[page]听力原文[/page]

This is a historic moment. A war is ending. A new day is upon us.

And let us never forget those who gave us this chance, the untold number of Iraqis who`ve given their lives; more than 1 million Americans, military and civilian, who have served in Iraq; nearly 4,500 fallen Americans, who gave their last full measure of devotion; tens of thousands of wounded warriors and so many inspiring military families. They are the reason that we can stand here today.

President Obama honoring the people whose efforts and sacrifices have helped bring an official end to the war in Iraq. Saddam Hussein, the former dictator of Iraq, was captured eight years ago today. That was nine months after the war started.

Yesterday, President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared a formal end to the war during a press conference at the White House. They also talked about their countries being partners into the future.

The last U.S. military troops will be leaving Iraq by the end of this year, but President Obama promised Prime Minister al-Maliki that the U.S. will give Iraq additional economic, diplomatic and military help.

Later in the day, the two leaders were part of a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. They paused for a moment of silence and helped lay a wreath as they paid their respects to the American troops who lost their lives during the war in Iraq.

Today`s Shoutout goes out to Mr. Breuer`s social studies classes at Milford Junior High School in Milford, Ohio.

In the U.S., who has the final authority to decide whether a law is constitutional? Here we go. Is it the president, the U.S. Supreme Court, Speaker of the House or Department of Justice? You`ve got three seconds, go.

That final authority belongs to the U.S. Supreme Court. That`s your answer, and that`s your Shoutout.

That`s part of what the U.S. Supreme Court will consider about an immigration law in Arizona. The controversial part of this law requires Arizona police officers to check people`s immigration status when police are investigating other crimes.

The Supreme Court can look at whether or not that and other parts of the law are constitutional. But the main question is whether Arizona can enforce this law on its own. The federal government says immigration issues are its responsibility. Arizona`s governor says the U.S. government hasn`t done enough. She also argues that her state`s immigration law supports federal rules.

Eight of the nine Supreme Court justices will hear this case. Justice Elena Kagan excused herself because she was working for President Obama`s administration when the government first objected to the Arizona law.

That means this ruling could end in a four-four tie. Now if that happens, it would mean Arizona could not enforce its immigration law, but it wouldn`t give any definitive answers about whether or not the law is constitutional.

That Supreme Court hearing will happen some time next year. So will the next U.S. presidential election. But the campaign season dominated headlines this year. And it`s just one of the topics that Karin Caifa reviews in her look back at some of the big political stories from 2011.

[page]参考译文[/page]

这是一个历史性的时刻,战争已经结束。新的一天正在向我们走来。
让我们永远不要忘记那些给我们这个机会的人,无数的伊拉克人献出了自己的生命,有超过100万的美国人,军人和市民曾在伊拉克任职,将近4500美国人献出生命,他们贡献出了自己的生命,成千上万的受伤将士及很多激励军人的家庭。他们是我们可以今天站在这儿的最大功臣。
奥巴马总统纪念那些努力与牺牲真正结束伊拉克战争。萨达姆侯赛因,这位伊拉克的前任独裁者于8年前的今天被捕获。而9个月后战争开始。
昨天,美国总统奥巴马和伊拉克总理马利基在白宫新闻发布会上宣布战争正式结束。他们还谈到了在未来互相会成为伙伴。
最后的美军部队将在今年年底离开伊拉克,但总统奥巴马承诺马利基总理,美国将给伊拉克额外的经济,外交及军事帮助。
当天晚些时候,两位领导人作为仪式的一部分出现在阿灵顿国家公墓。他们停下来默哀,帮助他们献上花圈,向在伊拉克战争期间失去了生命的美国军人致敬。
今天的大喊答题节目环节的题目是俄亥俄州米尔福德小学布鲁尔先生的社会研究班提供。
在美国,谁最终可以决定是否一项法律成为宪法?现在我们可以开始了。是总统,美国最高法院,众议院议长还是司法部门?你有三秒钟的时间,3,2,1，现在公布答案！
答案是美国最高法院。你答对了吗？这就是本期的大喊答题节目环节。
美国最高法院将考虑在亚利桑那州的移民法律。颇有争议的是亚利桑那州警官依照本法规定需要检查移民的身份,而警察正在调查其他罪行显然无法抽身。
最高法院可以看看这一法律的其他部分是否符合宪法。但最主要的问题是亚利桑那州是否能执行本法。联邦政府称移民问题是自身的责任。亚利桑那州州长表示美国政府做得够还不是够充分。她认为她的国家的移民法律支持联邦规则。
八九位最高法院的法官将审理这个案子。法官叶连娜•克甘要责问自己,因为她为奥巴马总统政权工作,而政府第一次反对亚历桑那州法律。
这意味着这个裁决可能会很久才能结束。现在如果这真的发生,那就意味着它可以不执行亚利桑那州的移民法律,但这不会给出任何权威性的答案,即律法是否符合宪法。
最高法院听证会明年开始进行审理。而届时将是下一任的美国总统选举。但今年竞选季节是焦点。卡琳•卡菲亚回首2011年的几件重大政治事件后,这只是的其中一个难题之一。

 [page]词语解释[/page]
1. military n. 军队

Bad weather hindered the military operation.
恶劣的天气妨碍了军事行动。
2. dictator n. 独裁者

The dictator had eliminated all his political opponents.
独裁者已将所有政敌干掉。
3. diplomatic a. 外交的

His father had been in the diplomatic service.
他的父亲曾在外交部门供职。

4. ceremony n. 仪式

Did you get your cap and robe for the graduation ceremony?
你领了参加毕业典礼的礼帽和礼服了吗？

5. immigration n. 移民

The concept of free immigration was magnificent, the reality inevitably less so.
自由移民一词听起来冠冕堂皇，实际上并非如此。