VOA标准英语2008年-Kenyan Violence Threatens Once Thriving Economy
时间:2019-02-12 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2008年(一月)
Nairobi
04 January 2008
The World Bank is warning that post-election unrest in Kenya is threatening east Africa's largest economy and could wipe out impressive gains the country has achieved in recent years. As VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from the Kenyan capital Nairobi, widespread violence, triggered by allegations of vote-rigging in last Thursday's hotly-contested elections, has disrupted transportation and closed businesses, creating food and fuel shortages in Kenya.
The Kenyan government estimates that it has lost more than $60 million in revenue since Sunday, when the capital and other parts of the country exploded in political and tribal 1 violence over the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki.
Mr. Kibaki, a member of Kenya's dominant 2 ethnic 3 Kikuyu tribe, was declared the winner of an election that was too close to call before the December 27 vote. The opposition 4, led by Raila Odinga, an ethnic Luo who has the support of many other tribes, charged the election was rigged. International observers have also questioned the final tally 5.
Battles between protesters and police and ethnic clashes have killed more than 300 people in Nairobi, the Rift 6 Valley, and the coastal 7 town of Mombasa and have paralyzed the country.
Many businesses, closed for the Christmas holidays, have been unable to open for fear of looting or because employees have been unable to travel to work safely.
Grocery stores in Nairobi and other parts of the country are reportedly running out of basic goods such as flour, oil, milk, and bread, and gas stations have started to close because trucks have not been able to make fuel deliveries.
Jane Wangui owns a hair salon 8 in downtown Nairobi, one of a handful of shops in the area open for business on Friday.
She says she fears a prolonged political crisis could mean financial ruin for her and many other small business owners.
"Everyday, we are losing money, we are losing clients, and it gets to a point where we cannot pay our employees because there is no money coming in. So, we have to work. What I am doing right now is praying to God that things will come back to normal," she said.
On Wednesday, the World Bank expressed concern that Kenya's impressive economic growth, averaging about six percent per year since 2005, could be erased 9 if the unrest continues.
The country's key tourism industry, which earns Kenya $800 million annually 10, has already been hit by cancellations from tour operators worldwide. Many tourists who are here are cutting their vacations short and heading home.
A Nairobi-based economic analyst 11 and commentator 12, Robert Shaw, says although Kenya has been rocked by riots and ethnic fighting in previous years, the unrest this time has been particularly damaging because Kenya had been steadily 13 attracting foreign investors 14, eager to participate in the country's booming economy.
"And now, that confidence is being put into question," said Shaw. "Even if things are resolved tomorrow, you cannot forget what has happened in the last week and whether it will repeat itself."
To avert 15 a nation-wide fuel and banking 16 crisis, the Kenyan police have offered to provide free escort to companies transporting money to banks and trucks carrying fuel.
Local media say fuel shortages have stranded 17 hundreds of motorists and commuters in towns along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and in some rural parts of Kenya.
- He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
- The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。
- The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
- She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。
- This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏,这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
- The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
- 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。
- Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
- The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。
- He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
- The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。
- The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
- This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
- Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗?
- You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。
- He erased the wrong answer and wrote in the right one. 他擦去了错误答案,写上了正确答案。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He removed the dogmatism from politics; he erased the party line. 他根除了政治中的教条主义,消除了政党界限。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
- They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
- 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。
- He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛,是个好的解说者。
- The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。
- The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
- Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
- a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
- a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
- He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
- I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。
- John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
- He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。