VOA标准英语2009年-Britain's Prime Minister Rallies Labor Par

By Sonja Pace
London
29 September 2009

 
British PM Gordon Brown gives speech to Labor¹ Party conference, 29 Sep 2009
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed the ruling Labor Party conference in the seaside resort town of Brighton Tuesday with a rallying cry to fight to win in next year's election. The speech was widely billed as crucial in Labor's effort to reverse declining poll numbers and give the party a chance to win the vote.

It was the keynote address at the Labor Party conference. But it sounded like a campaign speech as Gordon Brown, at the very start, vowed² a fight to win next year's election. "Our country faces the biggest choice for a generation. So we need to fight, not bow out, not walk away, not give in, not give up, but fight, fight to win for Britain," he said.

Throughout his speech, the prime minister focused on the government's achievements and portrayed³ Labor as the party of the working, mainstream⁴ public.

On the economic crisis, Mr. Brown said his government faced tough choices on whether and to what extent the government should intervene in financial markets - to let the recession run its course or to stimulate⁵ the economy. "We made our choice - help the small businesses, targeted tax cuts for millions [of people] and advancing our investment in roads, rail and education. That was the change we chose. And it was a change that benefits the hardworking majority and not just a privileged few," he said.

Labor has come under vehement⁶ criticism from the opposition⁷ Conservatives for the government's bail-out of failing banks and for large public spending that many analysts⁸ say will leave future generations with a mounting public debt.

But in his speech, Mr. Brown refuted that and portrayed the Conservatives as the party of the privileged few, willing to stand by and do nothing.

Throughout his speech, the prime minister promised further change and reform, including holding bankers accountable and cracking down on crime and anti-social behavior.

This speech was widely seen as crucial for Gordon Brown's political future and for the Labor Party. Public opinion polls show rapidly declining support for both. According to one survey, Labor is in third place for the first time since 1982 - behind the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats⁹.

Mr. Brown received rousing applause from Labor delegates at the conference. But analysts say the real test will come at the ballot¹⁰ box.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 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。

3 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

5 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

6 vehement   

adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的

参考例句：

• She made a vehement attack on the government's policies.她强烈谴责政府的政策。
• His proposal met with vehement opposition.他的倡导遭到了激烈的反对。

7 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。

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 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。