VOA慢速英语:Weighing the First Year of Obama as President

1.Those challenges included an economic downturn, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and a promise to reform the health care system.

a promise to reform是动词不定式做后置定语。如：

The next train to arrive was from NewYork.下一列到站的火车是从纽约开来的。

I have nothing to say on this question.在这个问题上，我没有什么话要说。

We are looking for somewhere to live.我们正在找一个地方住。

某些动词或形容词后可接不定式时，它相应的同根名词也常用不定式做定语。

如：He made an attempt to learn English well.他试图学好英语。(attempt to do sth)

His ability to get on with people is his chief advantage.他能和人相处是他的主要优势。(be able to do sth)

I don't trust his promise to come for a visit.我不相信他来访的诺言。(promise to do sth)

Her anxiety to succeed led her to work hard.她迫切想成功，这促使她努力工作。(be anxious to do sth)

2.They say they don't necessarily agree with him on the issues they are most concerned about.

not necessarily未必，不一定

例句：Clouds do not necessarily forecast rain.
      云层未必预示下雨。

3.But more importantly, Senate Democrats lost their sixtieth vote.

more importantly插入语

插入语用法很多,在句子中的位置比较灵活,在学习中应当认真去体会。大体而言,插入语可以分为以下几类:

    1)用简短的句子结构作插入语。这类短语有:I think, I hope, I guess, I believe, I suppose, I wonder, I tell you, I say, I'm afraid, I'm sure, you see, you know, as you know, that is, that is to say, what's more等等,它们可以置于句中或句尾。如:
    I suggest you choose someone who you think is kind and friendly.
    This diet, I think, will do good to your health.
    It won't be raining long, I hope.
    You will have to work harder, you know, if you want to succeed.

    2)副词或副词短语用作插入语,这类插入语一般放在句首或句尾。如:
    Happily for him, his father's second wife was kind to him too.
    You'll be able to pass the coming exam, surely.
    Luckily for him, he didn't hurt in the accident.
    Honestly, I don't need it at the moment.

    3)介词或介词短语作插入语,这类插入语一般放在句首,有时也可放在句中。如:
    Like most of my schoolmates, I have neither brothers nor sisters-in other words, I'm an only child.
    By the way, Bob sends his best wishes.
    On the other hand, I didn't know you were there.
    In short, things have begun to improve since schools were called on to reduce learning load.

    4)分词短语作插入语。如:
    Judging from your accent, you must be from England.
    Generally speaking, he is the best student in our class.
    Compared with China, the USA is smaller.

    5)不定式短语作插入语。如:
    To put it mildly, he was not up to the mark.
    To tell you the truth, I don't want to see her.
    To be sure, Jim is a faster skater, but he is not good at doing figures.
    To conclude, it was a great success.

4.Smaller Democratic majorities could force the president to reach out to the opposition and to conservatives in his own party.

reach out to向某人伸出橄榄枝，与某人联系

例句：I try to reach out to my daughter but she doesn't want to have anything to do with me.
      我努力和我女儿进行联系，但她一点都不想与我来往。

      The organization is trying to reach out to the areas where poor people live.
      这个组织正在深入调查那些穷人居住的地区。