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Barack Obama Wins Presidential Nomination 欧巴马赢得民主党提名

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Barack Obama Wins Presidential Nomination  欧巴马赢得民主党提名

After a marathon 16-month primary campaign, U.S. Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination in early June, becoming the first African-American candidate to represent a major party. It was not an easy win for Mr. Obama, as he and his opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton, traded victories while they campaigned from state to state in an effort to win the support of Democratic Party delegates. Finally, on June 3rd Mr. Obama passed the magic number of 2,118 delegates necessary to be nominated.

经过马拉松般长达十六个月的初选后，美国参议员欧巴马于六月初获得民主党提名，成为首位代表主要政党竞选总统的黑人候选人。对欧巴马而言，这一仗赢得并不轻松，因为在各州争取民主党代表支持期间，他和参议员希拉里互有胜负。最后在六月三日，欧巴马取得通过提名门坎所需的2,118张党代表票数。

This victory also marked the beginning of a new battle for Obama, as he was immediately thrust into the presidential campaign. His veteran Republican rival, John McCain, is no pushover. Many expect the November vote to be extremely close.

这场胜利也意味另一场全新战局的开始，因为欧巴马得立刻投入总统大选。由于共和党资深参选人麦坎的实力雄厚，许多人预测十一月大选时，两位候选人的竞争会很激烈。

Shark Populations Decline Dramatically  鲨鱼数量锐减

New research has shown that certain species of shark are under threat of extinction. Of the 47 species of shark known to live in the Mediterranean Sea, five have declined in population by more than 96 percent over the past 200 years. This dramatic decline is due to overfishing.

新研究显示，某些鲨鱼种类已濒临灭绝的命运。地中海的鲨鱼已知有47种，其中有5种的数量在过去200年已减少96%以上。过度捕捞为导致鲨鱼锐减的原因。

With the disappearance of large numbers of sharks around the world, populations of other sea creatures are also shifting. Overfishing of large shark species off the Atlantic Coast of the U.S., for example, has led to an increase in the population of smaller shark species which feast on commercially important shellfish.

随着全球鲨鱼大量消失，其他海洋生物的数量也跟着起变化。举例来说，美国大西洋沿岸大型鲨鱼的滥捕，已造成小型鲨鱼的数量增加，进而使小型鲨鱼的食物──具商业价值的甲壳类水生动物──饱受威胁。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

nomination [͵nɑməˋneʃən] n. 提名

campaign [kæmˋpen] n. 竞选运动

candidate [ˋkændədet] n. 候选人

opponent [əˋponənt] n. 对手；敌手

extremely [ɪkˋstrimlɪ] adv. 极其；非常

dramatically [drəˋmætɪk!ɪ] adv. 戏剧性地, 显著地

extinction [ɪkˋstɪŋkʃən] n. 灭绝；消灭

More Information

单词发音

claim [klem] v. 取得，获得，赢得(纪录、冠军或奖励)

Democratic [͵dɛməˋkrætɪk] adj.（大写）（美国）民主党的

trade victories 互有胜负

delegate [ˋdɛlə͵get] n. 代表

thrust [θrʌst] v. 强行推入

Republican [rɪˋpʌblɪkən] adj.（大写）（美国）共和党的

pushover [ˋpʊʃ͵ovɚ] n. 容易击败的对手（或球队）

Mediterranean [͵mɛdətəˋrenɪən] adj.（M-）地中海的

overfishing [͵ovɚˋfɪʃɪŋ] n.（鱼的）过度捕捞，渔捞过度

Atlantic [ətˋlæntɪk] adj. 大西洋的

feast on something 尽情欣赏(或享受)  to eat a great deal of something; to eat a feast built around something in particular

shellfish  [ˋʃɛl͵fɪʃ] n. 贝；有壳的水生动物

Reading Questions

1.   How did Barack Obama make history during the primary campaign?

A.  He won the most votes ever in the Democratic primary campaign.

B.  He became the first person in history who won more than 2,118 delegate votes.

C.  He became the first African-American presidential candidate chosen by major party.

D.  He became the first African-American elected as the president of the U.S.A.

2.   According to the article, which of the following is NOT true about sharks?

A.  Some types of smaller sharks are increasing in numbers.

B.  Five of the species of sharks living in the Mediterranean are facing extinction.

C.  The decline of the shark population is directly related to humans.

D.  The decrease in shark numbers has led to an increase in shellfish.

Answer