24.Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
24.美国参议员代表谁？
Answer:
答案：
All people of the state
本州的所有公民
Explanation:
解释：
Here’s an interesting thing about the U.S. government: even if you vote against the person who wins an election (or a competition to see who gets the most votes and is chosen for a public position), he or she has to represent you! In other words, if you vote for person A to become senator, but person B wins, then person B must represent you just as if you had voted for him or her! That is why we say that U.S. senators represent all the people of a state.
美国政府有一件趣事是：即使你投了入选者的反对票，他也必须代表你！也就是说，如果你选举A为参议员，但B入选了，那么B就必须代表你就像你选了他一样，这也就是我们所说的美国参议员代表了本州所有的公民。
How does a senator do this? Obviously (or clearly), a senator cannot meet and speak with all the people whom he or she represents. This would take up too much time and he or she would never be able to attend the Senate sessions (or meetings with other representatives). So, instead of speaking with everyone in the state, senators rely on (or depend on or use) opinion polls (or surveys or questionnaires) that show what most people in their state think about important topics. This is an easy way for a senator to know what most peoplethinkaboutacertain law without having to call everyone to ask.
一名参议员怎么做到这些呢？很显然，一名参议员不可能会见本州所有的公民，这样会很费时，而且他都没时间参加参议院会议了。因此，取而代之的是，参议员依靠民意调查对重要事件选民的意见作出评判。这样参议员不用给每个人打电话就很容易知道大多数人的想法。
Senators also try to create opportunities for interested voters to speak with them about pressing issues (or topics that they think are most important). Voters can always call, email, or write to their senators to share their opinions. Senators also have offices where they can meet with their constituents (or the people they represent). They normally have an office in Washington, D.C. where the Senate sessions are held (or where they happen), and at least one office in their state, usually in the most important city or cities. When Senate is in session (or having meetings), the senators are in Washington, D.C. The rest of the time, they are normally in their home states, speaking with votersandplanningwhatthey want to do the next time the Senate is in session.
参议员也会给关心重大新闻的积极选民创造机会。选民可以给参议员打电话，发邮件或写信表达自己的意见，参议员也有与选民会面的办公室。办公室通常设在参议院开会的华盛顿，每个州重要的城市也会有至少一个办公室。参议院开会时，参议员在华盛顿，其他的时间他们基本都在本州与选民沟通计划下一期会议时需要做的事情。
Glossary
词汇
24.Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
24.参议员代表谁？
election - a competition to see who gets the most votes and is chosen for a public position
Election—一场关于谁拿到最多选票并当选公众职位的竞争
*How many Americans voted in the last U.S. presidential election? obviously - clearly; easily seen and understood
*上届总统选举有多少美国人投票？
*Obviously, if you want to become a doctor, you have to go to medical school. session - a meeting
Obviously—清楚地；容易看到和理解
*Did your senator attend all of the sessions last month?
*很显然，如果你想当医生就必须要上医学院。
to rely on (something) - to need and use something; to depend on something
Session—会议
*We rely on the public busses to get to work each day.
*你们的参议员有参加上个月的所有会议吗？
poll - a survey; a questionnaire; a question or a list of questions asked of many people to find out the opinions of a group or of the general public
To rely on (something)—需要使用某事；依靠某事
*We're conducting a poll to learn what people think about our products. Are you willing to answer a few questions?
*我们每天上下班做公交。
pressing issue - a topic that is extremely important
Poll—调查；问卷；向多人询问的一组问题并找出他们的意见
*The rising cost of healthcare is a pressing issue in the United States.
*我们组织了一次关于公众对我们产品意见的问卷调查，您能回答一下吗？
constituents - the people represented by an elected official; the people who live in an area that an elected official represents
Pressing issue—非常重要耳朵话题
*The Senator has meetings with his constituents each month to learn about what is most important to them.
*不断上涨的医疗保健是美国的一个重要话题。
to hold (a meeting) - to have a meeting at a particular time and place
Constituents—由选举官员代表的民众；选举官员代表区域的居民
*Their conference was held last Wednesday at the Grand Hotel.
*参议员与选民每月会见一次了解他们关心的事情。
in session - having a meeting
To hold (a meeting)—特定时间地点举行的会议
*Quiet, please! This court is now in session.
*他们会议上周三在大饭店召开。
In session—会议中