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Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

DailyStep-5_politics-American-002_US-04

Monica: I have noticed that an hysterical almost fascist element has

crept into American political vernacular in recent times.

Doug: Yes, after Obama’s political honeymoon was over, the attempts

from the Right to discredit him became more and more ridiculous. The

people from the Tea Party have come out with all sorts of crazy

aspersions.

Monica: Such as?

Doug: They regularly accuse elected representatives of betraying the

nation, or simultaneously try to portray them as being both Nazis and

communists while alluding to the need for armed insurrection. Palin even

posted pictures on her Facebook page showing the regions contested by

her political opponents as viewed through the sights of a gun, with

crosshairs placed over the target. I’m sure she didn’t mean it to be taken

literally and I bet that she regrets her stupidity now.

Monica: With a bit of luck, after this tragedy the Republican Party will

start to perceive her as more of a liability than an asset.

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Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

Situation: Both Doug and Monica express the hope that Sarah Palin’s behavior will lead
to her having less influence on the American Republican Party. This conversation took
place in 2011.
Style: General conversation
.

Functions:
1. Making an observation: I have noticed that an hysterical almost fascist element
has crept into American political vernacular in recent times. (note: please copy
the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
2. Asking for an example: Such as? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis
carefully here.)
3. Making a prediction: and I bet that she regrets her stupidity now. (note:
please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)
4. Being positive: With a bit of luck, after this tragedy the Republican Party will
start to perceive her as more or a liability than an asset. (note: please copy the
tone and emphasis carefully here.)
.

Notes:
1. hysterical = uncontrolled / crazy
2. fascist = extremely right wing and in favor of fascism
3. element = aspect
4. has crept into (phrasal verb) = has slowly become part of / has gradually started
appearing in
5. political vernacular = form of language that a particular group of speakers use
6. political honeymoon (idiom) = period of goodwill and acceptance that came from
the voters immediately after the election
7. to discredit him = to make him look bad and damage his reputation
8. the Tea Party = the ultra-Conservative political movement in the USA which
wants to limit the power and influence of the state and engages in severe
criticism of the Obama administration.
9. have come out with (phrasal verb) = have expressed
10. aspersions = criticisms / damaging remarks about someone’s character
11. Such as? (very direct and quite informal) = Could you give me an example of
what you mean, please? (more formal)
12. elected representatives = politicians
13. betraying the nation = being disloyal to the nation / behaving like a traitor
14. simultaneously = at the same time
15. to portray them as = to describe them as / to show them to be / to make them
out to be (phrasal verb)
16. Nazis = Fascists who want a pure, Ayrian race
17. alluding to (phrasal verb: to allude to something = to mention or suggest
something without speaking about it directly) = mentioning (or suggesting
without referring to directly)
18. armed insurrection = rebellion in which weapons are to be used
19. posted pictures on her Facebook page = put pictures on her Facebook page
20. the sights of a gun = the optical apparatus used for aiming a gun
21. the crosshairs = the thin black lines on the optical sight of a gun which are used
to take aim at the target
22. the target = the object that is being aimed at

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Level 5: Advanced Daily Audio Lessons

23. to be taken literally (idiom: to take something literally = to misunderstand a

statement that was meant to be taken metaphorically) = to be interpreted
exactly word for word and not to be seen as a metaphor
24. I bet that = I imagine that
25. With a bit of luck = With some good fortune (more formal)
26. to perceive her as = to see her as
27. a liability = someone who is damaging to their cause
28. an asset = someone who is has a positive image and helps their cause
29. .
Audio file name: DailyStep-5_politics-American-002_US-04
.

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