美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-09-06

 　　We`re kicking things off today with convention coverage<sup>1</sup>. Last week, it was the Republicans, this week, it`s the Democrats². You`re going to notice a lot of similarities between the two conventions. At least in terms of what is actually going on. For example, both started with the similar vote. It was to adopt the party platform, that`s the official position on major political issues.

　　The first full day of the Democratic convention wrapped up with two major speeches. The first one came from the first lady, Michelle Obama, the other was the keynote address.

　　That was made by Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Organizers say that Mayor Castro is the first Latino to give the keynote speech at a Democratic convention.

　　Tonight, former president Bill Clinton is scheduled to address the convention.

　　And last week, President Obama was out of the campaign trail while the Republicans held their convention this week while the Democrats are gathered in Charlotte, Paul Ryan, the Republican Vice³ Presidential nominee⁴, is out campaigning.

　　Parts of the U.S. Gulf⁵ Coast are cleaning up after the storm named Isaac hit the region a week ago. A lot of people were forced to leave their homes because of the storm, many of them are coming back, but they`re facing new challenges. Rebuilding is difficult enough, but it`s happening in extreme temperatures. National Weather Service says the heat index has been somewhere between 100 and 105 degrees. So that`s what it feels like. What`s making things worse, is that tens of thousands of residents still don`t have power and that, or course, means no air conditioning.Officials are warning people to be careful about possible heat stroke, they are also keeping an eye on some rivers and lakes that are still in danger of flooding.

　　Politicians and financial experts talk a lot about economic classes, especially the middle class. The U.S. Census⁶ Bureau doesn`t have an official definition of the middle class, but the U.S. Commerce Department says most Americans think of themselves as being part of the middle class. So, what does that mean? Christine Romans looks at some new research.

　　What does it take to be in the middle class? Well, Pew research asked that question the people at survey, then 86 percent says it takes a secure job to be considered part of the middle class. 66 percent said health insurance, and 45 percent, fewer than half, said it`s a home, homeownership is what it takes to be in the middle class. It shows you just how preoccupied<sup>7</sup> Americans are these days with the job. Let`s flash back, shall we, to 1991. What were people saying then? Well, back then 70 percent of people surveyed said, hey, it`s owning a home that puts you in the middle class. Two or more cars? Almost half said, hey, two or more cars, that`s how you define whether you are in the middle class. A college education, almost half said that was what was important. Look, down here, at number five, 33 percent said, a white-collar job is what makes it for the middle class. You know, it`s interesting because it shows you just how times have changed. It shows you how preoccupied people are right now with the idea of having a secure job, and that is the key to the middle class, because back then, in 1991, people assumed the economy would give them a job, and it was the consumer parts of the culture that defined middle class for them.

1 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

7 preoccupied   

adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式)

参考例句：

• He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice anything wrong. 他只顾想着心事，没注意到有什么不对。
• The question of going to the Mount Tai preoccupied his mind. 去游泰山的问题盘踞在他心头。 来自《简明英汉词典》