外刊精读(八)：Barack Obama, Comedian in Chief.docxVIP

Barack Obama, Comedian in ChiefThe president’s unique approach to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner will surely be missed.【生词】unique 独特的 White House白宫 Correspondents 通讯员【翻译】总统招待白宫记者晚宴的独特方式肯定会怀念。No U.S. President has been a better comedian than Barack Obama. It’s really that simple. 【生词】comedian 喜剧演员【翻译】没有一位美国总统像巴拉克?奥巴马一样更像一个喜剧演员。就是那么简单。Now that doesn’t mean that some modern-day presidents couldn’t tell a joke. John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton excelled at it. But Obama has transformed the way presidents use comedy-not just engaging in self-deprecation or playfully teasing his rivals, but turning his barbed wit on his opponents.【生词】excel at精通 transform改变 self-deprecation自嘲 barbed讽刺的 wit 智慧【分析】句子的主干是But Obama has transformed the way presidents use comedy。破折号后面是补充成分，起到解释说明的作用。【翻译】现在,这并不意味着一些现代总统不能讲笑话。约翰·f·肯尼迪,罗纳德·里根和比尔·克林顿擅长讲笑话。但是奥巴马改变了总统使用喜剧的方式——不仅仅从事自嘲或逗弄他的竞争对手,就用智慧把矛头指向对手。He puts that approach on display every year at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This annual tradition, which began in 1921 when 50 journalists (all men) gathered in Washington D.C., has become a showcase for each president’s comedy chops. Some presidents have been bad, some have been good. Obama has been the best. He’s truly the killer comedian in chief.【生词】journalists 记者 showcase 展示【分析】句子的主干是This annual tradition has become a showcase for each president’s comedy chops。which began in 1921 when 50 journalists (all men) gathered in Washington D.C.是定语从句修饰annual tradition。【翻译】每年在白宫记者晚宴上他都会展示这种方式。五十位记者齐聚在华盛顿自1921年起就成为一年一度的传统，成为每位总统展示喜剧天分的时机。有的总统不擅长，,有些总统擅长。奥巴马一直是最好的。他是的可以秒杀首席喜剧演员。Presidents typically play it safe at the dinner. You can never go wrong with self-deprecating jokes; they make you more likable. But Obama rejected this approach. Instead, he has used the chance to filet his rivals. It’s like a comedic version of Game of Thrones, but instead of gouging out people’s eyes, Obama kills with punchlines.【生词】 typically 典型地，代表性地 rival对手 punchline妙语如珠【翻译】在晚宴上，总统通常小心翼翼地使用喜剧。自