2006年VOA标准英语-World Bank President: Africa Is First Priority

By Carolyn Weaver¹
Washington, DC
04 August 2006
 
watch World Bank Aid

 

 
Malaria² and HIV/AIDS still afflict³ Africans disproportionately 
  

When he became World Bank president 14 months ago, Paul Wolfowitz said it was clear that Africa had to be at the top of his list. Poverty on the continent has doubled in the last two decades. Nearly half of all Africans live on less than a dollar a day. AIDS and malaria overwhelm the continent, and most African children still don't complete primary school. But Wolfowitz said that his recent visits to more than a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa have given him reasons to be hopeful about Africa's future.

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World Band president Paul Wolfowitz sees signs of progress in many countries in sub-Suharan Africa   
  

"In my view, it's not a healthy world when so many people, concentrated in such a major continent, are slipping behind," Paul Wolfowitz told an audience at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington recently. "I felt when I was coming into this job that Africa had to be the first priority of the World Bank, simply because of its need." But Wolfowitz said he also sees signs of progress in sub-Saharan Africa. Fifteen countries have sustained economic growth rates of more than four percent in the last 10 years. Fewer wars rage on the continent. And the concept of good government is taking hold in some places.

 

Liberia emerged from years of civil war and elected a new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf   
  

"More countries are adhering to their own constitutions," he said. "The voices of civil society and parliaments to become stronger, and people are demanding stronger public governance and government accountability." The World Bank chief said one of the most impressive examples is Liberia, now emerging from more than 20 years of civil war. "Last November, the voters there elected Africa's first woman president who ran on a platform of good government, anti-corruption⁴, and reform, and defeated a popular soccer star," he noted⁵. "I think that says a lot about the maturity⁶ even of voters in extreme poverty, and a good deal about what the people Liberia really want.  They still have incredible challenges ahead of them.  Liberia is a country that needs almost everything, even desks for the schools.  But Liberia now has a chance."

 

 
The World Bank will improve access to financing for small and medium-sized African businesses, Wolfowitz said.
  

Wolfowitz said that rich lender nations have reformed their policies, by cooperating in anti-corruption efforts, for example. They've also pledged to double aid to Africa, to $50 billion by 2010, and to cancel the debt of the poorest countries.  As for the World Bank, it will increase financing for smaller businesses – and return to underwriting large infrastructure⁷ projects, such as roads and dams, that Wolfowitz said were justifiably⁸ criticized in the past.

"Some big mistakes were made," he acknowledged. "White elephants were built.  There was corruption on big infrastructure projects, roads that went to nowhere. There was environmental damage by some of the ill-conceived projects. But I think that doesn't change at all the fact that people need electricity to run businesses."  And he said that one of the most positive signs is that Africans themselves are taking the lead in overcoming the challenges facing their nations, and that African energy and ambition remain the continent's best hope.

1 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

2 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

3 afflict   

vt.使身体或精神受痛苦，折磨

参考例句：

• I wish you wouldn't afflict me with your constant complains.我希望你不要总是抱怨而使我苦恼。
• There are many illnesses,which afflict old people.有许多疾病困扰着老年人。

4 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。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 justifiably   

adv.无可非议地

参考例句：

• There General Walters would come aboard to greet me, justifiably beaming with pride at his arrangement. 在那儿沃尔特斯将军会登上飞机来接我，理所当然为他们的安排感到洋洋得意。 来自辞典例句
• The Chinese seemed justifiably proud of their economic achievements. 中国人似乎为他们的经济成就感到自豪，这是无可非议的。 来自互联网