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Making a Difference当仁不让ACTI教师讲解版视频

Outside the railroad station in Riverdale. A worker is putting up a sign. It reads, “Carter Boswell for school board. He'll save your money.”Inside the Stewarts' kitchen. Ellen is reading the local newspaper. She is waiting for the family to arrive for dinner.

Ellen：[as Philip enters] I don't believe it!

Philip：What's wrong?

Ellen：Carter Boswell!

Philip：Who's Carter Boswell?

Ellen：He's running for the school board. The election's next month.

Philip：What's wrong with wanting to be on the school board?

Ellen：Nothing . But he wants to cut the school budget!

Philip：Maybe it needs cutting.

Ellen：Cutting the budget is fine, but he wants to do it by cutting all the cultural programs. No music, no dance, no

concert, no stage presentations.

Philip：Why does he want to do that?

Ellen：He says it's to save9 the taxpayers 10 money and I think he believes that the taxpayers will vote for him if he spends less on the cultural programs.

Philip：He's probably right. Lots of people want their taxes used for new books and a new paint job in the schoolrooms.

Ellen：Maybe some of us would like to pay a little bit more and keep the cultural programs for our kids.

Philip：Well, I'm not sure, Ellen. I hear it from my patients. Lots of people are tired of higher taxes.

Ellen： [She and Philip start to set the table.] I know, but if Boswell wins he'll be an important decision-maker on the school board, and he doesn't know anything about our children's education.

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.[She thinks for a moment.]

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 difference25, Ellen.And in a short campaign you wouldn't need as much money. You know something. Ellen?Why not give26 the people of Riverdale a clear choice? I'm with you.You can make a difference.In a newspaper office in Riverdale. The editor, Charles Maxwell, is sitting behind his desk. Ellen knocks on the door and enters.

Maxwell：Come in.

Ellen：Mr. Maxwell?

Maxwell：[He looks up.] Yes, Charles Maxwell.

Ellen：My name is Ellen Stewart.

Maxwell：Hello. Please, sit down. You asked to see me. What would you like to see me about?

Ellen：I'd like your help.

Maxwell：Well, I'm editor of the most influential newspaper in Riverdale. Actually, it's the only newspaper. [He smiles.] A lot of people would like my help. Do you have a story?

Ellen：I'm planning to run for the school board.

Maxwell：Against Carter Boswell?

Ellen：Yes.

Maxwell：Well, that is news.

Ellen：Will you announce that I'm running?

Maxwell：Sure. But I need some information.

Ellen：Of course.

Maxwell：[He gets a pad and a pen.] Why will the voters vote for you against Boswell,Mrs. Stewart?

Ellen：Because I care.

Maxwell：“Vote for Ellen Stewart. She cares. ” Not a bad slogan. But what do you care about?

Ellen：Well, I care about the children of our town. I don't want them to grow up without cultural programs in our school.

Maxwell：Do you have a plan?

Ellen：I want our children to learn more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. I want to keep the after-school programs-the music, the concerts.

Maxwell：It's not a bad plan. But who's going to pay for all of this?

Ellen：We are. The citizens of Riverdale, of course. I plan to get help from the businessmen and the corporations of

Riverdale.

Maxwell：That's fair enough.33 Exactly what do you want from me, Mrs. Stewart?

Ellen：You don't know me. I can't expect you to take my side34 against Boswell. But I do need some publicity35 so that the people of our town know that I'm running for office and that I care about our children.

Maxwell：Fair enough. I certainly can print36 the news. And you are now making news.

