研究生英语阅读上（教师书）

《21世纪研究生英语教材》

阅读教程（教师用书）

（上册）

总主编：饶振辉

主编：刘朝武卢仁顺

副主编：杨明单伟红艾国平陈彩芬

编委：尧文群、胡永华、王显涛、朱琪郭高攀，洪小琴，李小兰，王宗英

前s

《阅读教程》是《21世纪研究生英语教材》系列教程中的主干教材之一。本

教程由上、下两册组成，每册有十个单元，每个单元又包含TextA和TextB。

TextA供课堂精读使用，而TextB则供学生在课外使用。

考虑到研究生已具备了较宽知识面和较强思考能力的特点，教师在使用本教

程中应积极引导学生进行课前预习，培养他们自主学习和独立解决问题的能力。

在课堂教学中教师可以对重点、难点进行有针对性的讲解，但要做到精讲多练，

以学生为中心，为学生创造自主学习的机会。本教程具有以下几个方面的特点：

1.课文选材科学、广泛、新颖、活泼，大部分课文均选自近年来国外最新期刊、

杂志，内容覆盖政治、经济、文化、科技、军事、环境、社会生活等诸多方

面。

2.选文思想内涵深刻，具有时代气息，适合研究生阶段的学生就某些问题发表

自己的看法，有助于教师在课堂教学中组织各种丰富多彩的课堂教学活动。

3.所选文章语言文字规范、地道，严谨。为了帮助学生解决阅读中的语言难点,

本教程对学生在阅读过程中可能遇到的生词和短语进行了详细的注释，以便

于学生自主学习。

4.练习而设计尽量做到题型多样，难度适宜，学以致用。不仅在每一单元前精

心设计了阅读前的导读和围绕课文所展开的思考问题，而且还在每篇课文后

编写了阅读理解题。与此同时，每个单元在课文后还有难度适中，题型多样

的练习，包括词汇操练，综合填空，中英互译和英语写作。

本教程的总主编是江西师范大学外国语学院的饶振辉教授，本书的『5单元

由华东交通大学负责编写，主编是刘朝武老师，副主编是杨明和单伟红老师，编

委是尧文群、胡永华、王显涛和朱琪老师；6T0单元由东华理工大学负责编写,

主编是卢仁顺老师，副主编是艾国平和陈彩芬老师，编委是郭高攀、洪小琴、李

小兰和王宗英老师。

由于研究生的生源不一，这一教程肯定还存在着不足之处。我们期望广大教

师和学生多提出宝贵意见和建议，以便我们不断修订，不断完善。

编者

2011年7月

UNITONE

TheBellyBurden

AmandaSpake

•BackgroundInformation

1.AmandaSpake：isaKatrinaMediaFellowandcontributingeditortoU.S.News

andWorldReport.AmandaSpakeisaformereditoroftheWashingtonPost

magazineandMotherJones.Hiswritingappearsinmanypublications.Heisalso

nonfictionwriterandeditorfornationalmediawithsubstantialexperiencein

magazinesandonlinemedia,andsomeworkinbroadcasting.Writinghas

focusedonhealth,medicine,andtheenvironment.Hehaseditedatnational

magazinesfbrgeneralinterest.Andhehasadditionalexperienceinmediaand

pressrelations,directmailcopywriting,workingwithnonprofitgroupsto

enhancebrand,imageandbuildpresscoverage.Alsohehasmanagementand

top-editingexperience,somebudgetandstaffsupervisoryexperience.Heisnot

onlyanindependentthinker,butalsoateamplayerandself-starter(做事主动的

人).Heisaccustomedtotopproductionunderdeadlinepressure.

2.TheWorldHeartFederation:isanongovernmentalorganizationbasedin

Geneva,Switzerlanddedicatedtothepreventionandcontrolofheartdiseaseand

heartfoundationsfromover100countriescoveringtheregionsofAsia-Pacific,

Europe,EastMediterranean,theAmericasandAfrica.

Anditistheworld*sonlyglobalbodycommittedtounitingitsmembersand

leadstheglobalfightagainstheartdiseaseandstroke,withafocusonlow-and

middle-incomecountries.Itdoesthisviaaunitedcommunityofalmost200

memberorganizationsthatbringtogetherthestrengthofmedicalsocietiesand

heartfoundations,frommorethan100countries.

