Elections‏

Surprises often come in boxes. Birthday presents wrapped in colorful paper, brown paper packages mailed from a friend. No matter what kind of box it is, people like to open it up and see what’s inside. In America, and in many other countries, one special kind of box contains the future. It’s called a ballot box. What people put into the box on election day can change the course of history.
驚奇常常是在箱子裡出現：包在彩
色包裝紙裡面的生日禮物⋯朋友寄來牛
皮紙包的包裹⋯不論是怎樣的箱子，人
們喜歡打開來看看裡面是什麼。在美國
以及其他許多國家，有一個特殊的箱子
關係著未來，稱為投票箱。人們在選舉
日投在箱子裡的東西可以改變歷史的走
向。

Elections are the lifeblood of a democracy. The word democracy literally means “the people rule,”an important concept in America’s history. In the mid-1700s, England began passing laws that made the American colonies angry. The colonists had to pay more and more taxes and enjoyed less and less freedom. They felt the government of England didn’t represent their interests. On July 4, 1776, the colonies declared their independence from England. They wanted to establish a democracy where people could
have a voice in government.
選舉是民主的原動力。民主這個字
照字面的意思是「人民自主」，是美國歷
史中一個重要的觀念。十八世紀中期，
英國開始通過一些使美國殖民地憤怒的
法律。殖民地人民必須付愈來愈多的
稅，享有愈來愈少的自由。他們感到英
國政府沒有代表他們的權益。一七七六
年七月四日，殖民地宣佈脫離英國獨
立。他們想要建立民主制度，使人們在
政府中有發言權。

An effective democracy holds regular elections. In America, elections are held every two years for members of Congress. In these elections, all seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate seats are up for grabs. In addition, every four years, voters go to the polls to elect the nation’s president and vice-president. Voters also regularly cast their ballots for state and city government leaders and local school board members. Sometimes they also have to vote on a proposed law.
有效的民主制度定期舉行選舉。在
美國，每兩年選一次國會議員。在這些
選舉中，人們可以爭取所有眾議院的席
位和三分之一的參議院席位。除此以
外，選民每四年去投票所選出國家的總
統和副總統。選民也定期投票選出州
長、市長及當地學校的董事會成員。有
時他們也必須投票決定提議的法律。

In the American electoral system, people don’t really vote for presidential candidates.
Instead, voters cast their ballots for “electors” who support each candidate. Each state has as many electors as the total number of its representatives in Congress. This equals two senators per state plus the number of its representatives in the House (which is based on the state’s population). The candidate who has the most votes in a state wins all of the state’s electors. To win the presidential election, a candidate must gain at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes.
在美國的選舉制度中，人們並不直
接投票給總統候選人，而是由選民投票
給支持各個候選人的「選舉人」。每一州
的選舉人人數和代表此州的國會議員人
數相同，等於每一州有兩位參議員，加
上眾議院的眾議員人數（以各州的人口
為基準）。在一個州裡擁有最多票數的候
選人就贏得了那一州所有選舉人的票
數。要贏得總統大選，候選人必須至少
獲得總共538個選舉人中的270張票張票。

Over the years, the U.S. has made a number of election reforms. Some early reforms outlawed cheating, giving bribes and threatening voters. They also limited the amount of money candidates could receive from donors and spend on their campaigns. In 1870, black people gained the right to vote, and in 1920, that right was extended to women.
多年來，美國在選舉方面做了一些
改革。早期有些改革禁止作弊、收受賄
賂或威脅選民。他們也限制候選人從捐
贈者那兒獲得的金額數目及花在競選宣
傳上的費用。一八七○年，黑人獲得選
舉權。一九二○年，權利延伸至婦女。
近幾十年來，通過了反對不公平選舉規
則的法律。

In recent decades, laws against unfair rules for voting have been passed. No longer do people have to pay a special tax or pass a test in order to vote. In 1971, the voting age was lowered to 18. Other reforms made voting easier for the blind, the disabled and people who couldn’t read. In some areas, ballots had to be printed in languages besides English.
人們不再需要付特殊的稅或
通過測驗才能選舉。一九七一年，投票
的年齡降至十八歲。其他的改革減輕了
盲人、殘障者及文盲投票的困難。在某
些地區，選票上面除了英文以外，還必
須印上別的文字。

Although some citizens aren’t even registered to vote—and some registered voters don't bother to go to the polls— most Americans exercise their right to vote. They realize that their future is wrapped up in a special package—the ballot box. It’s a package that must definitely be “handled with care.”
十一月五日，美國人要再一次選出
在政府中代表他們的人。雖然有些市民
甚至不是法定投票人──有些法定投票
人懶得去投票──但是大多數的美國人
都會行使他們投票的權利。他們了解他
們的未來包在一個特別的箱子裡──投
票箱。它實在是一個必須「小心處理」
的箱子。
⊙Word Bankballot (n) 選票

lifeblood (n) 原動力
concept (n) 觀念；想法

up for grabs (adj phr) 努力者得之
polls (n pl) 投票所
cast (v) 投
proposed (adj) 提議的

outlaw (v) 宣佈⋯為非法；禁止
bribe (n) 賄賂
donor (n) 捐贈者
extend (v) 延伸；擴大

exercise one’s right to do something (v phr) 行使某人的權利

The Day's Phrase

Discover the history of this beautiful and deadly volcano in Italy
來探索義大利這座優美、卻有致命危險的火山的古往今來

Jared complained that his new employee wasn't worth his salt.
傑瑞德抱怨說他的新進員工不稱職。

"I'd love to stay and chat," Adrienne said, "but duty calls!"
「我很想留下來聊聊天，」雅德里安妮說，「可是我有公務在身！」

"Angela will be very upset when we tell her the cat died," Mom said. "Can you break the news to her, Joe?"
「要是我們告訴安琪拉貓咪死了，她會很難過的，」媽媽說，「喬，可以請你把這壞消息告訴她嗎？」

Instead of wearing this ring, you'll want to play with it!
這種戒指除了能戴之外，還能拿來玩喔！

"Crystal, you need to go to bed," Scott said. "Look at you, you're dead on your feet."
「克莉絲朵，妳該上床睡覺了，」史考特說，「看看妳，妳已經累得不成人形了。」

When the decision is big, should the parent or the child decide?
遇到重大決定時，該由父母還是孩子們來作決定呢？
If Thomas doesn't buckle down soon, he'll fail his English class.
如果湯瑪斯不開始好好用功的話，他的英文會當掉的。

Family was the inspiration for Louisa May Alcott's best-selling novels
路易莎‧梅‧愛爾考特的暢銷小說《小婦人》靈感來源就是家庭
Emily really hit it off with Andrew. They just met yesterday, but they're already planning a
date for Saturday afternoon.
艾蜜莉與安德魯真是情投意合。他們昨天才認識，不過他們已經在計劃週六下午的約會了。

Heather often helps me when I have a problem with something. She really has a heart of gold.
海瑟在我遇到困難的時候常常幫助我。她的心地很好。