VOA慢速英语:Some of 2016’s Top News Stories Were Big Surprises

短语讲解：

1. The billionaire businessman and television star was not even expected to win the Republican Party nomination.

be expected to 被期待做某事; 有望做某事; 期许
例句：I shall be expected to shell out the money for the party.
我将要支付这个集会的费用。

2. At the beginning of the year, political experts expected one of his many Republican opponents to become the party’s nominee. But Trump won the most Republican primaries.

at the beginning of 在…之初
例句：The tune was composed at the beginning of the War of Liberation.
这支曲子是在解放战争初期谱写的。

3. Those losses hurt her; she was not able to receive enough electoral votes in the Electoral College.

be able to 能够; 能，会
例句：They may be able to help with childcare so that you can have a break
他们可以帮忙照料孩子，这样你就可以歇一歇了。

4. Another political surprise took place with Britain’s referendum on whether the nation would remain in the European Union.

take place 发生，举行
例句：A total solar eclipse is due to take place some time tomorrow.
明天某个时刻会发生日全食。

5. But, other parts of Britain voted in favor of Brexit.

in favor of 赞成[支持]（某人或某事物）
例句：Today's election will skew the results in favor of the northern end of the county.
今天的选举将使结果有利于这个郡的北部地区。

6. Several major terrorist attacks took place outside of conflict areas in 2016.

take place 发生，举行
例句：Earthquakes take place far underground.
地震则发生在地球的极深处。

7. In response to missile threats, South Korea agreed to the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system on its territory.

in response to 对…做出反应
例句：The meeting was called in response to a request from Venezuela.
应委内瑞拉的要求召开了这次会议。