| Acknowledgements | 第1-5页 |
| Abstract (English version) | 第5-7页 |
| Abstract (Chinese version) | 第7-9页 |
| Contents | 第9-12页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第12-17页 |
| ·Origin of this Study | 第12-13页 |
| ·Necessity and Significance of this Study | 第13-14页 |
| ·Objectives of this Study | 第14-15页 |
| ·Organization of this Thesis | 第15-17页 |
| Chapter Two Presupposition and Debate: An Overview | 第17-31页 |
| ·Studies on Presupposition | 第17-24页 |
| ·Definitions of Presupposition | 第17-19页 |
| ·Properties of Presupposition | 第19-22页 |
| ·Properties of Semantic Presuppositon | 第19-20页 |
| ·Properties of Pragmatic Presupposition | 第20-22页 |
| ·Presupposition Triggers | 第22-24页 |
| ·Studies on Debates | 第24-31页 |
| ·Definitions and Classifications of Debates | 第25-28页 |
| ·Other relevant Studies on Debates | 第28-29页 |
| ·Studies on debates by scholars abroad | 第28页 |
| ·Studies on debates by scholars in China | 第28-29页 |
| ·Inspirations from previous studies | 第29-31页 |
| Chapter Three The Adaptation Theory | 第31-42页 |
| ·Introduction to the Adaptation Theory | 第31-32页 |
| ·Language Use as a Process of Making Choices | 第32-34页 |
| ·Three Properties of Language | 第34-38页 |
| ·Variability | 第34-36页 |
| ·Negotiability | 第36页 |
| ·Adaptability | 第36-38页 |
| ·Verschueren's Four Angles of Pragmatic Investigation | 第38-42页 |
| Chapter Four The Adaptative Nature of Presuppositions in Presidential Debates | 第42-72页 |
| ·Data Sources | 第42-43页 |
| ·American Televised Presidential Debates | 第43-44页 |
| ·Presuppositions in American Televised Presidential Debates | 第44-57页 |
| ·Functions of Presupposition in Presidential Debates | 第44-49页 |
| ·Presupposition and conciseness of debating language | 第45-46页 |
| ·Presupposition and concealment function of debating language | 第46-47页 |
| ·Presupposition and self-protection function of debating language | 第47-49页 |
| ·Presupposition Triggers in Presidential Debates | 第49-57页 |
| ·Adaptability of Presuppositions in Presidential Debates | 第57-72页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Discourse World of Politics | 第57-65页 |
| ·Defining the notion of political language | 第57-58页 |
| ·Characteristics of political language | 第58页 |
| ·Use of presuppositions as adaptation to the discourse world of politics | 第58-65页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Physical World—Being Economical | 第65-66页 |
| ·Adaptation to the Mental World | 第66-72页 |
| ·Adaptation to the intentions of the Candidates | 第67-69页 |
| ·Adaptation to the expectations of the Audience | 第69-72页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第72-75页 |
| ·Major Findings of the Study | 第72-73页 |
| ·Implications of the Study | 第73页 |
| ·Limitations of the Study and Suggestions for Further Research | 第73-75页 |
| Bibliography | 第75-78页 |
| Publications | 第78页 |
