學(xué)習(xí)導(dǎo)讀：
政治是永恒的主題，對于美國，總統(tǒng)的換屆總是每四年一次的熱門話題?，F(xiàn)在演藝明星們都流行“腦殘粉”“真愛粉”什么的，政治明星也不例外。每到一地演講，總少不了當(dāng)?shù)乜駸嶂С终叩臒崃覛g迎。人們都以為青少年不再關(guān)心政治，本文卻從另一個角度告訴大家，在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)時代，少年們是如何凝聚起來關(guān)心政治和政治家的。文中涉及到了一些有關(guān)美國文化的詞語，比如boomer，好在考場上都給了中文解釋，不過不妨在平日學(xué)習(xí)中有意識地積累，在學(xué)習(xí)英語的同時了解背后的文化。
A new study (from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)?原) [at Tufts University] shows that today’s youth vote [in larger numbers] [than previous?1generations], and a 2008 study (from the Center for American Progress) adds that increasing numbers (of young voters and activists) support traditionally liberal causes?2. But there’s (no) easy way [to see what those figures mean [in real life]]. [During the presidential campaign?3], Barack Obama assembled?4?(a racially?5?and ideologically?6?diverse?7) coalition?8?[with his message of hope and change]; [as the reality of life under a new administration settles in?9,] some of those supporters might become disillusioned?10. [As the nation moves [further] into the Obama presidency,] will (politically engaged young) people continue to support the president and his agenda?11, or will they [gradually] drift?12away?
由塔夫斯大學(xué)公民認(rèn)知及參與信息研究中心（CIRCLE）的一項新研究表明，當(dāng)今參與投票的年輕人的人數(shù)比過去幾代大幅增加，而美國進(jìn)步中心在2008年公布的一項研究進(jìn)一步表明，越來越多的年輕投票者和活動分子支持傳統(tǒng)的自由事業(yè)。但是，在現(xiàn)實生活中，理解這些數(shù)據(jù)背后的含義卻不容易。在總統(tǒng)競選運動期間，巴拉克·奧巴馬憑借希望和變革的訊息集結(jié)了一股種族和意識形態(tài)均多樣化的同盟軍；但是隨著新政府領(lǐng)帶下生活現(xiàn)實的來臨，支持者中的一些人夢想破滅。隨著國家即將進(jìn)入奧巴馬的任期，那些參與政治的年輕人會繼續(xù)支持這位總統(tǒng)和他的治國方針嗎，還是將逐漸離他而去？
注：1. previous adj. 早先的，在前的。例：
I’d really like to have dinner with you, but I have a previous engagement.
我很想與你共進(jìn)晚餐，可是我已經(jīng)有約在先了。
adv. (to) 在...之前。例：
Previous to our being there, there was an earthquake in the area.
在我們?nèi)ツ侵?，該地區(qū)曾發(fā)生過一場地震。
【派】previously (adv.先前，以前)
2. liberal adj.自由的，思想開明的；豐富的；慷慨的。例：
a liberal mind 開明的思想
The new measure are rational and liberal.
這些新舉措很合理，也很開明。
I put a liberal amount of sun block on my skin.
我在皮膚上涂了大量的防曬霜。
liberal causes：自由事業(yè)。cause除了原因之意，還有事業(yè)、目標(biāo)意。這里牽涉到了背景知識，補充如下：
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that they are among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Excerpts from The Declaration of Independence
“我們認(rèn)為下面這些真理是不言而喻的：造物者創(chuàng)造了平等的個人，并賦予他們?nèi)舾刹豢蓜儕Z的權(quán)利，其中包括生命權(quán)、自由權(quán)和追求幸福的權(quán)利?！惫?jié)選自《獨立宣言》
3. campaign n. 戰(zhàn)役；活動，競選活動。例：
Many young people are preparing to get involved in the campaign.
很多年輕人都在準(zhǔn)備投入這場戰(zhàn)役中。
The presidential campaign will last for mouths.
這次總統(tǒng)競選將持續(xù)數(shù)月。
At a campaign event Monday, Clinton told the audience that she was proud of her fundraising.
在周一的競選活動上，克林頓向公眾表明那位女士對于她的資金募集感到非常驕傲。
[選自：CNN: Schneider: Show us the money]
4. assemble v. 集合，集會。文中此意。例：
We assemble at the square at 1:30 p.m.
