2007年VOA标准英语-Montgomery County, Maryland, Government Promote

By Jeffrey Young
Washington
05 June 2007

To most Americans, the governments in their towns and regional areas called counties are the governments they interact with the most.  And alongside these local governments are groups of citizens who work on their own to make life better.

In this segment of a multi-part series, VOA's Jeffrey Young focuses on how the government of Montgomery County, Maryland actively¹ promotes the progress of women.

Women informed.  Women enabled. Women achieving.  That's the mission of the Montgomery County Commission for Women.  

In Montgomery County, Maryland, right next to Washington, D.C., it is government policy to promote women's rights and advancement².

The county government created the Commission for Women in 1972, with a 15-member citizens advisory³ board to help guide it. The Commission's Executive Director, Judith Vaughan-Prather, outlines its mission. "The Commission for Women was formed to be the voice of every woman in Montgomery County. We try to reach out to the women who are disadvantaged, to the new women in our county, to the immigrant women in our county. We try to speak for the girls of our county. We try to speak for the elderly women in our county.  We try to bring all those voices together and form an agenda that will serve all of the women in this county."

The Commission addresses that agenda in part through its extensive offerings of programs, workshops, and counseling.  Included are ones focused on employment, financial affairs, immigration, and marital⁴ issues.

Many women take time out from working to raise a family.  One participant explains her situation. "I have been staying at home with my son for four years, and I am looking forward to starting my career again."

When they are ready to re-enter the workforce⁵, the Commission is there to help them find a job. They attend employment workshops. A workshop presenter⁶ asks, "What would be your ideal job situation? What do you think would work for you, your ideal scenario⁷?"

Elma Rambo

Elma Rambo, who manages the Commission's Counseling and Career Center, says advancing women advances everyone. "As women get to move ahead economically, and achieve better educational levels, the whole family benefits and the whole community benefit."

Some of the Commission's workshops deal with marital problems. Participants learn what their legal rights are regarding separation and divorce, child custody⁸, financial support, and, where the law stands regarding those who inflict⁹ physical harm.

During one workshop a presenter explains, "Maryland has provided laws to protect people from any kind of abuse within their home.  Any conduct which causes serious bodily harm is considered domestic violence. Rape¹⁰, or other sexual offense¹¹, false imprisonment¹² - - holding someone in a room against their will -- is considered domestic violence."

Janice Herold at the Counseling and Career Center says women trapped in bad situations come there to get an understanding ear and help. "Everything that is told to us is confidential¹³. And so women who come here feel it is a safe place to come and talk about personal problems, problems with their children, relationship problems [and] employment problems."

Montgomery County's Commission for Women exemplifies the idea of government and citizens working together to achieve the goals of equality and opportunity for everyone regardless of sex. But these goals, despite years of effort, have still not been fully¹⁴ achieved.

1 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

2 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

3 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

4 marital   

adj.婚姻的，夫妻的

参考例句：

• Her son had no marital problems.她的儿子没有婚姻问题。
• I regret getting involved with my daughter's marital problems;all its done is to bring trouble about my ears.我后悔干涉我女儿的婚姻问题, 现在我所做的一切将给我带来无穷的烦恼。

5 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

6 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

7 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

8 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

9 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

10 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

11 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

12 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

13 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

14 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。