2006年VOA标准英语-Philippine President Claims Economic Gains, Ann

By Chad Bouchard
Manilla
24 July 2006
 
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo¹, in her state of the nation address, claimed her government has enacted² reforms that are leading to significant economic gains. The embattled leader also announced a massive spending plan focused on the provinces.

---------

Gloria Arroyo delivers her state of the nation address, Monday   
  
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo told the country's House of Representatives Monday that hard work on economic reforms was paying off, in modest economic gains and the creation of new jobs.

Mrs. Arroyo has survived allegations of election fraud, impeachment³ proceedings⁴, and a thwarted⁵ plot to overthrow⁶ her government in recent months.

She tried to use this speech to move on.

"For those who want to pick up old fights, we're game," she said. " But what a waste of time. Why not join hands instead?"

Mrs. Arroyo outlined plans for infrastructure⁷ projects, healthcare and education reforms - especially for the country's provinces, where much of her political support lies.

Patricio Abinales, a political analyst⁸ at Kyoto University's Center of Southeast Asian Studies in Japan, called Arroyo's investment plans significant.

"The speech on infrastructure was actually interesting, because she was very detailed⁹ about it," he said. "It's basically saying to the local politicians - the mayors, the provincial¹⁰ governors and the members of the lower house of Congress from the different districts - saying, 'Well we have the money here… The money will flow directly to you.'"

Outside the Congress building in Manila, more than 10,000 protesters braved torrential rains to call for Mrs. Arroyo's removal from office.

Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the opposition¹¹ group Bayan, was among protesters who burned an effigy¹² of Mrs. Arroyo. He thought little of the speech.

"No substance, no meaning, and people won't believe it. She boasts of economic growth, but for us it's far from our stomachs...development is not felt in the countryside," he said.

The economy is on pace to grow by six percent this year, but economists¹³ say seven percent growth is needed to tackle the country's 40 percent rate of poverty. Arroyo's term in office is set to end in 2010.

1 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

2 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

4 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

5 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。

6 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

10 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

11 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。

12 effigy   

n.肖像

参考例句：

• There the effigy stands,and stares from age to age across the changing ocean.雕像依然耸立在那儿，千秋万载地凝视着那变幻无常的大海。
• The deposed dictator was burned in effigy by the crowd.群众焚烧退位独裁者的模拟像。

13 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》