3.TheWorldHealthOrganization(abbreviationWHO):isaninternational

organization.InJuly1946,theworldhealthorganizationinNewYorkcity

startedthepreparatorycommittee（筹备委员会），andpassedtheworldhealthlaw.

OnApril7,1948,thelawwasapprovedbythe26UNmemberstatesandtook

effect.InthesameyearJune24,theworldhealthorganizationinGenevaonthe

firstworldhealthassembly（WHA世界卫生大会）wasformallyestablished,

basedinGeneva,Switzerland.

Theworldhealthorganization,thelargestinternationalpublichealth,

headquarteredinGenevainSwitzerland.Theworldhealthorganization'saimis

tomakepeoplearoundtheworldasahighlevelofhealth.Theorganization

defineshealthas"physical,mental,andsociallifeperfectstate（理想状态）

Theworldhealthorganization'smajorfunctioninclude:topromoteepidemic（流

行的，传染的）andendemic（地方性的）diseasespreventionandcontrol;

provideandimprovemedicalandpublichealthanddiseasemattersrelatedtothe

teachingandtraining;promotedeterminationofbiologicalproductinternational

standards

Theworldhealthorganizationoforganizationsincludestheworldhealth

assembly,theexecutivecommittee（执行委员会）andthesecretariat（秘书处）.

Theworldhealthassemblyisthehighestauthorityoftheorganization,meeting

onceayear.Themaintaskistoreviewthedirector-general（总干事）fbrwork

report,planningbudget,acceptthenewmemberstates（成员国）anddiscuss

otherimportantissues.Theexecutivecommitteeisthehighestauthorityofthe

worldhealthassemblyexecutivemechanism,andisresponsiblefbrthe

implementation（实施；实现）oftheconvention,policyandresolutionbythe

task.

Theworldhealthorganizationcurrentlyhas191membersandtwoofficial

associatemembers（准会员）.In1981,thegroupsetuprepresentativeofficein

Beijing.Chinaisoneofthefoundersoftheorganization.In1972the25thworld

healthassemblyrecoveredChineselegalseat,afterthat,Chinaattendedallthe

meetingofthecommission.

•LanguagePoints

1.Hasthat"sparetire”madeithardtotieyourshoes?(Para1):Isitdifficultfor

youtobenddowntotieyourshoesbecauseofthefatonyourwaist.?

2.Americans9collectivewaistlineisexpandingalot.(Para1):American,asa

whole,theirwaistlineisbecomingmuchbigger,thatis,theyarebecomingvery

fat.

Collective:oforsharedbyanumberofpeople

Examples:

ThecollectiveopinionofthegovernmentsofWesternEurope

Weallbearcollectiveresponsibilityforthisdecision.

3.mortality(Para2):theratioofdeathsinanareatothepopulationofthatarea

Examples:

So,theystartedtodocollectingofdataonmortalityandtheydevelopedsomething

calledactuarialscience,whichisestimatingtheprobabilityofpeopleliving.

Theresearchersnotedabigchangeinthelistofcountrieswiththelowestadult

mortalityoverthepastfortyyears.

4.araftof(Para2):alargenumberoramountorextent

Examples:

Therearearaftofstudentsrushingintothecinemaforthefamousmovie.

Araftofevidenceprovedthathewastherealcriminalofthismurdercase.

5.Themedicalcommunityoncebelievedthatitwasweightitselforthebody

massindexthatledtoseriousillnessandearlierdeath,notwherefatislocated

onthebody.(Para2):Inthepast,themedicalcommunitythoughtthatthepossible

causeofsomeseriousillnessiftheoverweightnotthelocationoftheextra-weight.

Belocated：setinacertainplace

Examples:

Thehouseislocatedbytheriver.

Theofficesareconvenientlylocatedinthecentreofthecity.

6.obesity(Para2):morethanaveragefatness

Examples:

Asascourgeofthemodernworld,obesityhasanimageproblem

Publichealthresearcherssayitislargelytheresultofincreasesinobesity,smoking

andhighbloodpressure.

7.culprit(Para2):

Examples:

(1)thesourceorcauseofaproblem

Thepolicefollowedhometheclueandfinallycaughttheculprit.

(2)someonewhoperpetrateswrongdoing

Examples:

Tostart,youhavetoknowwhatyouarelookingatandwheretofindthebasic

elementstohelpyoufindtheculprit.

