CNN news 2011-12-17 加文本

短语讲解：

1. The lawmakers are looking to tackle a few issues before they leave town.

look to依靠〔指望〕(某人或某事)
例句：She has always looked to her parents for advice.
她总是指望她的父母替她出主意。

2. Everyone seems to want to do that, but there`s some debate about how to pay for it.

pay for为…付钱
例句：How much did you pay for the book?
那本书你付了多少钱?

3. This would prevent every driver in America from texting or making non-emergency phone calls.

prevent from阻止, 防止
例句：His prompt action prevented the fire from spreading.
他的果断行动制止了火势的蔓延。

4. There are many American drivers who do use the phone, so it wouldn`t be a very popular idea in many places, and it would be up to states to ultimately decide if they want to act on the board`s suggestion.

act on奉行; 按照…而行动
例句：The police are acting on the information received.
警方正根据获得的情报采取行动。

5. More than 190 countries have signed on to the agreement.

sign on签约
例句：He signed on yesterday and will start work on Monday.
他昨天签了合同, 星期一就要上班。

6. That`s the same reason why Canada is now dropping out of Kyoto.

drop out离开, 退出
例句：They have dropped out of society.
他们已经退出社交圈。

7. The country`s government made the announcement on Monday. Canada`s environment minister said in order to meet its requirements, either every single vehicle in the nation would have to be taken off the road, or the country would have to pay $14 billion in penalties.

take off拿走，脱下；走开, 离开; 使停运; 使停航
例句：The early morning train is being taken off for the summer.
早班火车夏季将停运。

8. Well, when it comes to next year`s U.S. presidential election, the Democratic Party already knows its likely nominee: President Obama.

when it comes to当提到……；当谈到……
例句：When it comes to learning, diligence is indispensable.
说到学习，勤奋是必不可少的。

9. That`s why there`s been so much focus on the Republican candidates, who want to be the person who faces off against President Obama.

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。

10. You have the campaign because your competitors out there, the president could sit back in the White House and let them tell their story, or the president can go out and actually drive the bus and define what it is that he has done for the country.

sit back袖手旁观
例句：Many people just sit back and do not get concerned about the world's difficulties.
许多人不关心世间的困难, 只是袖手旁观。