This week, Barack Obama began his second term as president of the United States. The public swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the Capitol building in Washington.
本周，奥巴马开始了美国总统第二个任期。 公开宣誓就职仪式于周一在华盛顿国会大厦举行。
In a speech, Mr. Obama read from parts of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
在演讲中，奥巴马先生宣读了美国宪法和独立宣言的部分内容。
"What makes us exceptional, what makes us American is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
“使我们与众不同、使我们成为美国人的是我们对两个多世纪以前发表的宣言中所表述的理念的效忠， 我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等。”
Officials estimated that over one million people gathered on Washington's "National Mall" for the inaugural ceremonies. Some came for the musical performances. But others wanted to hear how President Obama would define goals for the next four years.
有关官员估计有超过100万人聚集在华盛顿国家广场参加就职仪式。 有人是来看音乐表演，但也有人想要听听奥巴马如何明确未来四年的目标。
In his speech, Mr. Obama said he will make climate change one of his top goals. He said that failing to deal with the threat from rising temperatures would betray the world's children.
奥巴马在演讲中表示，他将把气候变化作为他的首要目标之一。 他说，如果不解决气温不断上升的威胁将会愧对全世界的儿童。
"Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires and crippling drought and more powerful storms. "
“一些人可能仍然不承认科学的压倒性判断，但没人能够逃脱熊熊大火、严重干旱和更大风暴的破坏性影响。”
Environmental groups welcomed the president's desire to act on climate change. The Sierra Club called his comments ‘heartening.' It said global warming is an urgent issue for the whole world. But many opponents of Mr. Obama's policies disagree. They say it would cost too much for the American economy to move away from using oil and other fossil fuels.
环保组织对奥巴马的这一表态表示欢迎。 塞拉俱乐部（Sierra Club）称其言论“令人振奋”。 该俱乐部表示，全球变暖是整个世界亟待解决的一个问题。 但许多奥巴马政策的反对者提出了异议。 他们表示摆脱石油和其它化石燃料对美国经济的代价会非常巨大。
