口語情景對話：走遍美國精選當仁不讓 ACT 1 - 2
【故事梗概】
鑒于并沒有人與Carter Boswell競爭，Ellen決定要參選。她的決定得到了全家人的支持。
Philip: Who’s running against him?
Ellen: Nobody. That’s the problem.
Philip: Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell is going to win this seat on the board.
Ellen: Oh, not if can stop him!
Philip: And how are you going to stop him?
Ellen: I don’t know. Maybe I’ll run against him.
Philip: [He thinks she is joking.] Well, you’ve got my vote.
Ellen: I’m serious, Philip. Why shouldn’t I run?
Robbie: [He enters.] Why shouldn’t you run for what, Mom?
Philip: Your mother is thinking of running for the school board.
Robbie: Hey, that’s terrific, Mom!
[Richard and Marilyn enter.]
Richard: Against Carter Boswell? Great!
Ellen: Well, if I run for office, the voters will have a clear choice. I stand for everything Boswell doesn’t.
Marilyn: I think a lot of people will vote for you against Boswell, Ellen. I’ll vote for you.
Ellen: Will you help me if I do run?
Marilyn: Absolutely.
Ellen: The trouble is it takes a little bit of money to run a campaign.
Philip: I think you can make a difference, Ellen. And in a short campaign you wouldn’t need as much money. You know something. Ellen? Why not give the people of Riverdale a clear choice? I’m with you. You can make a difference.
【語言點精講】
1. Who’s running against him?
有誰跟他競選這職務?
run against sb.:與某人競選。
2. Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell is going to win this seat on the board.
那么，聽起來好像Carter Boswell要穩拿聯合校董會的職位了。
It sounds to me like: 聽起來好像，聽起來似乎會。
seat: 職位。每位校董事在校董會里都有一個席位。
3. Not if I can stop him!
我要是能辦得到，就不讓他贏得這個席位。
這是省略句，全句應為He’s not going to win this seat on the board if I can stop him.
4. Why shouldn’t I run?
為什么我不該參加競選?
5. Well, if I run for office, the voters will have a clear choice. I stand for everything Boswell doesn’t.
說起來，如果我競選這一職務，選民們將有明確的選擇。我支持Boswell所不支持的一切事物。
run for office: 競選某職務。office在這里指公職，職務。
voter: 投票人，選民。
a clear choice: 明確的選擇。
stand for: 代表，支持。
6. The trouble is it takes a little bit of money to run a campaign.
問題是進行競選活動要花不少錢呢。
It takes a little bit of money to do sth.: 做某事要花些錢。a little bit of money意思實際上是 quite a bit of money，這是反話。
run: 進行(競選)，推動。
campaign: 這里指競選活動。競選活動可包括公開演講，在報紙上做廣告、訪問選民，以及在電視上露面。
7. I think you can make a difference, Ellen. And in a short campaign you wouldn’t need as much money.
我認為你會產生影響的，Ellen。而且如果競選活動的時期很短，你就不需要那么多錢。make a difference在這里指關系重大，影響很大。
8. You know something？
口語中常用的引導語，表示將提供某種對方可能還不知道的情況。也常說: You know what?
9. I’m with you.
我在你這邊。我支持你。
