【文／高志豪／中華民國國際職能教育發展協會執行長】
“In addition, I had real and serious concerns about an independent counsel investigation that began with private business dealings 20 years ago, dealings I might add about which an independent federal agency found no evidence of any wrongdoing by me or my wife over two years ago.
“The independent counsel investigation moved on to my staff and friends, then into my private life. And now the investigation itself is under investigation.
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business dealings |
商業交易，商務關係 |
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federal agency |
聯邦機構 |
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wrongdoing |
n. 違法，犯罪 |
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move on to |
轉向 |
［筆者按］這段話牽扯到過往的Whitewatergate（白水門醜聞）：那該死的獨立檢察官Kenneth Starl！他從1994年起，就開始調查我擁有50%股份的Whitewater Department Corporation，說什麼官商勾結啦，妨礙司法、作偽證啦！還好，當時上帝正在睡覺，Starl找不到確切的證據。但是，天殺的，該死！他轉向調查我的員工，甚至於私生活吔！Starl調查了幾年，花了近千萬美元的公帑，耗費鉅大的社會成本，他的調查報告和資料堆滿了好幾個房間！他現在也在被調查是否過度浪費民脂民膏。活該！該死的Kenneth Starl！
“This has gone on too long, cost too much and hurt too many innocent people.
“Now, this matter is between me, the two people I love most – my wife and our daughter – and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so.
“Nothing is more important to me personally. But it is private, and I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It’s nobody’s business but ours.
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reclaim |
v. 重得，取回 |
［筆者按］這段話的意思是：這件八卦也扯太久了。可不要因為我是美國總統，就緊追不放，還累及無辜！這是我的私事，不干別人的閒事哪！
“Even presidents have private lives. It is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives and get on with our national life.
“Our country has been distracted by this matter for too long, and I take my responsibility for my part in all of this. That is all I can do.
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pry |
v. 刺探，打聽 |
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distract |
v. 使分心（分散注意力） |
［筆者按］雖然我是總統，也有私生活啊！你們不要被這件緋聞，噢，不對！不要被「不恰當的關係」的閒話，分散了注意力！當然，我是該負全責的啦！
“Now it is time – in fact, it is past time to move on.
“We have important work to do – real opportunities to seize, real problems to solve, real security matters to face.
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more on |
變換花樣，花樣翻新 |
［筆者按］這是換個話題的時候了！我們有正事要辦、有問題等著解決、有安全問題要面對吔！
“And so tonight, I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of the past seven months, to repair the fabric of our national discourse, and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise of the next American century.
Thank you for watching. And good night.”
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spectacle |
n. 異常的事（現象） |
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fabric |
n. 結構 |
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discourse |
n. 交談 |
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promise |
n. 前途，希望 |
［筆者按］今晚，就拜託各位換個話題吧！我們必須轉移注意力到下一個美國人的世紀的挑戰和願景，這才對嘛！這段話讓筆者回想起求學時代的演講或作文，在結尾的時候，都必然加上：我們要處變不驚、慎謀能斷，然後自立自強，進一步反攻大陸，拯救大陸同胞於水深火熱之中！
讀者們，看完這篇演說詞，您有何感想呢？您可知道：當時Clinton的民調支持度，已低落到百分之三十左右。然而，從電視上看到他初始以和緩低沉的語調，然後似乎愧疚又帶著辯解意味的言語，進而轉為鏗鏘有力、鼓舞人們奮發的言詞，這堪稱是一場精采絕倫的表演。在Clinton電視演說之後，他的民調支持度居然遽升到百分之六十五左右；而以此醜聞猛烈抨擊他的共和黨，在1998年期中選舉中卻敗下陣來。美國人的天真幼稚（naïve）於此可見，令人為之搖頭。
這篇演講稿裡，充斥著I tell…, I say…, that is why…, as you know…, I know…, I had concerns about…, I take…, I ask you…諸如此類的字眼，都是要陳述自己的意見、看法、理由，這是標準的Opinion-Reason Pattern；同時，從以下其他的文字也可以看出來，如I think…, I believe…, I prefer…, I judge…, I regard…, I sure…, as I see it…, in my opinion…, according to my viewpoint…,這些都是「意見理由型」的文章經常出現的字眼。
限於篇幅，其他三種閱讀的類型於下期TOEIC OK News再談。之後，將談談有關閱讀的三種層次。
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