VOA慢速英语:American History: Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis

短语讲解：

1. Kennedy, a Democrat, defeated Republican Vice President Richard Nixon in one of the closest elections in United States history. He took office in January nineteen sixty-one.

take office就职
例句：He took office at a difficult time.
他是在困难时刻就职的。

2. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island.

in preparation在准备中
例句：Plans for selling the new product are now in preparation.
销售新产品的计划现在正在准备之中。

3. Upon receiving the first preliminary hard information of this nature last Tuesday morning at nine a.m., I directed that our surveillance be stepped up.

step up加紧，加快；增加
例句：He's stepping up writing his new novel.
他正在加紧写作他的新小说。

4. Several of them include medium range ballistic missiles, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than one thousand nautical miles.

capable of有……能力（或技能）的；能……的
例句：Susan is capable of hard work.
苏珊能胜任艰苦的工作。

5. Kennedy decided to use a naval blockade -- he called it a "quarantine" -- to prevent any more Soviet ships from reaching Cuba.

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。

6. The United States and the Soviet Union did make some progress on arms control.

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。

7. Kennedy also had to deal with domestic issues, including discrimination against blacks.

deal with应付, 处理; 对待
例句：He must deal with many difficulties.
他必须应付许多困难。

8. The administration also supported a voter registration campaign to sign up more black voters.

sign up跟…签订合同
例句：They manage to sign up all the best performers.
他们设法跟所有最佳演员签订合同。

9. Robert Kennedy repeatedly called on National Guard troops to protect blacks when they tried to register to vote or attend white schools.

call on要求, 请求, 号召
例句：The government called on the workers to oppose waste.
政府号召工人反对浪费。

10. He said he shot Oswald to prevent the Kennedy family from having to live through a trial.

live through经历过; 经历…而未死
例句：She has lived through several terrible accidents.
她曾经历过几次可怕的意外事故。