VOA标准英语2010年-Vote Counting Underway in Iraq

Iraqi officials are counting votes from Sunday's parliamentary election.  Despite a series of attacks that left more than 30 people dead, the vote is being hailed as a general success.
  
Officials started the task of tallying¹ the ballots³ shortly after the polls closed Sunday.  The job is complicated by a large number of overseas voters, as well as people displaced from their homes during years of sectarian violence.  

Abbas Kadhim, who is with the Independent High Electoral Commission in Baghdad, says there is still a lot to do.

"We have had received the ballots boxes of the absentee and the movement of people so we are now waiting for the matching stage when we match the forms of the ballot² boxes with the forms we have," he said.

Preliminary, unofficial results indicated a strong showing by the centrist coalition⁴ led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.  But no matter who wins, it is likely they will have to reach out to other groups to form a government.

While Iraq still has a long way to go before it reaches stability, there is a certain sense of satisfaction in how the elections were conducted.  Despite a string of attacks early Sunday, mainly in Baghdad, insurgents⁶ were not able to carry out the massive strikes they had threatened.  

A Baghdad voter is searched before entering a polling station, 07 Mar⁷ 2010

If anything, voters seemed to embrace the election as a show of defiance⁸ against insurgent⁵ violence.

Baghdad voter Yahya Karim said the elections were like a big wedding.  Iraqis were able to express their opinions, he said, adding, this represents a wonderful democracy. 

Whether the results solidify⁹ a trend of more nationalist, secular¹⁰ politics over sectarian divisions,  the new government will have the challenge of taking full responsibility for the country's security.  

U.S. Army Sergeant¹¹ Jeremy Tormala, on his second tour of duty in Iraq, thought the elections gave a good indication that Iraqi forces will be up to the task.

"The way they were blocking off all the streets with their security forces were pretty outstanding. So especially with the elections results, how that turned out, I was pretty impressed by it," he said.  "I think they will be able to stand on their own.  They have made a lot of improvements especially since my last time over here.  They have made big jumps," said Tomala.

Fifty-thousand U.S. troops will leave the country at the end of August, with the remaining 50,000 withdrawing by the end of next year.
 

1 tallying   

v.计算，清点( tally的现在分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合

参考例句：

• In 2007 the state set a U.S. record, tallying 141 twisters. 该州在2007年以总计出现了141个龙卷风而创下了一个美国记录。 来自互联网
• We charge extra fee at 100% of the rates of tallying fees. 我们按理货收费率的100%收取附加费。 来自互联网

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 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》

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

6 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

7 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

8 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

9 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

10 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

11 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？