张汉熙《高级英语(1)》(第3版重排版)学习指南-Lesson 9 “A More Perfect

Lesson 9 “A More Perfect Union” (Part Ⅰ)
一、词汇短语
1. improbable adj. not likely to be true or to happen不可能的
2. persecution n. the state of treating someone
cruelly or unfairly over a period of time, especially because of their
religious or political beliefs 迫害
3. stalemate n. a situation in which it seems impossible to
settle an argument or disagreement, and neither side can get an
advantage 僵局，僵持
4. embed v. to fix something firmly into a substance or solid object 使插入，使嵌入
5. parchment n. a substance made from animal skin, used in
the past for writing on; a document, manuscript, or diploma on
parchment （用于书写正式文件的）仿羊皮纸；毕业文凭
6. obligation n. the state of being forced to do
something because it is your duty, or because of a law, etc.义务，职责，
债务
7. unyielding adj. if a person is unyielding, they are not easily
influenced and they are unlikely to change their mind坚强的，不屈的，
执着的
8. decency n. honest, polite behavior that follows accepted
moral standards and shows respect for others庄重，正派，体面
9. inheritance n. the money, property, etc. that you receive
from somebody when they die; the fact of receiving something when
somebody dies遗传，遗产
10. sear v. 1) to burn the surface of something in a way that is sudden and
powerful烧焦，使枯萎; 2) to cause somebody to feel sudden and great pain 烙印
11. coalition n. a union of two or more political parties
that allows them to form a government or fight an election together（政
党之间的）联盟，联合
12. bubble v. to form bubbles使沸腾，使冒泡
13. primary n. (American English) in the U.S. a local meeting of
voters of a given political party to nominate candidates for public office,
select delegates to a convention, etc.（政党中的）初选
14. scour v. to search very carefully and thoroughly through an area,
a document etc.彻底搜寻，擦亮，洗涤
15. exit poll n. a way of guessing the results of
an election by asking people who have just finished voting who they
voted for选举投票后民意测验
16. polarization n. the act of
separating or making people separate into two groups with
completely opposite opinions两极分化
17. divisive adj. causing people to be split into groups that
disagree with or oppose each other分裂的，造成不和的
18. spectrum n. a complete range of opinions, people,
situations etc. going from one extreme to its opposite范围，幅度；光谱19. wide-eyed adj. having little experience and therefore very
willing to believe, trust or accept somebody/something睁大眼睛的，
天真的，吃惊的
20. reconciliation n. an end to a disagreement
and the start of a good relationship again和解，调和
21. pastor n. a person, as a priest or minister, in spiritual and
jurisdictional charge of a parish, church, congregation or community牧师22. incendiary adj. an incendiary speech, piece of writing
etc. is intended to make people angry（演讲、文章等）煽动性的23. denigrate v. to blacken; disparage the character or
reputation of; defame 贬低，诋毁，诽谤，污蔑
24. unequivocal adj. not ambiguous; plain, clear明确的，不含糊的
25. nagging adj. complaining for a long time and difficult to stop唠叨的，挑剔的
26. rabbi n. (Judaism) a scholar and teacher of the Jewish law; now,
specifically an ordained Jew, usually the spiritual head of a congregation,
qualified to decide questions of law and ritual and to perform marriages,
etc.拉比（犹太人的学者），法学博士，法师，先生
27. endemic n. an endemic disease or problem is always present
in a particular place, or among a particular group of people风土的，地
方性的
28. stalwart adj. loyal; brave, valiant; firm, unyielding坚定的，健壮的
29. professed adj. used to describe a belief or a position that
somebody has publicly made known公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的30. sermon n. a speech given as instruction in religion or morals,
esp. by a priest, minister, or rabbi during services, using a text from
Scripture训诫，说教，布道
31. You Tube n. a video-sharing website on which users can
upload, share, and view videos, created in 2005 and bought by Google
Inc., and is now operated as a subsidiary of Google一种视频网站32. marine adj. connected with the sea and the creatures and
plants that live there海的，海产的；航海的，海运的
33. seminary n. a college where priests, ministers or rabbis are trained神学院
34. reverend adj. the title of a member of the clergy that is also
sometimes used to talk to or about one（对教士的尊称）可尊敬的，教士
的
35. chronicle n. a written record of events in the order in which they happened 编年史
36. predominantly adv. mostly; mainly主要地，显著地，占主导地位地
37. gang-banger n. (American English) a member of a violent
gang暴力团伙中的一员
38. raucous adj. sounding unpleasantly loud 沙哑的，粗嘎的
39. bawdy adj. bawdy songs, jokes, stories etc. are about sex and are
funny, enjoyable, and often noisy（歌曲、笑话、故事等）下流的，淫秽的40. jarring adj. making someone feel annoyed or shocked不和谐
的，刺耳的；让人震惊或恼火的
41. baptize v. to give somebody baptism给人施洗礼（作为入基督
教的标志），命名（作为洗礼仪式的一部分）
42. derogatory adj. showing a critical attitude towards somebody贬损的，不敬的
43. courtesy n. polite behavior that shows respect for other people谦恭，礼貌
44. disown v. to say that you no longer want to be connected with
someone or something, especially a member of your family or
something that you are responsible for否认，与断绝关系
45. cringe v. to feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable about
something畏缩，阿谀，奉承，感到难堪
46. crank n. someone who has unusual ideas and behaves strangely举止奇怪的人
47. demagogue n. a political leader who tries to make people
feel strong emotions in order to influence their, opinions—used to
show disapproval蛊惑民心的政客，煽动者
48. amplify v. 1) to increase something in strength, especially
sound放大，增强2) to add details to a story, statement, etc.详述
二、课文精解
1. Barack Obama: 奥巴马2008年3月18日的演讲《更加完善的联邦》是他总统竞选活动中最重要的演讲之一。

他在其演讲中驳斥了耶利米·赖特（退休的芝加哥三一联合基督教教堂高级牧师、奥巴马的前牧师）具有争议性的反种族歧视的言论。

赖特提出了一些愤怒的反对普遍白人种族主义、强烈反对美国政府的言论。

但奥巴马的演讲并不只限于对赖特牧师的批评。

他还呼吁听众把赖特的言论置于历史和社会背景中进行探讨。

该演讲成功地为奥巴马赢回了那些本要因赖特牧师的言论而失去的选票。

2. “A More Perfect Union”：标题《更加完善的联邦》）出自美国宪法的序言部分。

完整的句子为“We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”。