voa标准英语2008年-Long Lines Reported Nationwide as Americans Vot

Like other U.S. states, California is expecting a record voter turnout in Tuesday's election. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports that there were long lines at many polling stations across the country.
　

Ted1 Cohen

Los Angeles voter Ted Cohen says he was glad to see the crowds at his polling place, the gymnasium of a local community center.

"This is the biggest turnout I've seen in any presidential election that I've had the privilege of voting in," he said.

"So whatever side of the fence you're on, it's nice to see that people are getting back and voting and at least casting their opinion on what they want to see happen in our country. I think that's promising². People are getting involved again," he added.
　

Ruth Cohen

Cohen's mother, Ruth, is an immigrant from Israel who was also surprised by the long lines to vote. "I've never seen it like this," she said. "Since I've been voting here for 38 years, I've never seen it like this. I waited an hour."

She says voting usually takes only a few minutes.

Election monitors from both major parties - the Democrats³ and the Republicans - are watching for snags in the process across the country. So are non-partisan groups like Election Protection, which reports incidents of malfunctioning⁴ voting machines in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida, where poll workers are coping with heavy turnout.
　

Samantha

A lawyer named Samantha took a half day off from work to volunteer with the organization in Los Angeles.

"I think this is a really important election," she said. "I knew that there would be a lot of voters out today, and it's a logistical nightmare in way, and I figured if I could use what legal training I have to support the system and be a part of helping⁵ the process go smoothly⁶ today, I was happy to do it."

She says she visited six polling places and found no problems, except for long lines.

Voters across the United States are making their choices for president, members of congress, and state and local officials. And many also are voting on state and local issues.

California voters, for example, are deciding whether to ban homosexual marriage. They also are determining several tax questions, public transit⁷ proposals, and a measure to promote alternative energy.

Voter Hazel Johnson says issues like these, as well as the race for president, brought her out to vote. "Every election is important to me," she said. "There's always something on the ballot⁸ that really needs my input⁹."
　

Gregory Derevianko

Twenty three-year-old Gregory Derevianko, a graduate student in atmospheric¹⁰ science at the University of California, Los Angeles, voted Tuesday for the second time in a presidential election. He says casting his ballot was important. "It's something I enjoy doing, and I feel proud to be able to do it," said Derevianko.

The biggest U.S. voter turnout was in 2004, when more than 120 million Americans cast their ballots¹¹. That record is expected to be broken in this election.

　

1 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

2 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。

3 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》

4 malfunctioning   

出故障

参考例句：

• But something was malfunctioning in the equipment due to human error. 但由于人为的错误，设备发生故障了。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• Choke coils are useful for prevention of malfunctioning electronic equipment. 扼流圈对于防止电器设备的故障很有帮助。 来自互联网

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

7 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

8 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。

9 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

10 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

11 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》