They take a soap-opera plot ? betrothed teenager falls for stranger, perfect mother is betrayed by her neighbors, ex-prostitute tries to live an honorable life …
他们采用通俗肥皂剧的剧情：如已定亲的少年爱上了陌生人；贤妻良母遭邻居出卖；从良的妓女想过有尊严的生活……
plot n. （小说等的）情节，构想； betrothed adj. 已订婚的
boast v. 夸耀
Boasts Mayor Bill Campbell:"During the Olympics Atlanta will be the safest city in this country, certainly, and on the globe, probably."
市长坎贝尔夸口说：“奥运期间，亚特兰大将是全国，甚至可能是全世界最安全的地方。”
champion v. 提倡
[同]advocate
Psychiatrist Brian Weiss is perhaps the most exotic. He champions reincarnation therapy.
心理医生布赖恩?韦斯可能是最特异的一位，他提倡轮回疗法。
characterize v. 有……特征
[同]describe
"I can’t characterize my music as religious, although religious music is very close and dear to me," says Kancheli, a devout Orthodox Christian.
“我不能把自己的音乐视为宗教音乐，虽然宗教音乐我常接触，而且是我所挚爱。”虔诚的东征教徒坎且利如是说。
claim v. 声称
[同]maintain
In fact, authorities claim that one-third of Taiwan’s more than 1200 known "black societies" were dissolved during the amnesty.
事实上，当局声称，台湾已知的1200多个黑社会帮派中，有1/3在这次特赦中解散。
collapse v. 崩溃，倒塌
As baby boomers save for retirement, colleges for the kids or a rainy day (say, when the U.S. Social Security system collapses), their investment rates will soar.
婴儿潮时期出生的人口正在存钱以备养老、儿女的教育基金或是不时之需（例如一旦美国是会保险机制崩溃时），所以他们的投资比例会大幅增加。
a rainy day 将来可能有的苦日子
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