美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-05-18

Land, sea, air, we're heading all over the breaking new stories for this Thursday's edition of CNN Student News.

First up, we have some election results. Over the weekend, people cast their ballots¹ in Pakistan. Before the election, here is what's some of the voters said about the issues that were on their minds.

--We want a government that won't set Pakistan drained. That won't rob Pakistan, but build Pakistan.

--Corruption is the main cause of all those problems, like unemployment, like infation, like lack of education.

--The country's economy like now has reached a very dangerous level, it has reached zero.

--We're fed up with the system, with the same words, the same people. We need new people, or at least they should fulfill² their promises.

Looks like Pakistan's new leader is an old leader. Nawaz Sharif has been prime minister twice before. Based on early results, he's about to get that title for 3rd time.

Pakistan has a parliament, kind of like US Congress. It's made up of senate and national assembly. The assemble picks the country's prime minister who serves as the head of Pakistan's government. So which ever political party wins the most seats in the assembly, that party's leader is usually selected as the prime minister. And it looks like Sharif's party won the most seats in this election.

All right, our next story today. Israel. Next month, it's hosting an international conference. One British scientist says he's not going. So what? Well, he is one of the most famous scientists in the world. Steven Hawkin is a physicist³, an astronomer⁴, a mathematician⁵, a cosmologist, an author, a professor. Originally, he couldn't travel to the conference, because of health reasons. Then, he sent a letter to the organizors that he said his decesion is a part of the boycott⁶ against Israel.

Palestinian civil society groups organized this boycott in 2005. It encourages the world figures not to visit Israel, in order to pressure that country in the nigotiating with Palestinians. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians goes back decades. One of the major issues is overwho controls 2 regions: Gaza and the West Bank.

A founder⁷ of the boycott praised Howkin for his decesion. The chairman of the conference called the decesion, wrong. The responses have been split on social media, too. Some people accused Hawkin of being anti Semitic; others're offering him congratulations.

Certainly, not the first time that someone famous has spoken out about the global issue. When that happens, do you think it makes difference? That's the question we're asking today on our blog. When public figures use their fame to promote cause, do they have an influence? Tell us your thougts, CNNSTUDENTNEWS.com.

1 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》

2 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

3 physicist   

n.物理学家，研究物理学的人

参考例句：

• He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
• The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。

4 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

5 mathematician   

n.数学家

参考例句：

• The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
• The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。

6 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

7 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。