每日英語跟讀 Ep.992: About the US -Awash in red ink：US posts record $3.1T 2020 budget deficit 美國2020年預算赤字達破紀錄的3.1兆美元與狗貓爭奪加州區長寶座

The federal budget deficit hit an all-time high of $3.1 trillion in the 2020 budget year, more than double the previous record, as the coronavirus pandemic shrank revenues and sent spending soaring.

由於新型冠狀病毒疫情造成盈餘縮減以及開支增加，2020預算年度的聯邦預算赤字達3.1兆美元，是有史以來最高，也是之前紀錄的2倍多。

It was the government’s largest annual shortfall in dollar terms, surpassing the previous record of $1.4 trillion set in 2009.

這是美國政府以美元計最大的年度財政缺口，超過之前在2009年創下的1.4兆美元紀錄。

The 2020 deficit, in terms of its relationship to the economy, represented 15.2% of total gross domestic product, the sum of all the goods and services produced by the country. That was the highest level since 1945, when the U.S. was borrowing heavily to finance World War II.

以對經濟的關係而言，這筆2020年赤字代表整體國內生產總值的15.2%，是自1945年以來最高，當年美國大量舉債支持第二次世界大戰的開銷。

Dogs and cats vying to be mayor of California neighbourhood 狗與貓爭奪加州社區區長的寶座

One Californian neighborhood had had enough of the acrimonious atmosphere among people ahead of the November 3 US elections.

1個加州社區已經受夠了11月3日美國大選前，人與人之間充滿火藥味的氛圍。

So the local street’s mayoral contest this weekend will be fought by cats and dogs, instead.

因此，這條地方街道本週末的區長競選，將改由貓與狗們角逐。

The 55th Street mayoral race in Oakland started with an incumbent cat named Wally running unopposed, but then other pets pounced at the opportunity to make the race competitive.

奧克蘭第55街的區長選戰，最初只有目前在職、名為沃利的貓欲競選，沒有競爭對手，但後來其他寵物也撲向了這個機會，替選戰增添了競爭力。

Kirstyn Russell’s 10-year-old Tabby has a campaign sign in the yard with the slogan ’Change Meow.’

科斯汀．羅素的10歲虎斑貓在陽台有塊競選標示，上面寫了標語「改變喵」。

Mary Owen has an 11-year-old Shiba Inu named Mimi, running with the slogan ‘She’ll bark when it matters.’ She said the light-hearted race was a chance to share the importance of civic engagement with children.

瑪莉．歐文有1隻11歲的柴犬咪咪，以「她會在重要的時候吠」為標語競選。她說，這場輕鬆愉快的選戰是1個能與小孩分享公民參與的重要機會。

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1411764 ; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1413456