和老外談論政治,世界形勢的英語口語

儘管失業率不斷上升，首相仍然獲得了很高的支持率。

The prime minister has maintained a high approval rating despite theincrease in unemployment.

【解說】“maintain”表示“保持某種狀態”。如 “maintain contact with him.” （和他保持
聯繫）。 “despite”常用於報紙，口語中則常使用in spite of.在進行機構改革前，有幾個障礙必須克服。

There are several hurdles to clear before structural reform can becarried out.

【解說】Structural reform 爲機構改革。經濟改革、教育改革、政治改革分別爲economic
reform, educational reform. political reform. 動詞爲carry out (實行，執行)世界各國能爲事先中東和平做點什麼呢？

What can the world do to help Bring peace to the Middle East?

【解說】Bring peace to ~意爲帶來和平。恢復和平爲restore peace, 維護和平爲
maintain peace.你怎麼看美國轟炸阿富汗這件事？

How do you feel about America’s aerial bombardment of Afghanistan?

【解說】與aerial bombardment 相比，口語中更常使用aerial bombing. How do you
feel about ~? 與What do you think of ~?同義，用來詢問對方的意見。我無法使自己支持一個好戰的政府。

I can’t bring myself to support a warlike government.

【解說】最好記住can’t bring myself to ~”這種表達方式，它表示“不想～”。如：I can’t
bring myself to discuss it.” (我不想談論這件事)