CNN news 2011-05-17 加文本

短语讲解：

1. But we start things off down in Louisiana.

start off以…开始
例句：I'll start off by using this piece of wood.
我用这块木料开始干。

2. When too much water builds up around the dam, the spillway's gates can be opened to let some of that water through.

build up逐步建立, 增进, 增强,使增大
例句：The pressure on the enemy is building up.
对敌人的压力在不断加强。

3. This is what the Morganza Spillway looks like normally: gates closed, nothing coming through.

come through穿过; 穿透
例句：The sun came through after days of rain.
下了几天雨之后, 太阳出来了。

4. But with floodwaters from the Mississippi River rushing in, engineers opened up some of the spillway's gates for the first time in nearly 40 years.

open up完全打开
例句：The police had to get special permission to open up the grave.
警察必须在获得特准后, 才能打开这座坟墓。

5. People who live there -- many of whom have had to evacuate their homes -- are preparing for devastation.

prepare for (使)为…作准备
例句：We are preparing to have negotiations with the enemy.
我们准备同敌人谈判。

6. We thought maybe we might have water in our yard. Instead, this is going to come into our home.

be going to要,会,将要
例句：It seems to be going to rain.
看起来好像要下雨了。

7. And since that process is already underway, we're going to break some of it down for you today.

break down拆散; 分类
例句：John broke down the washing machine.
约翰拆开了洗衣机。

8. Ultimately, one candidate from each party will face off in the general election.

face off与对手对抗，对峙
例句：He want to face off his opponent during the match.
他要在这场比赛中与对手对抗。

9. He's running for re-election to the office he already holds.

run for竞选
例句：He decided to run for President.
他决定竞选总统。

10. Lot of steps to go through between now and election day.

go through讨论; 检查, 审查, 搜查; 完成, 做完
例句：Let's go through the plan again.
让我们再详细地讨论这项计划吧。