2006年VOA标准英语-Peru Holds National Election

By Michael Bowman
Lima, Peru
09 April 2006
 
Peruvians voted Sunday in presidential and legislative¹ elections. A protest erupted at a polling station where an ultra-nationalist former military officer cast his ballot².

Ollanta Humala (r) and his wife Nadine Heredia after casting their votes  
  
Scores of demonstrators chanted "assassin" and hurled³ debris⁴ while security forces scrambled⁵ to allow Ollanta Humala safe passage from the polling station at a Lima university. Riot police were eventually called in to escort the candidate from the locale and help restore order.

Humala, one of three top contenders for the presidency⁶, has promised to wield⁷ a strong hand in fighting corruption⁸, poverty and unemployment. His detractors accuse him of violating human rights during his career and being a dictator in the making, but Humala denies wrongdoing and insists he will adhere to democratic principles.

Alejandro Toledo   
  
The protest came moments after outgoing President Alejandro Toledo praised voting as a democratic celebration carried out with absolute transparency.

He said, "There are more than 200 international observers present from the Organization of American States, from the United Nations, from Europe, and Asia. And I ask all Peruvians to vote, to exercise their right and help construct a better Peru."

Elsewhere, the mood was upbeat in an upscale Lima neighborhood where center-right candidate Lourdes Flores cast her ballot as supporters roared their approval.
 

Lourdes Flores  
  
Flores, who has promised to boost economic opportunity by aiding small businesses, and urged all Peruvians - including her supporters - to vote peacefully and condemned⁹ the anti-Humala protest.

She said, "I lament¹⁰ and deplore¹¹ it. What Peru needs today is a celebration of peace, harmony, democracy and respect for others. And I think these actions are not helpful in any way."

Flores, who hopes to become Peru's first female president, added she trusts voters to do what is best for the country.

Among those who voted for Flores is business administrator¹² Andres Trujillo.

He said, "Historically we have had all male presidents, and it has been a catastrophe¹³. I hope that a woman will put things in order."

Lima chef Consuela Garcia said she was tempted¹⁴ to vote for a female compatriot, but could not bring herself to do so.

She said, "I voted for Ollanta Humala. I hope everything changes, politically and economically. As for my career, I want to work."

Peru has enjoyed four consecutive¹⁵ years of strong economic growth, but poverty rates remain high. Surveys show most Peruvians feel they have benefited little from their country's overall economic improvement, and some analysts¹⁶ see the election as a contest about which candidate most embodies¹⁷ the concept of change.

Pre-election polls showed a tight race between Humala, Flores, and former President Alan Garcia, who says he is ready to lead once again and improve on the record of his previous administration.

No candidate is projected to come near the 50 percent of the vote needed to win the presidency outright¹⁸, making it likely that the top two vote-getters will compete in a run-off election at the end of the month.

1 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

5 scrambled   

v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

7 wield   

vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)

参考例句：

• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
• People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

10 lament   

n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹

参考例句：

• Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
• We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。

11 deplore   

vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾

参考例句：

• I deplore what has happened.我为所发生的事深感愤慨。
• There are many of us who deplore this lack of responsibility.我们中有许多人谴责这种不负责任的做法。

12 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

13 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

14 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

15 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

16 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

17 embodies   

v.表现( embody的第三人称单数 )；象征；包括；包含

参考例句：

• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This document embodies the concern of the government for the deformity. 这个文件体现了政府对残疾人的关怀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。