ESL Podcast 689 – Listening to a Political Speech

　　Kylie: Can you understand a word he’s saying?
Ramis: I doubt if anyone can. He’s talking out of both sides of his mouth. First he says he’s fighting for the little guy, and then he says he’s a champion for businesses.
Kylie: I thought he’d be different, but he’s just like any other politician.
Ramis: He looks sincere¹ and he sounds sincere, but when you actually listen to what he says, it’s nothing but double-talk.
Kylie: You’ve got that right. I wouldn’t trust him any farther² than I could throw him. Now what is he saying?
Ramis: He says that he can cut taxes and increase government services. Now how do you suppose he could pull that off?
Kylie: He can’t. These are just campaign promises. Once he gets into office, he’ll renege on every one of those promises.
Ramis: Year after year it’s the same thing – broken promises and the same old same old. Why do we put up with it?
Kylie: Why? I have an answer for you. Do you want to run for office?
Ramis: Me?! Are you kidding? Not on your life.
Kylie: Right. That’s how I feel. I’m willing to sit back and let somebody else do the job. I guess we’ve dug our own graves³.
Script⁴ by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 sincere   

adj.真诚的，诚挚的，诚恳的

参考例句：

• He is sincere and easy to get along with.他为人诚恳，很好相处。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 farther   

adj.更远的，进一步的；adv.更远的，此外；far的比较级

参考例句：

• I can throw the ball farther than you can.这个球我能比你扔得远。
• The farther hill is five kilometres away.那座更远的小山在五公里以外。

3 graves   

n.（法国）格拉芙葡萄酒；坟墓( grave的名词复数 )；死亡；钝重音符；沉音符v.坟墓( grave的第三人称单数 )；死亡；钝重音符；沉音符

参考例句：

• He went to visit the graves of his forefathers. 他去拜谒他祖先的墓地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were eating themselves into their graves. 他们吃喝过度，在自找死路。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。