2006年VOA标准英语-Questions Mount Concerning Cuban Leader Fidel C

By Michael Bowman
Washington
10 August 2006

It has been more than 10 days since Cuba announced that President Fidel Castro had undergone gastrointestinal surgery and temporarily transferred executive authority to his brother, Raul. Since then, there has been no independent confirmation¹ of Mr. Castro's state of health.  The lack of information has generated suspense² and much conjecture³ about the condition of world's longest-serving president, who turns 80 Sunday.

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Cuban President Fidel Castro, speaks in Havana, September 9, 2002 (File photo)

Cuban officials have told the island's government-controlled news media that Fidel Castro's health condition is being kept as a state secret, given what they describe as U.S. threats and plots to forcibly change Cuba's form of government. But they insist Mr. Castro's recovery from surgery is going well, that he is able to sit up in bed and read documents, and that doctors anticipate a return to presidential duties in a matter of weeks or months.

Cuba watchers say such upbeat assessments⁴ are to be expected from Fidel Castro's top lieutenants⁵, but add that, for now, they have nothing else on which to base any judgments⁶. At the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American studies, senior fellow Andy Gomez says the world is in the dark when it comes to Fidel Castro's condition.

"We have not seen any facts that we can analyze⁷ and say, 'This is what is going on.'  We do not know," he said.

But what is to be made of the dearth⁸ of information, including the lack of any photos of Mr. Castro since his operation? Gomez says there are several possible explanations. One is that Fidel is, as Cuban officials say, on the road to recovery, and that the government prefers to withhold⁹ details until he is able to fully¹⁰ resume presidential duties.

Another possibility, according to Gomez, is that the government is still in the process of implementing¹¹ plans drawn¹² up for the post-Castro period, and is hiding the severity of Fidel's health problems to buy themselves more time.

"The silence can also be interpreted as making sure that the security apparatus¹³ is put in place, so if and when Fidel becomes gravely ill, leading to his death, they can prevent any kind of protest [unrest] throughout the island," he added.

For many Cuban exiles in Florida and elsewhere, every passing day without evidence of Mr. Castro's condition adds to their growing belief that, dead or alive, his days as "maximum leader" are over. 

		Cuban President Fidel Castro, left, and his brother Raul Castro, are seen in Havana in this April 13, 2000

At Miami's leading Cuban-American radio station, Radio Mambi, the consensus¹⁴ opinion of commentators¹⁵, analysts¹⁶ and callers alike is that Fidel Castro is finished as a leader, and that the rule of Raul Castro, 75, who has also not been seen in public, will be brief.   Many argue that, were Fidel Castro well enough to pose for a picture, such a photo would have been distributed by now.

But a former head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Wayne Smith, cautions against reading too much into the habits of Cuban officials when it comes to divulging¹⁷ anything about Fidel Castro.

"I would not read too much into it because their system is quite different," he said.  "They do not have a free press; the media is controlled. [Ricardo] Alarcon, the President of the [Cuban] National Assembly, and a number of other public figures have said that he [Fidel] is doing well, he is recuperating¹⁸. And I think from their point of view, given the kind of system they have, they feel that is enough."

Smith notes that Cubans on the island have reacted with calm to news of their leaders ailing¹⁹ health, and that in the absence of unrest there is little pressure on officials to be more forthcoming about Mr. Castro's status.

Nevertheless, with Fidel's long-anticipated 80th birthday just days away, Smith says, if officials on the island were inclined to release a photo of Mr. Castro, his birthday would be a perfect opportunity.

Cuba has postponed²⁰ official celebrations of Fidel's birthday until early December.

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

3 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

4 assessments   

n.评估( assessment的名词复数 )；评价；（应偿付金额的）估定；（为征税对财产所作的）估价

参考例句：

• He was shrewd in his personal assessments. 他总能对人作出精明的评价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Surveys show about two-thirds use such assessments, while half employ personality tests. 调查表明，约有三分之二的公司采用了这种测评；而一半的公司则采用工作人员个人品质测试。 来自百科语句

5 lieutenants   

n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员

参考例句：

• In the army, lieutenants are subordinate to captains. 在陆军中，中尉是上尉的下级。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Lieutenants now cap at 1.5 from 1. Recon at 1. 中尉现在由1人口增加的1.5人口。侦查小组成员为1人口。 来自互联网

6 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

7 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

8 dearth   

n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨

参考例句：

• There is a dearth of good children's plays.目前缺少优秀的儿童剧。
• Many people in that country died because of dearth of food.那个国家有许多人因为缺少粮食而死。

9 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

11 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

12 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

13 apparatus   

n.装置，器械；器具，设备

参考例句：

• The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
• They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

14 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

15 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 divulging   

v.吐露，泄露( divulge的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The soldier was shot for divulging the plans to the enemy. 这个士兵因向敌人泄密被击毙。 来自互联网
• Gives itself a small seat. Divulging heartily. 给自己一个小位子。尽情的宣泄。 来自互联网

18 recuperating   

v.恢复（健康、体力等），复原( recuperate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He's still recuperating from his operation. 他动了手术，还在恢复。
• He is recuperating from a serious back injury. 他背部受了重伤，目前正在康复中。 来自辞典例句

19 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

20 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。