我們下午1點半在廣場集合。
Al-Maliki is attempting to assemble a national unity government to present to parliament for its approval.
努里·馬利基在試圖組織一個國家聯(lián)合政府來向議會尋求批準(zhǔn)。
[選自：CNN: Iraqi PM-designate: U.S. could start pullout in 18 months]
vt. 裝配，組裝。例：
It is difficult to assemble the miniature car.
組裝迷你車非常困難。
5. racially adv.人種上；按人種地。例：
Racially, the two country are the same.
在人種上，這兩個人國家是一樣的。
6. ideologically adv. 意識形式上，思想體系上。例：
He has a vaunted personal story and a likeable personality, but he is hemmed in ideologically.
他的個人經(jīng)歷滿是夸大，性格也浮夸，但他在意識形態(tài)上被限制了。
[選自：ECONOMIST: Bob Barr and the Libertarian challenge to John McCain]
7. diverse adj. 多種多樣的，不同的。例：
The researchers must gather information from many diverse fields.
研究人員必須搜集來自不同領(lǐng)域的信息。
8. coalition n. 結(jié)合體，同盟；結(jié)合，聯(lián)合。例：
Many countries joined the coalition against terrorism.
許多國家結(jié)成了反恐怖主義的同盟。
This politician is contemptuous of coalition statements about the result of the war.
9. settles in 安頓下來；在...中放穩(wěn)，坐穩(wěn)[躺倒]；（使）開始在...居?。槐P踞。例：
They will arrive at Friday and settle in for a five-month stay.
他們將于本周五抵達(dá)并且在太空中駐扎5個月。
I enjoyed the life there, once I’d settled in.
當(dāng)我在這里安頓下來后，我稀罕上這里的生活了。
10. disillusioned adj. 醒悟的；幻想破滅的，不抱幻想的。文中此意。例：
I’ve become very disillusioned with this job.
我對這份工作不再抱幻想了。
v. 使不再抱幻想，使理想破滅。例：
This work disillusioned me.
這份工作讓我理想破滅。
11. agenda n. 議事日程，但在文中很明顯是指治國方針、計劃。
12. drift vi. 漂，漂流。例：
The boat drifted out to the sea.
The theory about drifting plates. 板塊漂移學(xué)說
n. 漂，漂流。例：
The drift of current slowly slowly flowed into the sea.
水流緩緩匯入了大海。
【派】drifting（adj. 漂流的）
文中drift away漸漸疏遠(yuǎn)，慢慢散去。例：
If it falters, some of the Europeans could drift away.
如果北約停滯不前，一些歐洲國家就可能慢慢離去。
[選自：CNN: NATO: The Alliance Expands]
The writers of Generation O (short for Obama)?
原, {a new Newsweek blog} (that seeks to?
1?chronicle?
2?the lives of a group of young Obama supporters,) want to answer that question. [For the next three months], Michelle Kremer and 11 other Obama supporters, ^ages 19 to 34^, will blog about life (across mainstream?
3America), [with one twist?
4]: [by tying all of their ideas and experiences to the new president and his administration], the bloggers will try to start a conversation [about what it means to be young and politically active] [in America today]. Malena Amusa, {a 24-year-old writer and dancer from St. Louis}, sees the project (as it happens.) Amusa, (who is traveling to India [this spring] [to finish a book],) then [to Senegal] [to teach English], has (ongoing?
5) conversations [with her friends] [about how the Obama presidency has changed their daily lives and hopes to put some of those ideas, [along with?
6?her global perspective?
7], [into her posts].] She’s excited [because, ^as she puts it^, “I don’t have to wait [until 15 years from now]” [to make sense of?
8?the world].] 奧（奧巴馬的簡寫）代人是《新聞周刊》中新開的博客，以記述一群年輕的奧巴馬支持者的生活為主要目的，其作者們想要給出上述問題的答案。在接下來的三個月里，年齡在19歲到34歲的Michelle Kremer和其他11位奧巴馬的支持者，將利用博客介紹主流美國的生活，這是一個創(chuàng)新：將他們所有的想法和經(jīng)歷與新總統(tǒng)及他的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)連接起來，博主們將展開對話，討論年輕和積極參與政治在今日的美國意味著什么。Malena Amusa，來自圣路易斯的24歲的作家兼舞蹈家將此項倡議視為記錄發(fā)生中的歷史的一種方法。Amusa今年春天為完成一部書的寫作去了印度旅游，又到塞內(nèi)加爾教授英語，現(xiàn)在她和朋友在不斷討論奧巴馬的當(dāng)選如何改變了她們的日常生活，且希望從全球的視角將她的很多想法寫入她的博客中去。她很激動，因為“從現(xiàn)在起，我不必再等15年”才搞懂世界的意義，她寫道。
注：1. seeks to 設(shè)法；企圖，試圖。例：
Both sides have to seek to adjust.
