Vocabulary Preparation:

 

assess  v. to evaluate or estimate the nature,ability, or quality of 估算；估计

stump speech a speech made by a politicianwho is travelling around in order to gain political support, or the politicianwho gives this speech 竞选巡回演说

forge  v. to create 创造；缔造

gallantly  adv. bravely, heroically 勇敢地；英勇地

distinction  n. excellence that setssomeone or something apart from others 优秀；杰出

carbon copy a copy, especially of something that has been typed using carbon paper; something that isvery similar to another thing 副本；一模一样

eloquence  n. fluent or persuasivespeaking or writing 雄辩；流利的口才

non-descript  adj. lacking distinctiveor interesting features or characteristics 无特征的；毫无个性的

stellar  adj. of or relating toa star 星似的；星形的

choke  v. to overwhelm andmake someone speechless with a strong and typically negative feeling oremotions （因强烈的情感）使无言

getto to make someone feel annoyed or upset 打动；影响

sentimental  adj. (of a person)excessively prone to feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia 多愁善感的

wellup to come up 涌上，冒出

 

Notes:

 

POW is the abbreviation of prisoner of war. It is a combatant who is held incontinuing custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armedconflict. 战俘

Montana  is a state ofthe northwest United States bordering on Canada. Helena is the capital andBillings the largest city. 蒙大拿州（美国第四大州）

The JonasBrothers are an Americanpop-rock boy band. The band gained their popularity from the Disney Channelchildren's television network. The band consists of three brothers: KevinJonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas. 乔纳斯兄弟（借迪斯尼频道走红的流行摇滚乐队）

Beyoncé is an American R&B singer-songwriter,record producer and actress. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the leadsinger of the girl group Destiny’s Childand the success of her subsequent solo albums has then established her as oneof the most marketable artists in the music industry 碧昂斯（美国著名女歌手，世界级流行天后）

Iraq  is a country in the Middle East, on the Persian Gulf. Baghdad isthe capital and the largest city. 伊拉克

 

 

Exercise:Listen to the news report and decide whether the following statements are trueor false.

 

1.      John McCain’s policies have hadgreat influence on the Bush administration for the last eight years.

2.      Barack Obama implies that thegovernment should pay attention to the benefits of every citizen while focusingon the economic development of the country.

3.      John McCain has great respectfor Barack Obama’s sound judgment although his lack of experience is obviouslyhis greatest weakness.

4.    Barack Obamaand his staff organized a big public celebration on his daughter Malia’sbirthday because she was born on the National Day of the United States.

5.    John McCain’s greatestweakness is that he is too sentimental and cries regularly.