VOA标准英语2009-Voting Underway in Guinea-Bissau

Voting is underway in Guinea-Bissau to choose a new president. It is a contest to succeed long-time leader Joao Bernardo Vieira, who was killed by mutinous¹ troops four months ago.
　
Voters in Guinea-Bissau cast their ballots³ in presidential elections to replace late leader Joao Bernardo Vieira, 28 Jun 2009

An electoral official at the 12th of September elementary school in Bissau reads out a voter's identity card so poll watchers from the major political parties can make sure only registered voters are casting ballots.

Voters move away to the privacy of a white cardboard stand in the school's courtyard to mark their ballot² before folding it in half and pushing it through the slot of a clear plastic ballot box sealed with numbered plastic ties.

Their finger is then dipped in ink to prevent multiple voting. Nearly half of this polling station's registered voters cast their ballots within the first few hours.

Rosa Da Silva says she voted because it is her right as a citizen of Guinea-Bissau.

Da Silva says she wants life to be better. There are many problems here, she says, and she wants a president who will bring peace and develop the country.

Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest countries, with a history of army mutinies and coups⁵. President Vieira's death in March came just hours after his chief political rival died in a bomb blast. A presidential candidate was killed by state security forces earlier this month when they say he resisted arrest for being an alleged⁶ coup⁴ plotter.
　
Supporters of presidential candidate Kumba Yala at a rally in Guinea-Bissau's capital on the final day of campaigning, 26 Jun 2009

The Economic Community of West African States and the United Nations are calling for independent investigations⁷ into that violence. The U.N. Security Council Extending its mission in Guinea-Bissau through the end of the year Friday, urged civilian⁸ leaders to refrain from involving the military in politics.

There are 11 candidates in a vote that is being monitored by the ECOWAS alliance, the United Nations, the European Union, the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, and the African Union.

Ruling-party candidate Malam Bacai Sanha and the main opposition⁹ candidate Kumba Yala have drawn¹⁰ the biggest crowds. Their main challenger is former interim¹¹ president Henrique Rosa.

None of the men are expected to win more than half of the votes in Sunday's first round. So the two leading finishers will likely meet again in a run-off to restore constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.

1 mutinous   

adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变

参考例句：

• The mutinous sailors took control of the ship.反叛的水手们接管了那艘船。
• His own army,stung by defeats,is mutinous.经历失败的痛楚后，他所率军队出现反叛情绪。

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 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 coups   

n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事

参考例句：

• China has seen many political coups within the ruling class. 中国统治阶级内部发生过很多政变。 来自互联网
• Thailand has had eighteen coups or coup attendance since nineteen thirty-two. 泰国1932年以来有18次政变或参加政变。 来自互联网

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 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。

11 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。