雙方都必須設(shè)法進(jìn)行調(diào)整。
2. chronicle n.編年史，記錄。例：
The subscription chronicle could not be added.
無法添加訂閱歷史記錄。
vt. 將（某事）載入編年史，記錄。文中此意。例：
Because what you are doing for a living is attempting to chronicle the human experience.
因為你為生存所做的努力也是在試圖編入人類的經(jīng)驗史。
[選自：FORBES: How Your Journalism Sausage Gets Made, Part Twelve: How to Be a Journa]
3. mainstream n.（思想或行為的）主流，主要趨勢。例：
How did these ideas become mainstream?
這些思想怎么變成主流的呢？
4. twist n. 創(chuàng)新之舉，新發(fā)展。含義中帶有意外進(jìn)展的意味。2008年6月聽力中出現(xiàn)過twist my ankle扭傷了腳踝，這里作扭曲講怎么都講不通。
Along with WiMAX, the next twist in the wireless landscape is the mesh network.
除了WiMAX網(wǎng)絡(luò)，無線網(wǎng)的下一次創(chuàng)新圖景是網(wǎng)狀網(wǎng)絡(luò)。
[選自：MSN: The real wireless revolution is just beginning]
5. ongoing adj. 不斷地，進(jìn)行的；前進(jìn)的。文中此意。例：
The maintenance of web server is ongoing.
正在進(jìn)行網(wǎng)絡(luò)服務(wù)器維護(hù)。
Ongoing and development is necessary to economic.
前進(jìn)與發(fā)展是經(jīng)濟(jì)所必須的。
n. 前進(jìn)，發(fā)展；行為，舉止。例：
I worried about his ongoing.
我對他的行為感到擔(dān)憂。
6. along with除...以外（還）；和...一起，隨著。例：
Along with memoried, she came home with several memories.
除了美好的回憶外，她還帶了一些紀(jì)念品回家。
Along with time, it will take effort.
隨著時間的推移，一定會成功的。
7. perspective n. 透視畫法，透視圖；遠(yuǎn)景，前途；觀點，看法。例：
Many students go to university to acquire a broader perspective of life.
許多大學(xué)生上大學(xué)是為了獲得更廣闊的人生前景。
I hope you can view the problem from a different perspective.
我希望你能以不同的觀點來看待這個問題。
From their perspective, they want to know how we’re going to manage the situation.
從他們的角度看，他們想知道我們將如何應(yīng)付這個局面。
[選自：WSJ: Managing in Asia: KPMG Audit Chief Benny Liu Faces China Risks]
8. make sense of v. 使...有意義；理解，弄清...的意思。例：
I can’t find any way to make sense of this argument.
我沒有辦法使這一論點有意義。
How does one make sense of this data?
到底該如何理解這些數(shù)據(jù)呢？
But, there is a fundamental problem: How do we make sense of all of it?
但這里有個原則問題：我們該如何理解這一切？
[選自：FORBES: There Are 200 Million People Tweeting: Are You Listening?]
Henry Flores, {a political-science?1?professor at St. Mary’s University}, credits?2?this younger generation’s political strength [to their embrace?3?of technology]. “[The Internet]?原?4?exposes?5?them [to more thinking],” he says, “and groups (that are like-minded [in different parts] (of the country)) start to come [together].” That’s [exactly] what the Generation O bloggers are hoping to do. The result could be a group of young people (that, ^like their boomer parents^, grows up [with a strong sense of purpose] and sheds the image (of apathy) (they’ve inherited?6?[from Generation X].)) It’s no small challenge [for a blog] (run [by a group of ordinary?7?– ^if ambitious?8^ – young people],) but the members (of Generation O) are up to?9?the task.