8.setoff(Para2):tobeginajourney;tocauseasuddenaction;tocausetoexplode

Examples:;

Heproposedtosetoffimmediately.

Shehadstoppedcryingbuthisshoutingsetheroffagain.

Ifuncontrolled,theshortagewouldsetoffanewriseinmeatprices.

Becarefulthatyoudon'tsetthefireworksoffbymistake.

9.willowy(Para3):slenderandgraceful

Examples:

ThendidIrealize:willowyelegantimageonTVisactuallythatpainfultowatch

inreality.

Rhoda'swillowyfigure,modishstrawhat,andfuchsiaglovesandshoessurprised

Janice.

10.TheVictorianperiodusheredintheeraofthe“hourglassfigure,^which

remainedtheidealfemaleformformorethan120years,untilitwas

supplantedbythe"Twiggy”lookofthe1960s.(Para3):

Usherinto:tobring,esp.byshowingtheway;

Examples:

Sheusheredthevisitorintotheroom.

ThebombingofHiroshimausheredinthenuclearage.

Besupplantedby:tobetakentheplaceof,oftenunfairlyorimproperly

Examples:

Shehasbeensupplantedinheraunt'saffectionbyherbrother.

11.Manyalate-nightinfomercialsellsthedreamof"six-packabs”ora

“washboardstomach”tomen.(Para3):

12.hazardous(Para5):involvingriskordanger

Examples:

Dr.Helfandsaidthatscientiststodayaretrackinglargespacerocksthatare

potentiallyhazardous.

Thisincludesidentificationofanyhazardousproducts,evaluationofthegeneral

atmospherearound/withinthestructure,andperiodicreviews.

13.Andwhileamajorityofdoctorsdidknowofthelinkbetweenbellyfat,heart

disease,anddiabetes,physiciansmeasurewaistcircumferencesofonly17

percentoftheirpatients.(Para5):Althoughmostdoctorsknewtheclose

relationbetweenwaistfatandlotsofdiseases,yetinfactonlyfewpatients,waist

circumferencesaremeasured.Hereindicatesdoctorsdidn'tpayenoughattentionto

thewaistfatproblem.

14.onset(Para7):thebeginningorearlystages

Examples:

Atitsonset,theturmoilinfinancialmarketswasdescribedasaliquiditycrisis.

InthetraditionalsocietiesofAfrica,theonsetofpubertymarkedthechangefrom

childtoadult.

15.abdominal(Para8):oforrelatingtoorneartheabdomen

Examples:

Entericdiseasesarediseasesthataffectthegutandotherabdominalorganssuch

astheliver.

Inpeople,thedrugcancauseadversereactionsincludingabdominalpain,diarrhea,

flatulence,headaches,nauseaandvomiting

16.nonchalantly(Para9):inacomposedandunconcernedmanner

Examples:

Onemorecobraemergedfromapondwherevillagewomenwashedtheirpotsand

nonchalantlymadeitswayunderanearbyhouse.

Asoneinsiderrathernonchalantlyputsit,itisasymptomofbiggerunderlying

problems,ratherthantheproblemitself.

17.breakdown(Para9):decompose

Examples:

Similarly,whencellsstarvethey,too,breakdownpartsofthemselvestomaintain

theiressentialactivities

Butthisproteinwasnotshowntobreakdowneasilyinthehumanstomach.

18.Ultimately,thiscascadeofeventsleadstoglucoseintolerance,diabetes,

hypertension,andaccelerateddevelopmentofcoronaryheartdisease.(Para

9):Finally,suchseriesofeventsleadtoglucoseintolerance,diabetes,and

hypertensionandacceleratethedevelopmentofcoronaryheartdisease.

19.accumulate(ParalO):collectorgather

Examples:

Whattheyoungresearchersspottedisthattheseeffectsaccumulatewhenlight

travelsalongdistance.

Thefailureisafortunefortheentrepreneur,onlysomesmallfailurescan

accumulatesomeotherbigsuccesses

20...losetheirwaist...(Para10):...theirwaistlinesarebecomingmuchbigger

21.internist(Para12):aspecialistininternalmedicine

Examples:

Ipersuadedhertoseeherinternist,andIcalledtolethimknowmyconcerns.

