VOA慢速英语2016--前难民领导被选领导联合国

AS IT IS 2016-10-14 Former Refugee Chief Chosen to Lead United Nations 前难民领导被选领导联合国

Member states of the United Nations have elected Portugal’s former prime minister Antonio Guterres, the organization’s next secretary-general.

Assembly president Peter Thompson introduced the resolution. It was accepted by all 193 U.N. member states.

With the approval, diplomats¹ broke into applause.

The U.N. Security Council nominated Guterres by acclamation last week after six unofficial votes.

He was elected from among 13 candidates. Seven women and six men campaigned for the secretary-general position.

His election disappointed many who had campaigned for the first woman or the first Eastern European to lead the U.N.

Guterres spoke² to VOA during the campaign. He said he was seeking to lead the U.N. because he wanted to “create the conditions for solutions” to global challenges.

Gutterres served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002.

More recently, he led the U.N. refugee agency from 2005 until the end of 2015.

U.N. members widely praised the nomination³.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon of South Korea called Guterres a “superb choice.” Ban has led the U.N. since 2006. His term ends December 31.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador, Vitaly Churkin also praised Guterres. Churkin said, “He’s a high level politician. He’s been prime minister of his country. He is a person who talks to everybody, listens to everybody, speaks his mind, very outgoing, I think, open person.”

Guterres will be the ninth person to hold the position in the organization’s 71-year history.

As chief of the U.N., the secretary-general oversees⁴ about 44,000 employees and more than 100,000 peacekeepers. The position involves dealing⁵ with issues like human rights, refugees and climate change, as well as fund-raising for the U.N.’s many campaigns.

Words in This Story

applause –? n. a show of approval or appreciation⁶ at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., in which people strike their hands together over and over?

acclamation – n. a vote on something by cheers or clapping

disappointment –? n. the state or feeling of being made unhappy by something or someone

superb – adj. extremely good : excellent or brilliant in a very noticeable way?

outgoing – adj. used to describe someone who is friendly and likes being with and talking to other people?

challenges – n. difficulties, problems to be overcome?

fund-raising – n. activity done to collect money for a political party, charity, school, etc.?

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

4 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。