Henry Flores，一位圣瑪麗大學(xué)的政治科學(xué)教授，將年輕一代的政治力量歸功于他們對科技的利用。“（互聯(lián)網(wǎng)）使他們接觸更多思想”，他說，“來自國家不同地區(qū)有同樣想法的人開始聚集在一起?！蹦钦菉W代博主們希望做的事。結(jié)果很可能會產(chǎn)生這樣一批年輕人，他們像二戰(zhàn)后嬰兒潮時期出生的父母一樣，在成長的過程中有強烈的目標(biāo)感，甩開了從X代人（60年代后期和70年代出生的美國人）那里繼承來的不談國是的冷漠形象。這對于一個由一群普通的——如果可以說有雄心的——年輕人所開的博客來說是個不小的挑戰(zhàn)，但是奧代人成員能勝任這項任務(wù)。
注：1. political-science 政治科學(xué)
2. credit n. 信用，信任；信用貸款；名譽；學(xué)分。例：
credit card 信用卡
Tom’s credit card has been stolen together with his wallet.
湯姆的信用卡和錢包被偷了。
If you can’t afford to pay cash,buy it on credit.
如果不能支付現(xiàn)金，你可以賒賬。
He is a credit to his country.
他是他們國家得光榮。
Bill hasn’t enough credits to get his degree.
比爾的學(xué)分不夠，拿不到學(xué)位。
v. 相信，信任。credit to歸功于。文中作動詞。例：
From his condition, the police could hardly credit the story of his injury.
從他的狀況看來，警方很難相信他受傷的說法。
3. embrace v. 擁抱。例：
Alice embraced her mother before going on the train.
在上車前，愛麗絲擁抱了她母親。
vt. 包含。例：
The term “mankind’embraces man,women and children
“人類”包含了男人，女人和小孩。
n. 擁抱。文中為名詞。
For the Financial Times it was a rare embrace of the West by an Arab country.
對于《金融時報》而言，這是阿拉伯國家跟西方的罕見合作。
[選自：BBC: Newspaper review: Arrest of UBS rogue trader dominates]
4. 原：這個中括號是原文中本身就有的。英語文章中，中括號在直接引語中經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)，其作用有兩個。①為所引用的句子補充主語等因上下文缺少的部分；②因為受到英語嚴(yán)格的語法規(guī)則，很多時候動詞的形式在進(jìn)行引用時會跟語法規(guī)則相沖突。所以中括號會補上相關(guān)的詞語以使語法正確。
5. expose vt. 使暴露，受到；使曝光。例：
be exposed to 面臨...，受到...；
expose ...to...使暴露于...，使...受（危險，風(fēng)險）
As soon as men leave the aerosphere, they are exposed to the radiation.
人只要離開大氣層就會暴露在輻射中。
One who tries to be a quack will be exposed finally.
試圖冒充行內(nèi)的人最終將會被揭穿。
6. inherit vt. 繼承。例：
Jim has been living in the lap of luxury since he inherited his father’s money.
自從繼承了父親的錢之后，吉姆一直過著奢華的生活。
Sowing the seeds of tomorrow so that future generations can inherit a more sustainable world.
播種明日之種，子孫后代方能繼承一個更持續(xù)發(fā)展的世界。
[選自：UNESCO: UK National Commission for UNESCO :: Education for Sustainable Development]
7. ordinary adj. 普通的，平常的；規(guī)定的，拙劣的。例：
It was just an ordinary weekend for us.
對我們來說，這只是一個平常的周末。
He seemed no ordinary mendicant.
他好像不是尋常的乞丐。
n. 普通，平常的人（或事）。文中此意。例：
This is indeed out of the ordinary.
這真是不尋常。
8. ambitious adj. 有雄心的，雄心勃勃的。例：
This is an ambitious agenda, one that needs a firm commitment from your administration and Congress.
這是個壯志雄心的計劃，他需要政府和國會的堅定承諾。
[選自：CNN: AllPolitics - FDCH Transcript: Clinton Decries 'Heroin Chic']
9. be up to 勝任；該由…負(fù)責(zé)；輪到…；從事，忙于
It would be up to the government to decide whether to make the formal extradition request.
是否發(fā)出正式引渡請求將由政府來決定。
[選自：NPR: After 4-Year Ordeal, A Seattle Homecoming For Knox]