Mymotheroftenrecountsastoryaboutmefollowingaroundmyfather,oursmall

town'sinternist,onacertainhomevisit.

22.pointto(Para12)

(l)pointout

Examples:

Environmentalistspointtothealarmingstatisticthatcoralreefsaredecliningfive

timesfasterthantherainforests.

Butasmanymarketparticipantspointout,therehasneverbeenequalaccessto

informationinthemarkets.

(2)indicate

Educatorswereuncertainhowtoexplaintheflatresults,andsomesaidtheydon't

pointtoatrend.

23....andlessinclinedtogainthesparetirethatplaguesthemoreapple

shaped.(Para10):andlesseasytogetmoreabdominalfatthattroublesthemore

appleshaped.

24.unravel(Para14):

Examples:

(1)becomeorcausetobecomeundonebyseparatingthefibersorthreadsof

(2)disentangle,clearup

Examples:

Theremanybillionsofcellsareinterconnectedinvastlycomplicatednetwork

thatwecan*tbegintounravelasyet.

•KeytoExercises

I.ReadingComprehension

il.B2.C3.C4.D5.C6.D7.C8.B9.B10.A

ii(略)

IIVocabularyandStructure

i1.Obesity2.circulate3.abdominal4.breakdown5.mortality

6.variable7.resistance8.modified9.critically10.inert

ii1.internist2.supplant.3.willowy(twiggy)4.slowdown5.setoff

6.nonchalantly7.accumulate8.unravel9.culprit10.affirm

IIICloze

1.D2.A3.B4.A5.B6.D7.C8.A9.D10.C

11.B12.B13.A14.A15.D16.C17.B18.A19.A20.C

IVTranslation

1.几个世纪以来，妇女们始终相信一条朴实的真理：腰越细，生活就越好一医

学研究者们如今正开始了解这一简单真理背后的生理机能。

2.与腹部脂肪是位于腰部无所事事的惰性软组织这一观念相反，腹部脂肪实

际上是一些小的内分泌工厂，会制造一些把信息传送给许多器官的激素。

3.医学解开代谢之谜是脂肪的难题尚需数十年。医生们说，在此期间采取的

主要行动是制止腰部变粗。萨瓦德说：“我们每个人都需要放慢让自己体形

变得更像苹果的过程。体形实在不容忽视J

ii

1.Internetisaninteractivenetworkonwhichthecustomerscanreleasenews,join

indiscussion,andperformvotingorevenchatting.

2.ContrarytowhatIhadthought,theatmosphereofthemultinationalcompanywas

noteasyandenjoyableatall.

3.Afterseveraldays9investigation,FBIagentsfoundalltheevidencepointedtohis

committingamurder.

4.In2004,thegovernmentintroducedaraftofmeasurestoslowtheeconomyand

paidspecialattentiontothesteelsector.

5.OurobjectiveistoexploreaneffectivewayofAIDSeducationforcollege

students,andtoprovidereferenceforAIDSeducationmodelincollegesinChina.

