VOA标准英语2010年-Global Survey Shows Obama More Popular

US president Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims," in his landmark¹ address to Muslim world from the Grand Hall of Cairo University, Cairo [file photo]

A new international survey of 24,000 people in 22 countries shows U.S. President Barack Obama remains² widely popular in most parts of the world, but both President Obama and the United States face some image challenges in predominantly Muslim nations.

Andrew Kohut is the President of the Washington-based Pew Research Center and the Director of its Global Attitudes Project.  He presented the survey's findings in Washington Thursday.

"Our headline today is that President Obama remains highly popular in most parts of the world -- even though his job approval rating has slipped considerably³ in the United States -- and his continued popularity around the world benefits the image of the U.S.," said Kohut.  "Opinions of the U.S. remain far more positive in 2010 than they were for much of the Bush years." 

Still, support for Mr. Obama among Muslims abroad was higher in a poll conducted last year, around the time the president reached out to the Muslim world in his famous Cairo Speech.  Muslims polled have grown disillusioned⁴ with Mr. Obama during the past year. 

Things have changed dramatically in Egypt, where the percentage of Muslims expressing confidence in Mr. Obama dropped from 41 percent to 31 percent.  In Pakistan, the level dropped from 13 percent to 8 percent.  Confidence in Mr. Obama remains high in Nigeria -- a whopping 77 percent of Muslims polled there approve of him, but that is still down from 81 percent last year.

In fact, confidence and approval levels slipped among Muslims surveyed everywhere but Indonesia, where Mr. Obama spent time as a child.

Significant percentages of Muslims surveyed see the U.S. as a military threat.  Overall, the U.S. is viewed as acting⁵ unilaterally.  And Mr. Obama has sub-par ratings on his handling of Iran, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

But Kohut says there is an even thornier⁶ issue.

"It's worth noting that his worst ratings are for dealing⁷ with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said Kohut.

Mr. Obama and his policies are viewed more favorably outside the Muslim world, particularly among Western Europeans. 

"Overall opinion of Barack Obama remains broadly positive in non-Muslim countries," explained Kohut.  "The national median having confidence in Obama to do the right thing was 71 percent outside of the Muslim world, and
overall approval of his policies was 64 percent in the non-Muslim world."   

People abroad praised the president's handling of the global economic crisis, even as they express widespread dissatisfaction with the economy.

But what is the effect of having a well-liked president?

"Obviously President Obama's popularity is very important and a positive," explained former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who is the co-chair of the Pew Global Attitudes Project.  "And generally Americans favorability ratings make a big difference, not just because we want to be liked, but because it makes a difference in the way that we're able to fulfill⁸ what the policies are and what is good for the American people operating in a globalized world."

Experts noted⁹ an interesting find  -- despite continued criticism of U.S. policies and approaches to world affairs, people around the world maintain positive views of the president and the United States.  They said this was not the case in polls conducted during the Bush administration.

 

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

4 disillusioned   

a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的

参考例句：

• I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。
• Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。

5 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。

6 thornier   

adj.多刺的( thorny的比较级 )；有刺的；棘手的；多障碍的

参考例句：

• Changing regulations, meanwhile, is even thornier. 与此同时，不断变化的法规更加棘手。 来自互联网
• The vote, on a procedural point, does not bode well for the passage of thornier legislation. 从程序上说，这次选举对更为棘手的立法进程来说并不是个好兆头。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 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。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。