中英对照版

I don't believe it! 我简直难以相信!
What's wrong? 怎么了?
Carter Boswell! Carter Boswell !
Who's Carter Boswell? 谁是Carter Boswell ?
He's running for the school board. 他正在竞选联合校董事会董事。
The election's next month. 选举就在下个月。
What's wrong with wanting to be on the school board? 想进入联合校董事会有什么不对?
Nothing. 没有什么。
But he wants to cut the school budget! 但他想削减学校的预算!
Maybe it needs cutting. 也许真需要削减呢。
Cutting the budget is fine, 削减预算是好的,
but he wants to do it 但他要削减
by cutting all the cultural programs. 是透过取消所有的文化活动。
No music, no dance, 没有音乐,没有舞蹈,
no concert, no stage presentations. 没有音乐会,没有舞蹈表演。
Why does he want to do that? 为什么他要那么做呢?
He says it's to save the taxpayers' money, 他说这是为了要节省纳税人的钱,
and I think he believes 而我认为他相信
that the taxpayers will vote for him 纳税人会投他一票
if he spends less on the cultural programs. 假如他在文化活动上减少开支的话。
He's probably right. 他也许是对的。
Lots of people want their taxes 许多人希望他们缴的税
used for new books 被用来购买新书
and a new paint job in the schoolrooms. 和重新油漆教室。
Maybe some of us would like to pay a little bit more 也许我们之中有一些人愿意多付一点
and keep the cultural programs for our kids. 以便为我们的孩子保存文化活动。
Well, I'm not sure. Ellen. 噢,我无法肯定。Ellen。
I hear it from my patients. 我是从我的病人那儿听到这些的。
Lots of people are tired of higher taxes. 许多人对于增税很厌烦。
I know, 我知道,
but if Boswell wins 但是假如Boswell赢了
he'll be an important decision-maker 他将成为一个重要的决策者
on the school board, 在联合校董事会中,
and he doesn't know anything 而他一无所知
about our children's education. 对于我们孩子的教育。
Who's running against him? 谁与他竞选?
Nobody. That's the problem. 没有人。这就是问题所在。
Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell 噢,听起来好像Carter Boswell
is going to win this seat on the board. 稳登联合校董事会董事的宝座了。
Oh, not if I can stop him! 噢,要是我能阻止他,他就甭想!
And how are you going to stop him? 那你怎么去阻止他呢?
I don't know. 我不知道。
Maybe I'll run against him. 也许我与他竞选。
Well, you've got my vote. 哦,那我一定投你的票。
I'm serious, Philip. 我是认真的,Philip。
Why shouldn't I run? 为什么我不能竞选?
Why shouldn't you run for what, Mom? 为什么你不可以竞选什么,妈妈?
Your mother is thinking of 你妈妈正考虑
running for the school board. 竞选联合校董事会董事。
Hey, that's terrific, Mom! 嗨,太棒了,妈妈!
Against Carter Boswell? 和Carter Boswell竞争?
Great! 太好了!
Well, if I run for office, 嗯,假如我出来竞选公职,
the voters will have a clear choice. 投票人可以有明确的选择。
I stand for everything Boswell doesn't. 我代表Boswell所不赞成的观点。
I think a lot of people will vote for you 我想很多人会投票支持你的。
against Boswell, Ellen. 和Boswell对抗 Ellen。
I'll vote for you. 我会投你的票。
Will you help me if I do run? 假如我真的竞选,你会帮我忙吗?
Absolutely. 当然。
The trouble is 问题是
it takes a little bit of money to run a campaign. 竞选活动需要花一些钱。
I think you can make a difference, Ellen. 我觉得你可以发挥影响力的,Ellen。
And in a short campaign 而且这一场短暂的竞选
you wouldn't need as much money. 不需要花多少钱。
You know something, Ellen? 知道一件事吗,Ellen?
Why not give the people of Riverdale a clear choice? 为什么不让Riverdale地区的人民有一个明确的选择呢?
I'm with you. 我支持你。
You can make a difference.你会发挥影响力。
Come in. 请进。
Mr. Maxwell? 您是Maxwell先生吗?
Yes, Charles Maxwell. 是的,我是Charles Maxwell。
My name is Ellen Stewart. 我叫Ellen Stewart。
Hello. 你好。
Please, sit down. 请坐。
You asked to see me. 你要求见我。
What would you like to see me about? 找我有什么事?
I'd like your help. 我要请你帮忙。
Well, 噢,
I'm editor of the most influential newspaper in Riverdale. 我是Riverdale最有影响力的报纸的编辑。
Actually, it's the only newspaper. 事实上,它是唯一的报纸。
A lot of people would like my help. 许多人要我帮助。
Do you have a story? 有什么新闻故事呢?
I'm planning to run for the school board. 我打算竞选联合校董事会董事。
Against Carter Boswell? 和Carter Boswell打对手?
Yes. 是的。
Well, that is news. 噢,这可是个新闻。
Will you announce that I'm running? 你会宣布我参加竞选的消息吗?
Sure. 当然。
But I need some information. 但我需要一些资料。
Of course. 那当然。
Why will the voters vote for you against Boswell, 为什么选民会投票支持你,和Boswell对抗,
Mrs. Stewart? Stewart太太?
Because I care. 因为我关心。
"Vote for Ellen Stewart. She cares." “投Ellen Stewart一票。她关心。”
Not a bad slogan. 不错的标语。
But what do you care about? 但你关心什么呢?
Well, I care about the children of our town. 噢,我关心我们镇上的孩子们。
I don't want them to grow up 我不希望在他们成长期
without cultural programs in our school. 我们的学校没有文化活动。
Do you have a plan? 有计划吗?
I want our children to learn 我要孩子们学习到
more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. 比阅读,写作,及算术更多的东西。
I want to keep the after-school programs-- 我要保存这些课外活动
the music, the concerts. 音乐, 音乐会。
It's not a bad plan. 这是个不错的计划。
But who's going to pay for all of this? 但谁来为这些付钱呢?
We are. 我们呀。
The citizens of Riverdale, of course. 当然是Riverdale的公民。
I plan to get help 我打算争取
from the businessmen and the corporations of Riverdale. Riverdale的商人和企业的支持。
That's fair enough. 这倒很公平。
Exactly what do you want from me, Mrs. Stewart? 究竟对我有什么要求,Stewart太太?
You don't know me. 你不认识我。
I can't expect you to take my side against Boswell. 我不敢期望你站在我这一边来对抗Boswell。
But I do need some publicity 但我需要一些宣传
so that the people of our town 好让我们镇上的人
know that I'm running for office 知道我正在竞选公职
and that I care about our children. 且知道我关心我们的孩子。
Fair enough. 很公平。
I certainly can print the news. 我当然可以刊出这则新闻
And you are now making news. 而且你现在就是在创造新闻。

