VOA慢速英语:After 'Shellacking' of Democrats, What Now for Obama and the Republicans?

1.It is pretty clear the American people want us to do something about cutting spending here in Washington.

pretty在这里做副词。

fairly, quite, rather, very, pretty 用法区别 一、含义上的区别1. 这几个副词都可表示程度，fairly 语气最轻，尽管经常与褒义词连用，但由于语气较弱，往往不带明显的恭维或赞赏，通常译为“还算”、“相当”相当 fairly good，指的可能是还勉强过得去，只是没有否定。2. quite 语气稍重，意为“颇”或“相当”。要是说某一部电影quite good，那是说这部电影相当不错，虽不是最好，但至少值得看。3. rather 或 pretty 在语气上又稍重一点，意为“十分”或“相当”(pretty 不如 rather 正式)。要是说某一部电影 rather / pretty good，指的是这电影相当不错，语气比较重，意指要高出一般水平或出乎意料地好。两者均可与褒义或贬义形容词连用。与褒义词连用，表示一种愉快的心情，与贬义(包括不褒不贬)词连用，表示一种不赞成或不满意的心情。如：She looked rather [quite] nervous. 她显得相当紧张。It’s a rather [quite] interesting book. 它是一本相当有趣的书。She looked rather [quite] disappointed about it. 她对此显得相当
失望。4. very 语气最强，意为“很”或“或非常”。 要是说某一部电影very good，这是说这部电影很不错，算得上是精品之作。以上几个副词按语气的轻重可大致描述为：(not) → fairly → quite → rather / pretty → very

2.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell recently said his party's top political goal is to make sure Mr. Obama is a one-term president.

make sure设法确保出现某事物

例句：We and our friends will make sure of that.
      我们和我们的朋友要确保这一点。

3.But he says he is not open to major changes in the health care law.

be open to易于接受

例句：This swimming pool is open to the general public.
      这个游泳池是开放给大众的。

      This book is open to misunderstanding.
      这本书容易引起误解。

4.Mr. Fortier says it might be harder this time, in part because attention now turns to the twenty twelve presidential campaign.

turn to(把注意力等)转向

例句：More and more people turn to computer science.
      愈来愈多的人从事计算机科学研究。

      We are all turning our thoughts to the matter.
      我们大家都开始转而考虑这个问题。