VOA标准英语2009-World Leaders Agree to Boost Aid for Agricul

By Robert Raffaele
Washington
16 November 2009

World leaders at a U.N. summit on food security in Rome are vowing¹ to take "urgent action" to eliminate global hunger. But they did not agree in their final declaration to a U.N. request for $44 billion a year in farm aid.

The World Food Program says for the first time ever, more than one billion people in the world are going hungry. That's more than one out of every six people on Earth.

World hunger and food security are the focus of a three-day U.N. summit that opened Monday in Rome.

 
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"We must work together to build trust," he said. "We need joint² investment planning, predictable resources, mutual³ accountability. Together, we must ensure that food is available and affordable⁴ for all."

While Italian farmers protested against European agriculture policies elsewhere in Rome, summit delegates pledged to substantially increase agricultural aid to help developing nations become more self-sufficient.

But they failed to increase farm aid to $44 billion a year, as requested by the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization.

 
Pope Benedict XVI  
The leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI  denounced "opulence⁵ and waste" as worldwide hunger worsens.

"Nor must the fundamental rights of the individual be forgotten, which include, of course, the right to sufficient, healthy, and nutritious⁶ food, and likewise water," he said. "These rights take on an important role in the realization⁷ of others, beginning with the primary one, the right to life."

The declaration promises no new financial commitments. Analysts⁸ also say it makes no mention of a U.N. proposal for nations to adopt 2025 as a deadline to eradicate⁹ world hunger.

1 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

4 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

5 opulence   

n.财富，富裕

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence.他从未见过这样的财富。
• He owes his opulence to work hard.他的财富乃辛勤工作得来。

6 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

7 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

8 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。

9 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。