美国文化介绍

美国文化介绍

我们在学英语的过程中，无论是老师还是其他朋友经常告诉我们，学习一种语言，不只要学其语言，还要学其文化。现在就了解一下本文中出现的一些美国特色的文化吧！

美国各州的公共教育是由州内各学区（school district）负责。一般学区就包括一个城市或一个城镇。各学区由通过选举产生的联合校董会（school board）人员组成。

公立学校的资金，来自各城镇征收的财产税，有些时候州政府或联邦政府也拨给一些资金。联合校董会要讨论如何使用这些资金。

美国各州政府对其州内的公立教育有一定的控制权，许多其他机构对联合校董会的决策也有影响。联合校董会的权力有：聘用学区教育局长。

局长负责学区的具体教育工作。联合校董会在任用教师，选择教材方面施加影响。还有权批准其它决策。

竞选联合校董会委员，常成为美国公民参政的第一步，尤其对于少数民族而言，由于政治资源不足，从竞选校董会委员入手，一方面能建立群众基础，打开知名度，一方面更可藉机与州议员以上的政客拉上关系，迈入初期问政的门槛。

美国教育行政管理权不在联邦政府，而在各州及各级地方政府或私人机构。美国联邦政府教育部的职权是十分有限的，其主要职责是按国会意图向各州分配教育拨款，以及向美国国内学生提供奖学金等。美国各州设有州督学或教育厅长，负责制订全州的教育政策，并领导所属机构在州内贯彻这些政策。私立大学由主办大学的机构遴选的校董会掌管行政权。公立大学校董会对决定本校的方针和各项规定，也有很大的自主权

