VOA慢速英语:American History: The Election of 1960

短语讲解：

1. Three days from now, after half a century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the presidency is vested in my successor.

lay down放下; 使躺下
例句：The enemy laid down their arms.
敌人放下武器投降。

2. The Constitution was changed to prevent presidents from being elected more than twice, after Franklin Roosevelt won four times.

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。

3. Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment. ...

depend upon依赖,依靠; 取决于
例句：Nature is what we humans depend upon for survival.
大自然是人类赖以生存的有限空间。

4. We should take nothing for granted.

take for granted认为…理所当然, 想当然
例句：We shouldn't take anything for granted.
我们不要认为什么都是理所当然的。

5. The Soviet Union launched the space age by putting the first satellite into orbit around Earth. Fidel Castro established a communist government in Cuba.

put into使处于某种状态
例句：It's a wonderful scheme, and he's just the man to put it into effect.
这是一个很好的计划, 而他正是实施这个计划的人选。

6. And he called for new efforts for peace and freedom around the world.

call for要求
例句：The letter calls for an investigation of the facts.
来信要求对这些事实进行调查。

7. He then went on to win many votes in other primaries

go on继续下去
例句：If he goes on like this he'll lose his job.
如果他继续这样下去,他会丢掉差事的。

8. In his acceptance speech, he said he would ask Americans to help their country and sacrifice for their country.

sacrifice for为…而牺牲〔放弃〕
例句：A mother will sacrifice her life for her children.
为了孩子, 一个母亲可以献出她自己的生命。

9. In the fourth debate, they expressed widely different opinions about whether the United States was making progress.

make progress前进,进步
例句：During these years the labour movement of the United States has made great progress.
这些年来, 美国的工人运动已取得巨大的进展。

10. And another was how to deal with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

deal with应付, 处理; 对待
例句：There are many difficulties to be dealt with when starting a new business.
开展一项新业务时, 有许多困难需要解决。