时间:2018-11-29 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2011年(十二月)


英语课

Iowa Voters Play Special Role in Presidential Politics


The 2012 U.S. presidential election process officially begins Tuesday, the Midwestern state of Iowa. Republican voters will gather in caucus 1 meetings across the state to vote for one of seven Republicans hoping to face President Barack Obama in the November election.



Just another quiet winter’s day in the small town of Atlantic, nestled among the picturesque 2 farms and rolling hills of western Iowa. That is until presidential candidate Newt Gingrich rolled into town.



By now, Gingrich is familiar with the Iowa candidate’s routine. Chat with voters, take their questions and ask for their support. “And that is why I always tell audiences that I am not going to ask you to be for me, I am going to ask you to be with me," he said.



Across town at a diner, Ben Nelson and his pals 3 are digging into brunch 4.



It is all part of those small town Iowa values, he says. “It is really small, but it is nice because you know everybody and always seem to have a lot of fun," he said.



Over eggs and toast, Michael Dunn and his co-workers are ready for the coming caucus. When it comes to picking presidents, he says Iowans are pretty straightforward 5. “I think they look for integrity and honesty," he said.



Back at the Gingrich rally, Eleanor Becker has been won over. She says the personal contact with the candidate is essential. “Because you can gauge 6 whether they are telling you the truth, or if they are [trying to deceive you] sometimes," she said.



The voters here know Iowa plays a special role in the election process, says farmer Jim Pellet. “I think this is the testing ground for them. If they do not pass in Iowa they are not going to last for a long time," he said.



As the Gingrich bus leaves town, Atlantic turns quiet again, a small town in the American heartland that once every four years has its moment in the sun.



1 caucus
n.秘密会议;干部会议;v.(参加)干部开会议
  • This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
  • It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。
2 picturesque
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的
  • You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
  • That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。
3 pals
n.朋友( pal的名词复数 );老兄;小子;(对男子的不友好的称呼)家伙
  • We've been pals for years. 我们是多年的哥们儿了。
  • CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+细胞在再生脾PALS和RP内均明显增加(P 来自互联网
4 brunch
n.早午餐
  • They eat much the same thing for brunch every day.每天早午餐他们总是吃同样的东西。
  • What did you have for your brunch?你早午饭都吃些什么?
5 straightforward
adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的
  • A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
  • I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。
6 gauge
v.精确计量;估计;n.标准度量;计量器
  • Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗?
  • It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。
学英语单词
Abelia parvifolia
abrasive belt grinding lubricant
activase
Alumoaeschynite
analytical separation
Anosy
assistant principal
average net fixed assets
backstresses
be the same as
bellingerite
blister furnace
bushet
chapfare
cirsium suzukii
concite
Corispermum huanghoense
corundum oligoclase pegmatite
cosmene
cross flow cap tray
crossing angle of wires
cutaneous part
D/NR
dental spa
development sociology
druze
dynamic satellite geodesy
efficiency of feed utilization
eliminating dampness
emulsifiable concentrate
external-device control
flos longan
fly fisherman
gauntletted
General Average Survey
geometric decorated style
gimbaled engine
gram-positive bacilli
groove speed
Helixanthera coccinea
hmb
hottenroth number
huttenlochers
hydrogen sulfide proof steel
impigrous
induction type wattmeter
istigobius goldmanni
Kugel's artery
Lahore Cantonment
lineage-restricted
lion tamer
low-melting component
main loop
makinson
maxillopharyngeal
microfuging
nasopalatine duct
natrium cooled valve
nektoplanktonic
new tools
Nhanduqué, R.
nocent
one's strong point
onesie-twosie
Ophiorrhiza hispidula
Pachyphytum
paternal uncles
phiris
pistoles
plain disk
poecilopsetta natalensis
polyorganostannosiloxane
primary-line injury
proletarianisms
propeller design
puftaloons
radiation image contrast
rectumobile
referee in case of need
reset scores
responsible government
Rip Van Winkle
risk-aversions
seaming needle
self conscious
self lighting type
seminin
siban
sklarski
things movable
thunked
trap on overflow
Tweed R.
unconscious motive
und so weiter
unmarriageable
unworshipful
volitating
wagon vault
wheaty flavour
white-tie
Windows box