V.Writing（略）

•KeytoTextB

il.C2.B3.B4.D5.C6.A7.C8.A9.D10.B

iil.F2.F3.T4.F5,T

•课文参考译文

腹部的累赘

新的研究指出,腰围尺寸是更好的健康预报因素。

1.你的腰带需要多扎1个一或三个一新孔吗？那个“肉肚”已使你系鞋带

都困难了吗？衣服尺码又发生了什么变化？为什么腰部周围的一切都变得紧

得要命？当你躺床在上屏住呼吸努力把拉链向上拉到尽头时，要是你发现自己

在问这些问题，那咱们就都一样了。美国人的腰围正普遍在变粗一粗了很多。

几个世纪以来，妇女们始终相信一条朴实的真理：腰越细，生活就越好一医学

研究者们如今正开始了解这一简单真理背后的复杂的生理机能。

2.在过去的十年期间，一系列新的研究已表明，预言一个人的长期健康

也许就同进行一次腰围测量一样简单。腰围周围赘满的脂肪已经与具有更大风

险的心脏病、糖尿病、中风、高血压、呼吸系统、疾病、残疾、某些癌症以及

更高的死亡率联系在一起。医学界曾经认为，引起严重疾病和早逝的是身体本

身或体重指数。而不是脂肪位于身体什么部位。然而，最近对脂肪细胞奇妙之

处的研究已经表明，并非所有脂肪都是相同的。身体中周围的脂肪大多是内脏

脂肪，这是一种包在体内各个器官周围并分泌浓烈的体内化学物质的深层脂肪

类型。就是这类脂肪会引起体内各种反应，导致动脉、器官、和细胞的变化，

从而引发心脏病、糖尿病，还可能引发某些癌症。腹部脂肪越多，提前患这些

病的风险就越大。哈佛大学布里厄姆妇女医院预防医学的领导人约安・曼森

说：“体内脂肪分布是一个极为重要的变量，这一点变得越来越清晰了。因而

腹部肥胖症是关键性的致病原因”。

3.理想的外表。从某种程度上讲，人们的智慧和流行的文化反映这一倾

向已经有几个世纪了。在美洲殖民地时代和边疆开拓时期，男人和女人的理想

都是柳树般的细腰，当时食物供不应求，狩猎、采集和烹饪食物又需要大量的

体力劳动，所以这种理想是比较容易达到的。维多利亚时代开创了“细腰体型”

