VOA慢速英语2016--巴西城市部长涉嫌腐败辞职

AS IT IS 2016-06-01 Brazil Corruption¹ Minister Quits Under Suspicion 巴西城市部长涉嫌腐败辞职

Brazil continues to fall into political chaos² as its transparency minister resigned.

Fabiano Silveira resigned Monday after he was allegedly heard in a recording⁴ passing information to a politician under investigation⁵, Reuters reported.

Officials are investigating the state-owned oil company – Petrobras – and alleged³ bribes⁶ to politicians.

On May 12, President Dilma Rousseff was suspended while the Senate looks into her conduct.

Opponents of Rousseff and her Workers Party took money from Petrobras in return for favoring the oil company. Supporters of Rousseff say she has been the target of a plan to unseat her.

Last week, Brazil’s planning minister resigned when the released tapes showed him possibly influenced by Petrobras officials, as well.

The resignations have hurt the government of Michel Temer, of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, or PMDB. The lawyer and politician is acting⁷ president since Rousseff’s suspension May 12, Reuters said.

Several members of Temer's government are under investigation in the Petrobras probe. While Rousseff faces an impeachment⁸ trial on charges of breaking budget laws, others say Temer plotted against her.

Temer has strongly denied the allegation.

The recordings⁹ could lessen¹⁰ support for Rousseff's unseating, observers say.

The two-year investigation into billions of dollars in bribes at Petrobras has also looked into the honesty of dozens of politicians. They include members of Temer's PMDB, and Rousseff's Workers Party, Reuters said.

Words in This Story

transparency – adj. something that can be seen through, visible

allegedly -- adv. accused but not proven

bribes -- n. giving something in return for a favor

impeachment -- n. to remove from office after proven wrongdoing

allegation -- n. saying someone did something wrong

1 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

2 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 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。

9 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

10 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。