History was made in Washington this week as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in front of a crowd of two million people.

President Obama made an impassioned and emotional speech to the multitude of people who had braved the elements to witness the inauguration of America鈥檚 first African-American President.

President Obama鈥檚 speech touched on many subjects of significance to the American people, including the fragile state of their economy and security matters such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But he began by addressing his personal feelings on his election and the weight of responsibility he felt in taking on such an important office.

"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors," said President Obama.

The President went on to talk about the fears that many Americans have that their country is becoming less successful and diminishing as a global power.

He spoke of a "sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights".

However, President Obama continued to say that America would respond to the challenges before it, and that the nation would pull together and overcome its problems by working together in a spirit of co-operation.

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord," said the President.

After such a stirring speech, the world waits to see if America鈥檚 new president鈥檚 actions will match his lofty words and ideals.

• emotional [i´məuʃənəl]   a.易动感情的；情感的   (初中英语单词)
• multitude [´mʌltitju:d]   n.大群(批)；众多   (初中英语单词)
• witness [´witnis]   n.见证人 vt.目击   (初中英语单词)
• economy [i´kɔnəmi]   n.经济；机制；组织   (初中英语单词)
• security [si´kjuəriti]   n.安全；证券；抵押品   (初中英语单词)
• election [i´lekʃən]   n.选举；选择   (初中英语单词)
• responsibility [ri,spɔnsə´biliti]   n.责任(心)；职责；任务   (初中英语单词)
• grateful [´greitful]   a.感谢的；令人愉快的   (初中英语单词)
• generation [,dʒenə´reiʃən]   n.发生；世代；同龄人   (初中英语单词)
• respond [ri´spɔnd]   v.回答；响应；有反应   (初中英语单词)
• overcome [,əuvə´kʌm]   vt.战胜，克服   (初中英语单词)
• working [´wə:kiŋ]   a.工人的；劳动的   (初中英语单词)
• conflict [´kɔnflikt, kən´flikt]   n.&vi.战斗；抵触   (初中英语单词)
• significance [sig´nifikəns]   n.意义；重要性   (高中英语单词)
• inevitable [i´nevitəbəl]   a.不可避免的   (高中英语单词)
• fragile [´frædʒail]   a.易碎的；虚弱的   (英语四级单词)
• stirring [´stə:riŋ]   a.活跃的；热闹的   (英语四级单词)
• inauguration [inɔ:gju´reiʃ(ə)n]   n.开幕仪式；就职典礼   (英语六级单词)
• taking [´teikiŋ]   a.迷人的 n.捕获物   (英语六级单词)