VOA慢速英语:U.S. Election Attention Centers on Senate Race

短语讲解：

1. The media is closely watching several races that could lead to a Republican Party majority in the Senate.

lead to 把…带到; 领到; （道路）通向; 导致
例句：A little exaggeration can lead to serious consequences.
一丝一毫的夸大都可能导致严重的后果。

2. Republicans are expected to hold and possibly expand their majority in the House of Representatives.

be expected to 被期待做某事; 有望做某事; 期许
例句：That could hardly be expected to last.
这很难预计将持续多久。

3. However, Republicans have called for the law to be repealed. T

call for 去接（某人）; 去取（某物）; 需要; 要求
例句：Chinese companies call for fairer treatment from foreigners.
中国公司要求更公平的对待外国人。

4. Mr. Obama has promised to use an executive order to put new immigration rules in place by the end of the year.

by the end of 到…为止
例句：By the end of the game, the stadium was almost vacant. 
到比赛结束的时候,体育馆几乎空了。 

5. A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman accused the U.S. of "pursuing a policy for bringing down the state and social system" of North Korea by using human rights.

bring down 降（价）; 把（某物，某人）抬下（楼、山）
例句：Measures are taken to bring down the workshop. 
车间里采取了降温措施。 

6. Hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims are in the holy Iraqi city of Karbala.

hundreds of thousands of 几十万，无数
例句：The city subways carry hundreds of thousands of passengers a day. 
市内的地下铁每天运载数十万乘客。 

7. They have done so even though there is a continuing threat of Sunni extremist attacks.

even though 尽管
例句：Even though he' s old he' s game for anything. 
尽管他年岁已大,但他对什么都敢作敢为。 

8. Sunni militants from the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for a number of deadly attacks against Shi'ites who were traveling to Karbala for Ashura.

a number of 许多的; 一些
例句：Monkeys are transmitters of a number of dangerous diseases. 
猴子是许多危险疾病的传染媒介。