的时代，这种理想女性体形的观念已经延续了120多年，直到20世纪60年代

才被“苗条的”体形所取代。当然，男孩子也想有细腰。许多深夜的电视商业

广告片向男人们推销他们梦寐以求的“6块腹肌”或“搓板肚”。

4.有一件事是肯定的：美国人的平均腰围正在变粗。事实上，他们的平

均腰围从来没有比现在更粗。联邦卫生机构的调查表明，在过去40年中，男

性腰围的平均尺寸已从35英寸增加到了39英寸；女性的则从30英寸增加到

了37英寸。（美国）国家卫生研究院建议，所测腰围为37英寸或以上的男性

和腰围大于31.5英寸的女性都要改变他们的生活方式以缩减他们的腰围，从

而降低对健康产生的风险。将近39%的男性和60%的女性正承载着太多的腹

部脂肪。

5.腰部已增长到这么粗的一个理由也许是因为大多数美国人并未认识到

腹部脂肪能有这么大的危害。据世界心脏联合会公布的“若干国家的体形现状

报告”所说，10个美国人中就有6个尚未把腹部脂肪列为心脏病的首要危险

治病因素。尽管大多数医生确实已知腹部脂肪、心脏病、糖尿病三者之间的联

系，内科医生们却只给他们17%的病人测量腰围。

6.然而，英国医学杂志《柳叶刀》发表的一项研究报告表明，在52个国

家的约2.7万人中间，腰部尺寸与臀围的比率（所谓的腰臀比）会比任何其他

身体测量（包括体重和体重指数）更准确地预报哪些男性和女性会得心肌梗塞。

加拿大麦克马斯特大学的医学教授和这项研究报告的首席作者萨利姆•尤瑟夫

说：“我认为腰臀比除了是肌肉和脂肪的比例是否平衡的一个信息窗口外，没

有任何神秘之处。腰部周围没有大肌肉。”换句话说，那里全是多余的脂肪。

7.高代价。因此，一点儿也不奇怪，简单的腰部测量（即使在儿童方面）

也能准确地预告谁可能得代谢综合征。这种病不仅受腰围尺寸大小的影响，也

为两种或更多种另外的有碍健康的因素：如高血压、有害健康的胆固醇、高甘

油三酸酯或胰岛素阻抗等所影响。代谢综合征会显著加大得心脏病的风险并导

致2型糖尿病的提早发生。

8.较粗的腰也意味着较高的医疗费用。据《肥胖症研究》杂志上2002

年的一项研究报告称，腰围41英寸的病人比32英寸的病人在年度医疗费方

面每年都要多支出约2600美元。与腹部脂肪少的人相比，较粗的腰可导致下

背疼痛、较严重的呼吸困难和持久性咳嗽。腰的尺码甚至可以预告谁将会在

老年时产生洗澡、穿衣和行走的烦恼。匹兹堡大学的流行病学教授刘易斯•库

勒说：“腰围远比简单地测量某人有多少体重更加重要。”这位教授研究腹部

肥胖症和心脏病已有数十年之久了。

9.与腹部脂肪是位于腰部无所事事的惰性软组织这一观念相反，腹部脂

肪实际上是一些小的内分泌工厂，会制造一些把信息传送给许多器官的激素。

曼森说：“这种位于中央的脂肪在代谢方面是最活跃的。”她还说，腹部脂肪看

来直接排入肝脏，而脂肪分解时所释放的物质可增加身体对胰岛素的耐受性。

波士顿大学医学院教授和弗莱明汉姆心脏研究项目的前领导人威廉・坎奈尔

说：“在我看来，己出现的一种观念是，腹部肥胖症会提升对胰岛素的耐受性,

以致胰岛素水平升高，食欲增加，从而导致甘油三酸酯增多，使良性的高密度

脂蛋白下降和提高对钠的吸收，于是血容积扩张，血压升高。”最终，这一连

串情况的发生会导致葡萄糖耐受不良、糖尿病、高血压，以及加速发展的冠心

病。

10.只有到了今天，人们才开始探索脂肪分布和性激素之间的联系。曼森

说：苹果体形“往往与女性具有较高的雄性激素水平有关，而这可能是男性和

女性倾向于有不同的体内脂肪分布的理由之一。”男性天然地比女性有更多的

雄性激素，也比女性更经常地把脂肪积存在他们的腰部。虽然激素在脂肪分布

中所起的作用尚未弄清，但是许多女性在绝经期腰部发胖可能就是由于雄性激

素和雌性激素相对水平的改变。然而，曼森说，激素替补疗法的临床试验并没

有表明绝经后的女性服药后腰部尺码会有明显减小。

11.苹果体形与梨状体形相比。相对而言，梨形或细腰形的身材可能与较

高的雌性激素水平和较高的生育力有关联。对波兰妇女的一项研究显示,胸大、

腰细、臀宽的女性的雌激素水平比更具苹果体形的女性要高，曼森说：“可能

那就是和生育成功的可能性较高有关的一种脂肪分布模式（细腰形），而且这

种模式是在女性进化期间就被择选下来的。”

12.最近的一些研究也显示，臀部和大腿的脂肪一一梨状体形的人们所共

有一一确实可以为预防心血管病提供某些独特的保护。正在研究体形健康效应

的费城内科医生师玛丽•萨瓦德说：“臀部脂肪肯定会起保护作用。”她指出，

2004年丹麦对将近3000名男性和女性进行的一项研究表明，较大的臀围减少

了妇女中的心血管病和死亡，但是对男人们却无积极效应。与此相似，《内科

医学档案》中的一篇报道称，对3000名年纪较大的成年人的研究证实了，不

仅腹部脂肪会导致代谢综合征，而且小腿和大腿的脂肪一一不分男女一一与代

谢综合征较少流行和较少的心脏病有关。

13.但是，并非所有研究人员都同意臀部脂肪是有益的，而且即使有益，

仍然无人知晓其原因。有一种理论是，臀部和大腿脂肪可能起代谢库的作用一

一贮存有害的血液脂肪，否则这种脂肪就会循环到全身。或者可能是，臀部、

大腿和小腿的脂肪也许恰好表明一个人具有遗传的梨状体形，而且往往很少会

拥有像让更多苹果体形的人们苦恼的那种肉肚。然而，身体较低部位的脂肪越

多一般意味着明显导致心脏病和糖尿病更高风险的脂肪就越多。

14.医学解开代谢之谜是脂肪的难题尚需数十年。医生们说，在此期间采

取的主要行动是制止腰部变粗。萨瓦德说：“我们每个人都需要放慢让自己体

形变得更像苹果的过程。体形实在不容忽视。”

UNITTWO

ObamaSignalsNeedforaSharpBreakfromthePast

DanBalz

•BackgroundInformation

1.DanielJ.BalzisajournalistatTheWashingtonPost,wherehehasbeena

politicalcorrespondentsince1978.BalzhasservedasNationalEditor,Political

Editor,WhiteHousecorrespondentandastheWashingtonPosfsTexas-based

Southwestcorrespondent.BalzsometimesappearsonthenewsshowMeetthe

PressandfrequentlyappearsonthePBSprogramWashingtonWeek.InApril

2011theWhiteHouseCorrespondents9AssociationhonoredBalzwiththe

prestigiousMerrimanSmithAwardforexcellenceinpresidentialcoverageunder

deadlinepressure.