。美国的大学各有特点，从教学方针、专业设置、考试项目到诸加TOEFL录取分数、收报名费等小问题，都各不相同。

美国教育尽管在行政管理上比较分散，但社会对学校评估的做法是相对统一的。学校要定期接受审查，符合要求的才取得被认可的资格。美国对高等院校的评估分成六大区域进行，各区成立地方性的大中学校联合，对该区的学校进行评估。审查的内容通常包括学校的师资、课程、教学质量、设备、管理等各个方面的情况，经过较为全面的审查后决定某一学校是否被认可。 除对学校的评估外，对某些专业的课程也要经过专

业评估团体审查和认可，有些专业领域，如医学、法律、牙医等，完成被认可的专业课程是领取执照许可的先决条件。

相关阅读

教育经费削减

The president says all the programs being eliminated or reduced are wasteful or unnecessary.

"We can no longer afford to spend as if deficits do not matter and waste is not our problem," said President Obama. "We can no longer afford to leave the hard choices for the next budget, the next administration, or the next generation."

First round of cuts is modestThe first round of cuts is modest, $17 billion out of the president's $3.55-trillion budget proposal for 2010. But Mr. Obama makes clear they are an important start.

"At this moment, at this difficult time for our nation, we cannot accept business as usual," said Mr. Obama. "We cannot accept anything less than a government ready to meet the challenges of our time."

Some unnecessary defense programs will be cut

The list of cuts being sent to Congress for approval includes a long-range radio navigation system rendered obsolete by

satellite technology, and an early education program that has yielded poor results. About half the cuts will come in

unnecessary defense programs, including weapons systems not needed for 21st century warfare.

The president says all these cuts will help bring the deficit down, and will free up money to fund budget priorities.

Republicans: budget cuts will have little impact

But Republicans in Congress say they will have little if any impact. Judd Gregg is the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee.

"It is as if this was the Gobi Desert or the Sahara Desert, and you came along and took a few pieces of sand off the desert," said Senator Gregg.

Gregg says the cuts are not nearly enough to offset the huge cost of new initiatives requested by the president.

"While you are taking these few dollars out, which I congratulate the president for trying to do, they are adding back in

massive amounts of spending," he said.

Congress has already approved the broad outlines of the president's budget proposal for 2010. But the hard work lies ahead as lawmakers negotiate details - agency by agency, and program by program - before the government's new fiscal year begins October 1.

奥巴马说，所有被取消或减少的项目都是浪费的或者不必要的。

“我们不能好像赤字没有关系，或者浪费不是我们的问题那样来支出了。”奥巴马说，“我们不能再把如此困难的选择留到下一次预算，下一届政府或者下一代。”

首轮削减是适度的首轮削减是适度的，从总统为2010年3.55兆美元的预算提案中减少170亿美元。但是奥巴马明确表示，这是一个非常重要的开始。

“此刻，在我们国家所面临的困难时期，我们不能像平常一样接受商业活动，我们不能接受一个不能面临时代挑战的政府。”奥巴马说。

一些不必要的防御计划将会被削减

发往国会等待通过的削减清单包括一个由于卫星技术的发展已经废弃的远程电台导航系统，一个效果不明显的早期教育项目。大约一半的削减项目死不必要的国防项目，包括21世纪的战争不再需要的武器。

总统表示，所有这些削减都会帮助赤字降低，将会节约出资金进行更加重要的项目。

共和党：预算削减不会有太大影响

但是国会共和党说，这样做的影响很小。格雷格是参议院预算委员会的共和党高级领导人。

“就好象是戈壁或者撒哈拉沙漠，你走在沙漠上，从沙漠里取走一些沙子一样。”格雷格说。

格雷格说，削减预算远远不足以弥补总统提出的创新项目的巨大成本。

“你从这些项目上削减了一点点资金，总统却要花费非常巨大的资金来开发新的项目。”他说。

国会已经通过了总统提出的2010年财政预算大纲。但是，困难还在前面——在10月1日新的财政年度开始前，立法者将逐一部门，逐一项目地对细节进行商讨。