Elaborate fireworks displays lighted up the skies in Washington, New York and other U.S. cities Sunday night, as the nation marked its birth 234 years ago.

周日，美國(guó)歡慶第234個(gè)獨(dú)立日，精心準(zhǔn)備的煙火表演照亮了華盛頓、紐約以及美國(guó)其他城市的夜空。

The July 4 Independence Day holiday commemorates the occasion in 1776 when the 13 original colonies declared independence from Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

1776年，在美國(guó)獨(dú)立戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)中，13塊原英國(guó)殖民地宣布從英國(guó)獨(dú)立。7月4日美國(guó)獨(dú)立日就是為了紀(jì)念這一事件。

In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama hosted about 1,200 military personnel and their families at the White House for a barbecue, concert and view of the fireworks. ?

華盛頓，美國(guó)總統(tǒng)奧巴馬在白宮邀請(qǐng)1，200名軍職人員及其家屬赴宴，參加音樂會(huì)，觀賞焰火。

Throughout the country, Americans attended barbecues, parades and other events as they observed Independence Day.? Festivities took place in such cities as Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and in Washington.

全美市民通過酒宴，游行以及其他慶?；顒?dòng)來紀(jì)念美國(guó)獨(dú)立日。費(fèi)城（1776年7月4日，獨(dú)立宣言在費(fèi)城和華盛頓被通過）也舉行了歡慶活動(dòng)。

In the nation's capital, actors portraying America's founders re-enacted the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

在華盛頓，演員們扮演美國(guó)的開國(guó)元?jiǎng)?，再現(xiàn)了簽署獨(dú)立宣言的那一幕。

In Mount Vernon, Virginia, home of the first U.S. president, George Washington, organizers hosted a wreath-laying at Washington's tomb and a naturalization ceremony for about 100 new U.S. citizens.

在美國(guó)第一任總統(tǒng)喬治華盛頓的家鄉(xiāng)，弗吉尼亞州的弗農(nóng)山，在組織者的帶領(lǐng)下，人們?cè)谌A盛頓的墓前敬獻(xiàn)花圈，并為大約100名新入籍的美國(guó)市民舉行了入籍儀式。

President Obama issued an Independence Day statement saying the tenacity, resolve and courage of the nation's founders, in the face of seemingly impossible odds, became the bedrock of the country.

美國(guó)總統(tǒng)奧巴馬就獨(dú)立日發(fā)表了講話，他說，正式憑借著韌性，決心和勇氣，開國(guó)者們抓住了看似渺茫的機(jī)會(huì)，為美國(guó)的崛起奠定了堅(jiān)實(shí)的基礎(chǔ)。

The president also paid tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who are serving around the world or have given their lives in the line of duty.

此外，奧巴馬還對(duì)在世界各地服役的，以及在執(zhí)行任務(wù)中犧牲的軍人們表示敬意。

Notes:
American Revolutionary War: 美國(guó)革命戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)（又作Revolutionary War，或者American Revolution）。即美國(guó)獨(dú)立戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)（American War of Independence）。

pay tribute to: 對(duì) ... 表示贊賞或敬意

in the line of duty: 在執(zhí)勤時(shí)
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