VOA慢速英语:Making of a Nation | American History: Ratifying the Constitution

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短语讲解：

1. Now, they had to get at least nine of the 13 states to approve it.

at least 至少
例句：At least two yeas of experience.
至少有两年的经验。

2. They wanted to be able to debate proposals, and change their minds, without worrying about public reaction. Now, they were free to speak openly.

be able to 能够
例句：We'll be able to smooth away these difficulties.
我们能够克服这些困难。

3. Just this proliferation, robust, wide-open, uninhibited discourse, up and down the continent!

up and down 上下打量
例句：I look up and down at the newcomer.
我上上下下地打量这个新来的人。

4. Supporters of the new Constitution understood that to win ratification, they must speak out.

speak out 说出来
例句：If you disagree, you'd better speak out.
如果你不同意，你最好坦率地说出来。

5. But they cared about this country.

care about 关心
例句：You think I care about that?
你觉得我在乎这个么?

6. Give too much power to the president, Congress and the courts, they said, and citizens would no longer be free.

no longer 不再
例句：She is no longer a child.
她不再是小孩子了。

7. They agreed to ratify if these guarantees were added later.

agree to 接受
例句：Well, I think we can agree to that.
这样的话，我想我们可以接受了。

8. But New York's anti-Federalists kept up the fight for three more weeks.

keep up 保持
例句：The least we can dois try to keep up appearances.
我们至少可以努力保持形象。