世界名人简介 第33期:海伦·克拉克

　Helen Clark(born in 1950)is the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand.She was in office between 1999 and 2008 and won three consecutive¹ national elections.She is the second longest serving prime minister in NZ’s history.In 2008, she won the UN Environment Programme Champions of the Earth award for her plan to make NZ the world’s first carbon zero nation.

　　海伦·克拉克出生于1950年，是新西兰第37任总理。克拉克的执政时间是1999年到2008年，并连续3次赢得全国大选。克拉克是新西兰历史上任职时间第二长的总理。2008年，克拉克计划使新西兰成为世界上首个无碳的国家,她因这个计划获得了联合国环境规划署地球奖的冠军。

　　Clark grew up in a farming family and she developed a great love for the land.As a teenager, she became politically active.She protested against the Vietnam War and foreign military bases in New Zealand.She graduated from university with a Master’s degree in politics in 1974.Her research was based on politics in the countryside.Clark won her first election in 1981.She rose up through the ranks and served in different posts as Minister of Housing, Conservation, Health, and finally as Deputy Prime Minister.She has significantly reformed her country’s welfare system.She introduced many popular measures， including raising the minimum wage six times and abolishing interest on student loans.In 2008, Clark signed a landmark³ agreement that handed back land to theindigenous⁴ Maori population.She was a fierce opponent of the invasion of Iraq and criticized American actions.She has forged strong relations with China, whose president calls her an “old friend”.She believes that “it’s inevitable⁵ that NZ will become a republic” and “reflect the reality thatNZ is a…21st century nation”.

　　克拉克在牧场长大，她对土地非常热爱。她在少年时就积极投身政治。克拉克反对越南战争，也反对外国军队驻扎在新西兰。克拉克1974年毕业，取得政治专业硕士学位。她研究的是乡村政治。克拉克1981年第一次赢得选举。克拉克先后就任住房部长，资源保护部长，卫生部长，最后担任副总理，一步步高升。克拉克最大的成就是改革了国家的福利系统。克拉克采取了许多受欢迎的措施，包括把最低工资提高至原来的六倍，免除学生贷款利息。2008年，克拉克签署了一份里程碑式的协议，把土地还给土著居民毛利人。克拉克坚决反对伊拉克战争，并谴责美国的军事行动。克拉克与中国建立了稳固的外交关系，中国主席称她为“老朋友”。她相信“新西兰注定会成为共和国家。”，“反映了这样一个现实，新西兰是一个…21世纪的国家。”

　　1.be in office 在职

　　例句：He or she will be able to serve no more than two consecutive terms, meaning Mr Putincould be in office until 2024.

　　成为总统的人任期不会超过两年，这就意味着普京假如当选总统，他的任期可能截止到2024年。

　　2. protest against 反对

　　例句：He arranged for a protest against higher taxes.

　　他组织了一场针对高税率的抗议活动。

　　3.graduated from 毕业于

　　例句：When John graduated from school, he decided⁶ that he was done with study forgood and all.

　　约翰从学校毕业时，决定永远不再和学习打交道了。

　　4.forged relations with 建立联系

　　例句：During his reign², he forged stronger relations with Ming China in order to protect the sovereignty and prosperity of Melaka.

　　在他的统治期间，他加强深化了和明王朝的关系，以保护统治权和马六甲的繁荣。

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。