用英语聊聊美国大选
英语课
用英语聊聊美国大选
美国大选将近，大家都在讨论要投谁的票。刚刚成为美国公民的Amir就在跟他的妻子Sharon谈论要投票给谁，一起来听听吧！
Professor: Amir just became an American citizen, and this year he is voting in his first American election. Today he is having breakfast with his wife, Sharon, and they're talking about the upcoming election.
Amir: So honey, who do you think you're going to vote for in the election? I really like both the Republican and Democratic candidates, but I can't decide who to vote for.
Sharon: You like both of them? I think they're both terrible. For me the question isn't who I like the most, but who I dislike the least!
Amir: Well, I guess that's an interesting way to look at it. To be honest I don't care if Virginia is a blue state or a red state. I just want a moderate candidate who will do a good job.
Sharon: Yeah, you're right. The only thing I care about is that whoever wins isn't too partisan 2.
看来Amir和Sharon都是moderate voters--温和的选民。不过我不明白，Amir说，他不在乎Virginia州变成blue state or red state，这是什么意思呢？
Professor: In America, the color red represents the Republican Party, and the color blue represents the Democratic Party.
哦，红色代表共和党，蓝色代表民主党。所以，Amir 意思是，他不在乎州长是由共和党人来做，还是民主党人来做，最好是个温和派、干实事儿的人。
Professor: Right! And Sharon says she doesn't want a candidate who is too partisan. Someone is partisan if he refuses to compromise with the other side.
哦，partisan就是“党派性的”。
Amir: Well what do you think the results are going to be? Virginia used to always be a landslide 3 for the Republicans, but these days it's a tossup.
Sharon: You're right, it's pretty hard to say. But since the incumbent 4 is a Republican, I'd have to give him a slight advantage.
Amir: Yeah, incumbents 5 always have an easier time with fundraising, and everybody already knows them because they've been in office for a while.
Sharon: Yeah, but judging by what a bad job he's done, I don't think that name recognition is going to help him!
看来这次选举竞争很激烈。现在选举结果是tossup - 就像扔硬币一样，胜选机会是一半一半，哪个候选人都不会有landslide--压倒性胜利。
Professor: Exactly. But one candidate has an advantage, right?
对，那就是the incumbent--在职者。Amir说，他在fundraising--筹款，和name recognition--知名度方面，都有优势。
Professor: That's true, but name recognition isn't always a good thing, right?
对，知名度不一定都是好事，因为不知道是好名还是骂名!
Amir: A lot of analysts 6 are saying that the election is going to be decided 7 by turnout. The more people vote, the more it's likely to benefit the Democrat 1.
Sharon: (Sigh) .... Amir, can we stop talking about politics? I just want to eat my breakfast in peace.
Amir: But Sharon, this is my first time voting in an American election. Can't you understand how excited I am?
Sharon: Look, if you're really into the election, why don't you listen to the pundits 8 talk about it?
Amir: Come on Sharon, how can you think about eating breakfast at a time like this? This election is going to decide the future of our country!
Sharon: Amir, if you don't stop talking about politics, it's going to decide the future of your marriage!
professor, 什么叫“turnout”？
Professor: Turnout is the number of people who actually go out and vote on election day. In the US, turnout is usually about 50 percent across the country.
哦，turnout就是投票人数。那么，什么叫pundits呢？
Professor: Pundits are professional commentators 9. They are famous people who spend all their time talking about their views on current events.
哦，就是那些专门在电视广播里对时事发表看法的评论家! 这么说，我同意Sharon的观点。现在，只要一开电视，到处都是pundits，已经够烦人了，谁还想自己家里的老公也每天大谈政治呢？
A: 原来，Amir和Sharon都是moderate voters, 温和选民，他们更注重的不是partisan党派，而是谁的政策更合理。两人觉得，这次的选举会是个tossup, 两党机会旗鼓相当，哪个候选人都不会有landslide, 压倒性胜利。
B: Yeah, I guess that's the situation today. The new poll shows that Obama and Romney's support rate are incredibly close.
A: So who are you going to vote for?
B: Hmm....杨琳, let me give you some sensitivity training. In America, we don't ask people this kind of question. Anything involving the politics are extremely sensitive.
A: 哦对了，政治问题不能随便问! 不过……咱俩都这么铁了，你就告诉我嘛!
B: Haha, I'm a moderate voter, I will vote for whoever with the best policy for my country. But...remember don't ask other people such questions, you might offend them without even realizing it!
A: 嗯，谢谢你的忠告！
n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员
- The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
- About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。
adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒
- In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
- The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。
n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利
- Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
- An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。
adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的
- He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
- It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。
教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者
- In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
- This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。
分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )
- The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
- That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网
n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员
- Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
- Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》