VOA标准英语2012--Run-Off Election to Decide Senegal Presidential Race

Run-Off Election to Decide Senegal Presidential Race

In one scene of a 2000 video Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade¹, then a charismatic opposition² leader, cast his ballot³. His election that year marked a peaceful transition from 40 years of single-party rule and inspired great hope among Senegalese. A later scene shows President Wade voting at the same polling place this past Sunday.
Opposition leaders say Wade's bid for a third term violates a two-term limit he signed into the constitution in 2001. Violent protests against his candidacy left at least six people dead in the weeks leading up to the election. Wade called the protests "temper tantrums" and refused to step down.
Provisional results released Wednesday show Wade led the first round with 35 percent of vote. It was not the resounding⁴ first-round victory he promised during campaigning. "They have lost, they have lost, they have lost," he said.
The president, 85, is Africa's second oldest leader after Robert Mugabe. His supporters praise him for building highways and other infrastructure⁵.
Critics say he has not done enough to ease high youth unemployment and rising costs of living, something his opponent, Macky Sall, is already capitalizing on for the second round. "From my first days in office, I pledge to put in place measures to reduce the prices of daily needs like rice, cooking oil and sugar," he said.
The two politicians have a long history together that analyst⁶ Ali Ndiaye says could deter⁷ some opposition voters from backing Sall. "This race will be one of a student versus⁸ his teacher. We have the youngest candidate, Macky Sall, who was in the government for eight years as minister, prime minister, president of the National Assembly, and Wade's proclaimed 'number two'. The more Macky can make this election a referendum on Wade, the better his chances are because people will vote against Wade, but not for Macky," he explained.
Trained as a geological engineer, Macky Sall only left the ruling party to join the opposition in late 2008. He won 27 percent of votes in the first round after mounting a vigorous nationwide campaign.
It remains⁹ to be seen how much of the opposition he can get behind him before the March 18th run-off.

1 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 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。

4 resounding   

adj. 响亮的

参考例句：

• The astronaut was welcomed with joyous,resounding acclaim. 人们欢声雷动地迎接那位宇航员。
• He hit the water with a resounding slap. 他啪的一声拍了一下水。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

8 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

9 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。