Balzisco-author,withRonaldBrownsteinoftheLosAngelesTimes,ofthe1996

bookStormingtheGates:ProtestPoliticsandtheRepublicanRevival.In1999,

BalzreceivedtheAmericanPoliticalScienceAssociationawardforpolitical

coverage.

Balz'slatestwork,co-writtenwithPulitzerPrizewinnerHaynesJohnsonin2009,

TheBattleforAmerica2008:TheStoryofanExtraordinaryElection,aboutthe

2008campaign,isbasedontwoyearsofreporting,andincludesexclusive

interviewswithPresidentObama,SenatorJohnMcCainandmanyofthetop

adviserstothemajorcandidatesinthe2008election.

BorninFreeport,Illinois,Danisa1964graduateofFreeportHighSchool,

followedbyabachelor'sandmaster'sdegreesincommunicationsfromthe

UniversityofIllinois.DanservedintheU.SArmyfrom1968-1971.

2.BarackHusseinObama(August4,1961-)isthe44thandcurrentPresident

oftheUnitedStates.HeisthefirstAfricanAmericantoholdtheoffice.Inthe

2008presidentialelection,hedefeatedRepublicannomineeJohnMcCain,and

wasinauguratedaspresidentonJanuary20,2009.Aspresident,Obamasigned

economicstimuluslegislationintheformoftheAmericanRecoveryand

ReinvestmentActinFebruary2009andtheTaxRelief,UnemploymentInsurance

Reauthorization,andJobCreationActof2010inDecember2010.Otherdomestic

policyinitiativesincludethePatientProtectionandAffordableCareAct,the

Dodd-FrankWallStreetReformandConsumerProtectionActandtheDon'tAsk,

Don'tTellRepealActof2010.Inforeignpolicy,Obamagraduallywithdrew

combattroopsfromIraq,increasedtrooplevelsinAfghanistan,signedtheNew

STARTarmscontroltreatywithRussia,andorderedenforcementoftheUnited

Nations-sanctionedno-flyzoneoverLibyainearly2011.OnMay1,2011,Obama

announcedthatasmallteamofAmericanmilitaryforces,actingonhisdirect

order,hadkilledal-QaedaleaderOsamabinLadeninPakistan.InApril2011,

Obamadeclaredhisintentiontoseekre-electioninthe2012presidentialelection.

3FirstDaysinObama'sPresidency:InhisfirstfewdaysinofficeObamaissued

executiveordersandpresidentialmemorandadirectingtheU.S.militaryto

developplanstowithdrawtroopsfromIraq.Heorderedtheclosingofthe

GuantanamoBaydetentioncamp“assoonaspracticableandnolaterthan”

January2010,butduringhisfirsttwoyearsinofficehehasbeenunableto

persuadeCongresstoappropriatefundsrequiredtoaccomplishtheshutdown.

Obamareducedthesecrecygiventopresidentialrecordsandchangedprocedures

topromotedisclosureundertheFreedomofInformationAct.Healsoreversed

GeorgeW.Bush'sbanonfederalfundingtoforeignestablishmentsthatallow

abortions.

4WarinAfghanistaninObama'sPresidency:Earlyinhispresidency,Obama

movedtobolsterU.S.troopstrengthinAfghanistan.Heannouncedanincreaseto

U.S.trooplevelsof17,000inFebruary2009to"stabilizeadeterioratingsituation

inAfghanistan”,anareahesaidhadnotreceivedthe"strategicattention,direction

andresourcesiturgentlyrequires”.Hereplacedthemilitarycommanderin

Afghanistan,GeneralDavidD.McKiernan,withformerSpecialForces

commanderLt.Gen.StanleyA.McChrystalinMay2009,indicatingthat

McChrystal'sSpecialForcesexperiencewouldfacilitatetheuseof

counterinsurgencytacticsinthewar.OnDecember1,2009,Obamaannounced

thedeploymentofanadditional30,000militarypersonneltoAfghanistan.Healso

proposedtobegintroopwithdrawals18monthsfromthatdate.McChrystalwas

replacedbyDavidPetraeusinJune2010afterMcChrystaPsstaffcriticizedWhite

Housepersonnelinamagazinearticle.

