VOA慢速英语:Ex-Prisoners Ask for Second Chance and a Job

短语讲解：

1. Now everyone is spending all their time looking down at their phones,” he said.

look down 轻视; 看不起; 小看
例句：Never look down on people less superior than you.
千万不要小看地位不如你的人。

2. According to the U.S. Justice Department, over 2.2 million people are held in federal, state and local prisons.

according to 根据，按照
例句：According to her, grandfather called at noon.
据她说,祖父在中午打来电话。

3. “This does two things,” he said. “It makes them develop a relationship with someone who is respected in the community and to live up to the recommendation that they got for the job.”

live up to 不辜负; 履行; 达到高标准
例句：I had to live up to my oath.
我必须履行我的宣誓。