英语听力精选进阶版 9131（在线收听）

Senior Russian and American officials are due to hold talks in Washington shortly, which are being seen as a test of President Trump's election promise to improve bilateral relations with Moscow. Russia is demanding the US hand back 2 diplomatic compounds, which the Obama administration shut down last year.

俄罗斯和美国高级官员将于近期在华盛顿举行会谈，这被视为是对特朗普总统竞选期间承诺改善与莫斯科双边关系的考验。俄罗斯要求美国归还去年奥巴马政府关闭的两座外交建筑。

The outgoing head of the Government Ethics Agency in the US says President Trump's administration has made the country a virtual laughing stock by ignoring long-established guidelines. Walter Shaub told the New York Times that he made it hard for the US to tackle corruption overseas.

即将离任的美国政府道德办公室负责人表示，特朗普总统的政府无视设立已久的指导方针，使该国成为真正的笑料。沃尔特·萧波告诉纽约时报，特朗普让美国处理海外腐败问题变得非常困难。

The Venezuelan opposition has called for a 24-hour general strike on Thursday in an intensification of its campaign against the government of Nicholas Maduro. The announcement was made a day after millions of Venezuelans took part in an unofficial referendum against Mr. Maduro's plans to rewrite the constitution.

委内瑞拉反对派呼吁周四举行24小时的大罢工，以加强对尼古拉斯·马杜罗政府的打击力度。此前一天，数百万委内瑞拉人参加了针对马杜罗总统修改宪法计划的非官方公投。

Qatar has insisted the United Arab Emirates was behind a hacking attack on its news websites in May in violation of international law. The UAE has denied the allegations. The incident has been seen as contributing to the decision by some gulf states to boycott Qatar.

卡塔尔坚称，阿联酋是五月份其国内新闻网站遭遇黑客袭击的幕后主使，而这是违反国际法的。阿联酋否认了这些指控。该事件被视为几个海湾国家抵制卡塔尔的导火索。

Sources in Mali say 8 soldiers who were ambushed by suspected jihadists earlier this month have been found dead. The attack took place in the north of the country.

马里知情人士表示，本月早些时候遭遇疑似圣战分子伏击的8名士兵被发现死亡。此次袭击发生在该国北部。

A televised debate being held for Kenyan politicians hoping to become deputy president in next month's elections has attracted only one candidate. Muthiora Kariara, a political novice, answered questions on her own, as the main candidates boycotted the program.

为在下月的选举中选出肯尼亚副总统而为政界人士举行的电视辩论只吸引了一位候选人参加。由于主要候选人联合抵制这次辩论，政坛新秀Muthiora Kariar独自回答了问题。

Guatemala has extradited to Mexico the former governor of Veracruz state, Javier Duarte. He's charged with corruption and money laundering.

危地马拉已将前维拉克鲁斯州州长哈维尔·杜阿尔特引渡到墨西哥。他被指控犯有腐败和洗钱罪。

And business unions and schools in Catalonia have signed up to a pact to compress the traditionally long working day.

加泰罗尼亚企业工会和学校签署了一项协议来压缩传统的超长工作时长。