【美国精神】第55期
英语课
Explanation:
The United States has a representative democracy 1, which means that citizens vote for people who will represent them in the government, making laws and decisions that reflect (or are the same as) what the citizens want. If Americans do not participate in their democracy, then the laws won’t reflect what they want. That is why civic 2 involvement (or participation 3 in government) is extremely important in the United States.
The most basic (or easiest and simplest) type of civic involvement is to vote, but some people are much more politically active (or involved in government and politics). Many people choose to join a political party, which is a group of people who have similar beliefs about what the government should do and want to get power for their group in the government. Some of them help with campaigns (or the things people do to try to be elected to a government job) for their political party’s candidates 4 (or the people who are trying to be elected). Sometimes they help by calling undecided voters (or people who haven’t yet decided 5 whom they will vote for) or by visiting them in their homes.
Other people are more politically active for issues than for candidates. They might join a community group that tries to show people how important an issue is. They also call Senators 6 and Representatives to try to get them to vote a certain way on important issues. Sometimes these people will talk to their friends and family about the issues and some of them even write letters to the editor, which is the part of the newspaper where people can write about their strong beliefs.
The people who have the highest level of civic involvement try to run for office (or try to get elected to a political position or job). Sometimes people begin locally, at first running for office in their neighborhood or city, but then seeking office (or trying to get elected) at the state or national level. Each and every American can choose how much civil involvement he or she wants to have.
问题：
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Answer:
• Vote
• Join a political party
• Help with a campaign
• Join a civic group
• Join a community group
• Give an elected official your opinion on an issue
• Call Senators and Representatives
• Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
• Run for office
• Write to a newspaper
The United States has a representative democracy 1, which means that citizens vote for people who will represent them in the government, making laws and decisions that reflect (or are the same as) what the citizens want. If Americans do not participate in their democracy, then the laws won’t reflect what they want. That is why civic 2 involvement (or participation 3 in government) is extremely important in the United States.
The most basic (or easiest and simplest) type of civic involvement is to vote, but some people are much more politically active (or involved in government and politics). Many people choose to join a political party, which is a group of people who have similar beliefs about what the government should do and want to get power for their group in the government. Some of them help with campaigns (or the things people do to try to be elected to a government job) for their political party’s candidates 4 (or the people who are trying to be elected). Sometimes they help by calling undecided voters (or people who haven’t yet decided 5 whom they will vote for) or by visiting them in their homes.
Other people are more politically active for issues than for candidates. They might join a community group that tries to show people how important an issue is. They also call Senators 6 and Representatives to try to get them to vote a certain way on important issues. Sometimes these people will talk to their friends and family about the issues and some of them even write letters to the editor, which is the part of the newspaper where people can write about their strong beliefs.
The people who have the highest level of civic involvement try to run for office (or try to get elected to a political position or job). Sometimes people begin locally, at first running for office in their neighborhood or city, but then seeking office (or trying to get elected) at the state or national level. Each and every American can choose how much civil involvement he or she wants to have.
问题：
What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
Answer:
• Vote
• Join a political party
• Help with a campaign
• Join a civic group
• Join a community group
• Give an elected official your opinion on an issue
• Call Senators and Representatives
• Publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
• Run for office
• Write to a newspaper
1 democracy
n.民主政治，民主制度；民主精神，民主作风
- Democracy is based on good will and mutual understanding.民主建立在善意和相互理解的基础上。
- Did democracy have its beginnings in Athens? 民主制度是创始于雅典吗？
2 civic
adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的
- I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
- The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。
3 participation
n.参与，参加，分享
- Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
- The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。
4 candidates
n.报考者( candidate的名词复数 )；申请求职者；攻读学位者；最后命运或结局如何已显然可见者
- Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
- one of the leading candidates for the presidency 总统职位的主要候选人之一