Mall (n.廣場) at the US Capitol (n.國會大廈).
"This generation (n.一代) of Americans (n.美國人) has been tested (v.試煉) by crises (n.危機) that steeled (v.使堅定) our resolve (n.決心) and proved our resilience (n.恢復力)," the Democratic (adj.民主黨的) president said. "A decade (n.十年) of war is now ending. An economic recovery (n.復蘇) has begun. America(n.美國)'s possibilities are limitless (adj.無限的)."
He added: "My fellow (adj.同類的) Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together."
(BBC, January 21)
-----------------------------------------------
美國總統奧巴馬展開第二屆任期，在首都華盛頓舉行的就職典禮中發表演說，呼籲美國人民“把握時機”。
他呼籲各政治派系團結，並宣揚開明目標，例如改革移民政策、倡議同性戀權益，以及對抗氣候變化。
五十一歲的奧巴馬宣誓再次任職，成為美國第四十四屆總統，由首席大法官羅伯茨監誓。
典禮在美國國會大廈的國家廣場舉行，廣場擠滿了數十萬人。
這位民主黨總統說：“這一代美國人曾受過諸多危機試煉，不但加強了我們的信心，也證明了我們很快復原。十年戰爭現正結束，經濟也正開始復蘇。美國前途無可限量。”
他並說：“我的美國同胞，我們生逢其時，而我們將可把握時機——只要我們一起把握。”
（英國廣播公司，一月二十一日）