All American citizens over 18 years of age can vote for a president. The process of electing a president takes nearly a year. During the election year there are numerous local elections, called primary elections, held in many of the fifty states. These elections indicate who the most popular candidates are. In primary elections, usually held in the winter and spring, candidates run against members of their own parties. In this way they try to get support of party members around the country. During the summer,both parties have conventions where the party members make the final choice for the party's presidential candidate. Each party chooses a person to run for president and a person to run for vice president. The two candidates work as a team. They will win or lose the election together.

Once the final candidates are chosen, they campaign around the country, trying to win votes.

The national election is held in November. The candidate who wins becomes president the following January. The election process is long and costly. Thousands of people work for the leading candidates. Millions of dollars are spent. Individuals prepare to run for presidency for many years. Nearly all of these people fail to ever win.

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第一个问题是:

M: How do Americans choose a president?

F: They hold elections every 4 years.

第二个问题是:

M: What are "primary elections"?

F: They are local elections held before the national election.

第三个问题是:

M: When are the final candidates chosen?

F: They are chosen in party conventions during the summer.