VOA标准英语2009年-Japan's Opposition Wins Election in Landsl

Japanese voters have resoundingly rejected the party that has set the country's policy agendas for more than half a century. The rise of a center-left party promising¹ to soothe² the pain of globalization is being seen as a major break with business as usual.

As official results continued to solidify³ in Japan, media exit polls made it clear the party is over for those who currently run the country.

Cheers of delight went up at the headquarters of candidates for the Democratic Party of Japan, as broadcasters predicted a landslide⁴ victory over the Liberal Democratic Party.
　
A poster of Yukio Hatoyama, leader of Japan's main opposition⁵ Democratic Party of Japan, Tokyo, Sunday, 30 Aug. 2009

The DPJ appeared set to gain more 300 out of 480 lower house seats in play. That result is consistent with months of expectations that LDP Prime Minister Taro⁶ Aso and his party would be defeated the DPJ and its leader - Japan's presumed next prime minister -Yukio Hatoyama.

Hatoyama expresses his gratitude⁷, saying it was the people's strong desire for change that brought about this result. He says the vote clearly reflects the deep public desire to shift the country's balance of power.

The LDP has controlled Japan's legislature almost without interruption for the past 55 years. But many voters blame the party for Japan's worst period of recession since World War Two. The DPJ has campaigned almost exclusively on bread-and-butter economic issues, appealing to voters who feel the LDP has lost touch with average families.

In a sentiment shared by many here, this Japanese voter says "I am not a big fan of the Democratic Party - but this time, why not?"

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso struck a note of deep humility⁸ in accepting his party's defeat.

He says the election result is regrettable, but that he will take the people's voice seriously. In a signal he will likely resign soon, he says he blames the defeat on his own failure, and will accept personal responsibility.

Hatoyama now inherits the conundrum⁹ of Japan's struggling economy - ballooning debt, sputtering¹⁰ growth, and a rapidly aging population.

On foreign policy, the DPJ has signaled closer regional integration¹¹ with East Asian nations, particularly neighboring China. Hatoyama has vowed¹² to "re-examine" Tokyo's relationship with the United States - but says the U.S.-Japan alliance will still be a cornerstone of the country's security.

 

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

3 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

4 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

5 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。

6 taro   

n.芋，芋头

参考例句：

• Main grain crop has taro,corn,banana to wait.主要粮食作物有芋头、玉米、芭蕉等。
• You celebrate your birthday with taro,red bean and butter.用红豆、芋头和黄油给自己过生日。

7 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

8 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

9 conundrum   

n.谜语；难题

参考例句：

• Let me give you some history about a conundrum.让我给你们一些关于谜题的历史。
• Scientists had focused on two explanations to solve this conundrum.科学家已锁定两种解释来解开这个难题。

10 sputtering   

n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出

参考例句：

• A wick was sputtering feebly in a dish of oil. 瓦油灯上结了一个大灯花，使微弱的灯光变得更加阴暗。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• Jack ran up to the referee, sputtering protest. 贾克跑到裁判跟前，唾沫飞溅地提出抗议。 来自辞典例句

11 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

12 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。