口语情景对话：走遍美国精选当仁不让 ACT 1 - 2
【故事梗概】
鉴于并没有人与Carter Boswell竞争，Ellen决定要参选。她的决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.
【语言点精讲】
1. Who’s running against him?
有谁跟他竞选这职务?
run against sb.:与某人竞选。
2. Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell is going to win this seat on the board.
那么，听起来好像Carter Boswell要稳拿联合校董会的职位了。
It sounds to me like: 听起来好像，听起来似乎会。
seat: 职位。每位校董事在校董会里都有一个席位。
3. Not if I can stop him!
我要是能办得到，就不让他赢得这个席位。
这是省略句，全句应为He’s not going to win this seat on the board if I can stop him.
4. Why shouldn’t I run?
为什么我不该参加竞选?
5. Well, if I run for office, the voters will have a clear choice. I stand for everything Boswell doesn’t.
说起来，如果我竞选这一职务，选民们将有明确的选择。我支持Boswell所不支持的一切事物。
run for office: 竞选某职务。office在这里指公职，职务。
voter: 投票人，选民。
a clear choice: 明确的选择。
stand for: 代表，支持。
6. The trouble is it takes a little bit of money to run a campaign.
问题是进行竞选活动要花不少钱呢。
It takes a little bit of money to do sth.: 做某事要花些钱。a little bit of money意思实际上是 quite a bit of money，这是反话。
run: 进行(竞选)，推动。
campaign: 这里指竞选活动。竞选活动可包括公开演讲，在报纸上做广告、访问选民，以及在电视上露面。
7. I think you can make a difference, Ellen. And in a short campaign you wouldn’t need as much money.
我认为你会产生影响的，Ellen。而且如果竞选活动的时期很短，你就不需要那么多钱。make a difference在这里指关系重大，影响很大。
8. You know something？
口语中常用的引导语，表示将提供某种对方可能还不知道的情况。也常说: You know what?
9. I’m with you.
我在你这边。我支持你。
