王强口语 第二册 Read Text 006

　　文化篇
Read the text carefully and be prepared to answer the question:
Equal Opportunities for All
Americans are strong believers in the idea of equal opportunities for all.  This idea is only meaningful because the United States actually affords people great economic opportunities.  Indeed, America's promise as the "Land of the Free" has less to do with democratic¹ freedom and more to do with the opportunities to realize the American dream.  If people have no real chance of realizing their dreams, then the fact that they have equal opportunities to pursue² their dreams would be pointless  It's like saying a poor person is as free as a rich person to buy the education or house or car he can afford.
When the United States was born, it had immense³ resources and few people competing for them, so there were real opportunities for hard work and a little luck to pay off.

1 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

2 pursue   

vt.继续，从事；追赶，追踪；追求

参考例句：

• He began to pursue an easy and comfortable life.他开始追求安逸舒适的生活。
• This is the path that we shall continue to pursue.这是我们要继续走的道路。

3 immense   

adj.巨大的；极好的

参考例句：

• They made an immense improvement in English.在英语方面他们取得了巨大的进步。
• The expense of living is immense.生活费用很庞大。