5IraqWarinObama'sPresidency:Duringhispresidentialtransition,

President-electObamaannouncedthathewouldretaintheincumbentDefense

Secretary,RobertGates,inhisCabinet.OnFebruary27,2009,Obamadeclared

thatcombatoperationswouldendinIraqwithin18months.Hisremarkswere

madetoagroupofMarinespreparingfordeploymenttoAfghanistan.Obamasaid,

“LetmesaythisasplainlyasIcan:ByAugust31,2010,ourcombatmissionin

Iraqwillend.^^TheObamaadministrationscheduledthewithdrawalofcombat

troopstobecompletedbyAugust2010,decreasingtroopslevelsfrom142,000

whileleavingatransitionalforceof35,000to50,000inIraquntiltheendof2011.

OnAugust19,2010,thelastUnitedStatescombatbrigadeexitedIraq.Theplanis

totransitionthemissionoftheremainingtroopsfromcombatoperationsto

counter-terrorismandthetraining,equipping,andadvisingofIraqisecurityforces.

OnAugust31,2010,ObamaannouncedthattheUnitedStatescombatmissionin

Iraqwasover.

•LanguagePoints

1.inaugural(Para.J)：occurringatorcharacteristicofaformalinvestitureor

induction.

Examples:

Whenhestartedinauguraladdressasmajorityleader,hisfellowsenatorsatfirst

didnotnoticeandcarriedonchatting.

Inhisinauguraladdress,ThomasJeffersonwarnedofentanglingalliances.

2.reviewingstand(Para.l)：astandfromwhichaparadeormilitaryforcecanbe

reviewed

Examples:

Thesoldiersmarchedbythereviewingstand.

MichelleandherdaughterswatchGeorgeW.Bushtakehisplaceonthereviewing

stand.

3.Rarelyhasapresidentcomeintoofficewiththepublicinsuchaseemingly

conflictedmood.(Para.2):Thepastfewyearsseldomwitnessedapresidenttake

officeinsuchanobviouslycontradictorymood

4.GreatDepression(Para.2)：theeconomiccrisisbeginningwiththestockmarket

crashin1929andcontinuingthroughthe1930s;aperiodduringthe1930swhen

therewasaworldwideeconomicdepressionandmassunemployment

Examples:

HerecalledtheeffectoftheGreatDepressioninBoston.

EspeciallyintheUS,theGreatDepressionisusuallyidentifiedwiththestock

marketcrashof1929.

5.Tax(Para.2)：levyataxon;setordeterminetheamountof(apaymentsuchasa

fine)

Examples:

TheStatetaxesalcoholheavily.

youaretaxingmypatience.

6.shrewd(Para.2)：markedbypracticalhardheadedintelligence;usedofpersons

Examples:

Mybossissuchashrewdbusinessmaneveryoneadmireshim.

Ibecameveryrichbymakingsomeshrewdinvestments.

7.somber(Para.3)：graveorevengloomyincharacter;lackingbrightnessorcolor;

Dull.

Examples:

Hewassad,andhisthoughtaboutfuturewasverysomber.

Aspartofthesomberceremony,PresidentBushisvisitingbothareastoday.

8.exhortation(Para.3):acommunicationintendedtourgeorpersuadetherecipients

totakesomeaction；theactofexhorting;anearnestattemptatpersuasion

Examples:

Heaccompaniedme,however,notlostonemomentincontinuinghisexhortation.

ThisisthefeeblestexhortationIhaveeverheard.

9.Theywillnotbemeteasilyorinashortspanoftime.(Para.3)：The

challengeswillnotbeovercomeeasilyorinthenearfuture.

10.plummet(Para.3)：dropsharply

Examples:

Ifmanyinvestorssell,sellerswilloutnumberbuyers,andthepriceofthestock

willplummet.

Theyknowthatstockswillcontinuetoplummetandanyreliefwillbetemporary.

11.Historyinfusedeveryaspectoftheday,whichsawthefirstAfricanAmerican

presidenttakeoffice,aswellasagenerationalshift.(Para.6):Thisdaystarted

anewchapterinhistory,whichwitnessedthefirstAfricanAmericanpresident

takeoffice,andthechangeofgeneration.

12.tumult(Para.6):astateofcommotionandnoiseandconfusion；violentagitation;

theactofmakinganoisy;someabruptoccurrencethatinterruptsanongoing

activity；anunexpectedpieceofgoodluck；apersonalorsocialseparation(as

betweenopposingfactions)