VOA慢速英语2015 首场总统候选人辩论:接下来他们会说什么?

AS IT IS 2015-08-05 First US Presidential Debate: What Will They Say Next? 首场总统候选人辩论:接下来他们会说什么?

Seventeen people are officially competing for the Republican Party nomination¹ for president this year. That is the highest number of candidates in at least 100 years.

But only 10 of them will be permitted to participate in the first Republican presidential debate this week. On August 6, the 10 candidates with the most public support will argue issues and politics in front of a live audience. The event will be broadcast on television as it happens. It will be the first of 11 debates planned through next March.

Fox News and Facebook organized the event. They say the debate stage cannot hold all the Republican Party candidates.

Fox says the 10 debaters will be announced on Tuesday at 5 p.m. They will be chosen based on an average of the five most recent national public opinion studies that “Fox News” recognizes.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper and NBC television completed one recently that placed billionaire businessman Donald Trump³ in the lead.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker came next followed by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, retired⁴ surgeon Ben Carson and Texas Senator Ted² Cruz in that order. Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was number six followed by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. In eighth place was Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

The study showed three candidates competing for the 9th and 10th positions. They are New Jersey⁵ Governor Chris Christie, former Texas Governor Rick Perry and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

“I Don’t Debate. I Build”

Political observers say most of the audience will watch the debate to see Donald Trump. “The Donald,” as some call him, is known for his strong opinions and often controversial statements.

Mr. Trump spoke⁶ about the debates this Sunday on the ABC news show, “This Week.”

“These politicians -- I always say, they're all talk, no action. They debate all the time. They go out and they debate every night. I don't debate. I build,” said Mr. Trump, who made part of his fortune in real estate.

Mr. Trump also insults his opponents. He has accused former Texas Governor Rick Perry of wearing glasses to make himself look smarter. And he called Senator Lindsey Graham, another Republican candidate, an idiot.

Observers say the other candidates will likely try to ignore Mr. Trump. They will try to communicate their own messages instead.

But they will not have many chances. The entire debate is just two hours long. Each candidate will be able to speak to their national audience for only about nine minutes.

And what about the candidates who do not have enough support to appear? They have been invited to a shorter, 5pm debate before the main event. Senator Graham has called it the “happy hour” debate.

Words in This Story

controversial – adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument

real estate – n. the business of selling land and buildings

idiot – n. a very stupid or foolish person

happy hour – n. a time at a bar when drinks are sold at a lower price than usual

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

2 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。