VOA慢速英语2015 民调显示美国人不信任本国政府

AS IT IS 2015-11-28 Americans Distrust Their Government, Poll Says 民调显示美国人不信任本国政府

Most Americans don’t have much trust in their government, says a new poll.

最新民意调查显示，大多数美国人对本国政府没有足够的信任。

Only 19 percent of Americans trust the government “always or most of the time,”the survey by the Pew Research Center finds.Pew says trust levels are among the lowest in surveys of the past 50 years.

只有19%的美国人“经常或大多数时候”相信政府美国皮尤研究中心进行的这项调查显示，皮尤研究中心称，这个信任水平已经降到50年以来的最低点。

The trust level today is a big change from 15 years ago,right after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. At that time,60 percent of Americans said they trusted the government,Pew said.

跟15年前，也就是2001年的“9·11恐怖袭击事件”发生之后相比，今天的信任水平有很大的变化。皮尤研究中心称，那时候60%的美国人都表示自己“相信政府”。

Since then, trust in government has taken a major drop after the unpopular Iraq War and a dull economy.

从那时起，对政府的信任度在不得人心的伊拉克战争爆发和经济停滞之后便一落千丈。

However, most Americans have a long list of things they want their government to do. That includes dealing¹ with threats of terrorism, response to disasters and improving education.Air and water quality were also concerns.

但是，大多数美国人都想让本国政府做很多很多事。比如处理恐怖主义威胁、灾害响应以及提高教育水平等。也有人关心空气和水的质量。

But Americans say they have little faith in government’s ability to respond.Only 20 percent of people polled by Pew say they would describe government programs as well run.

但是美国人表示，他们对政府的响应能力没什么信心。受访者中只有20%的人表示他们会把政府计划描述为“运作良好”。

The influence of money on politics may add to the distrust of government, says Pew.

皮尤研究中心称，金钱在政治事务中的影响也加剧了不信任。

More than three-quarters of those polled say money “has a greater influence on politics and elected officials today than in the past.”

超过四分之三的受访者称金钱“和从前相比，在政治和选举官员中的作用更大了”。

Sixty-four percent say the large sums of money needed to run for president“discourages many good candidates from running.”

64%的受访者称，竞选总统需要大量的钱，“把很多优秀的候选人拒之门外”。

The poll confirms divisions between Democrats² and Republicans.

这次民意调查还进一步确认了民主党和共和党的分歧。

Eighty percent of Republicans say they want smaller government.

80%的共和党人说他们想要小一点的政府。

Only 31 percent of Democrats say they want smaller government.

只有31%的民主党人说他们想要小一点的政府。

About one-third of Republicans say government should help people gain health care coverage³.More than three-quarters of Democrats say they want government to improve health care.

大约三分之一的共和党人表示，政府应该努力提高医保的覆盖率。超过四分之三的民主党人表示他们希望政府能够提高医保水平。

Eighty-five percent of Republicans and 80 percent of Democrats tell Pew they believe the government should manage immigration.

85%的共和党人和80%民主党人在调查中表示，他们相信政府能够控制移民。

But Democrats and Republicans in Congress disagree on key immigration issues,such as what to do about Syrian refugees seeking admission to the United States.

但是国会中的两党在移民的关键问题上并不能达成一致，比如叙利亚难民的接纳问题。

Pew says it surveyed 6,000 Americans in the trust survey.

说有6000名美国人参与了信任调查。

Words in This Story

poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something

response - n. reaction

discourage - v. to show disapproval⁴; to make someone feel disheartened

faith – n. strong belief or trust in someone or something

manage - v. to direct or supervise

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

4 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。