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Schwarzenegger To Run For Governor

The Terminator has a dream — he wants to be the"Governator1 "of California and follow in the footsteps of another Hollywood hero who gave up acting for a greater stage — Ronald Reagan.

Action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger unexpectedly threw himself into the race for California governor on August 6, 2003 in a show-stopping2 announcement that heralded a spectacular campaign.

The surprise decision by one of the screen's biggest stars followed weeks of speculation about whether he would try to terminate the career of California governor Gray Davis in a historic recall3 vote . The Austrian-born actor, 56 , who became a U. S. citizen in 1983, has been toying for years with the idea of flexing his muscles at the ballot box instead of the box office. But after blowing hot and cold for weeks, aides had expected the star to bow to the concerns of his wife about the effect on their four children and stay out of the October gubernatorial race.

He might have spent years playing a futuristic robot in the"Terminator"blockbusters, but Schwarzenegger has shown himself to be politically astute off screen, building a strong profile within the Republican Party and garnering grass-roots support through his work for the Special Olympics and other sports programs. In 2000, he considered, but decided against, making a run for California governor. Three years on, Schwarzenegger has more name recognition , more personal wealth — 30 million alone for the latest"Terminator" installment — and more charisma than any of the other candidates.

Thirty years ago, the 6 ft-2ins body-builder came to America looking for fame and fortune in the movies, hampered by an unpronounceable name and a thick accent. Success was hard to come by initially and he focused on body-building, winning seven Mr Olympia titles and earning himself the nickname"the Austrian Oak". He eventually graduated to the title role in"Conan the Barbarian"in 1982 and later the 1984 sci-fi4 action move"The Terminator"which made him into a superstar.

His marriage to one of the ( Democratic ) Kennedy clan5—TV journalist Maria Shriver — looked for a while as if it might hamper his political ambitions. Shriver was reported to be worried about the effects of a time -consuming and high-profile political campaign — let alone a possible win — on their four young children, but also told Schwarzenegger she would support him whatever his decision."Yes, she 's a Democrat6 , "said Schwarzenegger" and this is the first time she 's going to vote for a Republican . "

CET4大学英语四级阅读练习题：

Ⅰ. Fill in e ach blank:

1. The Terminator has a dream — he wants to be the"Governator"of California and( 追随) another Hollywood hero Ronald Reagan , who gave up acting for a greater stage.

2. Action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger unexpectedly ( 参与竞争) California governor on August 6 in ( 受人欢迎的宣言) that ( 预告) a spectacular campaign.

3. Thirty years ago, the 6 ft-2ins body-builder came to America looking for( 名利) in the movies, ( 受到阻碍) by an unpronounceable name and a thick accent.

4. The Austrian-born actor for years has ( 思虑着) flexing his muscles at the( 选票箱) instead of the box office.

Ⅱ. Question :

How does Schwarzenegger become widely supported?

参考答案

Ⅰ. 1. follow in the footsteps of

2. threw himself into the race for / a show-stopping announcement / heralded

3. fame and fortune / hampered

4. been toying with the idea of / ballot box

Ⅱ. He worked for the Special Olympics and other sports programs.

参考译文

施瓦辛格: 州长终结者

“终结者”有一个梦想——— 那就是成为美国加利福尼亚州“ 州长终结者”, 步另一位好 莱坞明星罗纳德· 里根的后尘, 放弃演艺事业而投身更广阔的政治舞台。

2003 年8 月6 日, 动作明星阿诺德· 施瓦辛格出人意料地宣布投身竞选加利福尼亚州州长, 这一决定被掌声不时打断, 它预示着一场引人入胜的州长竞选即将拉开帷幕。

在银幕巨星施瓦辛格做出这惊人决定的前几周, 人们已在纷纷猜测他是否会在具有历史意义的罢免投票中终结现任加州州长格雷· 戴维斯的政治生涯。这位奥地利裔演员时年56岁, 于1983 年加入美国国籍。几年来他一直琢磨着在票箱而不是票房上显示一下自己的力量, 尽管他不是很认真。但是经过几周的反反复复, 他的助手们希望这位大明星能够顾及妻子的担心而放弃10 月的州长竞选活动。他妻子担心竞选会影响到他们的四个孩子。施瓦辛格也许花了好几年功夫扮演大片《终结者》中一个未来世界的机器人, 但他在银屏以外的政治能力也已显露出来。他不仅在共和党内非常引人注目, 而且通过在特殊奥运会和其他体育活动中的工作建立了良好的群众基础。2000 年, 他曾经考虑但最终放弃了参加加州州长的竞选。三年来, 施瓦辛格获得了更高的声望、更多的个人财产——— 仅《终结者3》就为他带来三千万美元的收入。而且他比其他任何候选人都更有魅力。

三十年前, 这位身高6 英尺2 英寸的健美运动员投奔美国投身电影, 以图名利双收, 然而他的名字叫来拗口, 英语又口音浓重, 曾一度阻碍了他实现自己的梦想。万事开头难。他专注于健 身 运动, 曾七次获得“ 奥林匹亚健美先生”的称号, 还赢得“奥地利橡树”的绰号。1982 年, 他终于在《野蛮人科南》中出演主角, 而1984 年的科幻动作大片《终结者》更让他一跃成为影坛巨星。

在电视台当记者的妻子玛丽娅· 施莱芙是肯尼迪家族( 民主党) 的成员。据报道, 施莱芙担心这场旷日持久、引人注目的政治活动会对他们的四个年幼的孩子造成影响, 但她仍旧告诉施瓦辛格, 无论他做怎样的决定, 她都会支持他。“ 是的, 她是民主党人, 但是这将是她第一次为共和党人投票。”施瓦辛格说。

阅读解释

1. 在词典中查不到, 是作者将governor + terminator 两个字合并造出来的, 可译成“州长终结者”。

2. 被长时间的热烈掌声打断的, 特别受人欢迎的。同本文中的time-consuming ( 耗时的) ,作形容词用。但本文中的body-building 则是名词( 健身, 塑身) 。

3. recall v.〔美国〕( 依据一般投票) 罢免( 官员) 。这里是名词: 罢免( 权) 。不能理解为常见的“ 回忆, 想起”

4. sci-fi = science fiction( 科幻小说) 。现代英语中的缩略语很普遍, 要注意缩写相同不一定原词也相同。

5. Kennedy clan 指美国以约翰·肯尼迪总统为代表的著名政治望族, 家族中从政人员多,但大多以悲剧收场。

6 . Democrat 民主党员, Republican 共和党员。美国历史上两党轮流执政, 民主党的象征是驴, 共和党是象, 所以两党之争也被称为“ 驴象之争”。