VOA标准英语2014--乌克兰人担心5月25日的大选

 

Ukrainians Anxious About May 25 Vote 乌克兰人担心5月25日的大选

KYIV — As Ukraine expands its military offensive in the east, Kyiv residents worry about the growing conflict and wonder if the planned May 25th national election can proceed under these conditions.

Independence Square, also known as Maidan, was the center of the protests in Kyiv that forced president Viktor Yanukovych from power.

It is still occupied by a small contingent¹ of nationalist militia² who live in tents and survive on donations.

Given the current conflict between the Ukrainian military and separatists in the east, Inokentiy Travkin said he and his comrades have no plans to leave soon.

“It was planned that we would stay until the election, for sure. Given these pro-Russian activities, I do not know, yeah, we will stay for a long time,” Travkin said.

Many Ukrainians are hopeful the upcoming presidential election will help resolve the crisis.

“These elections should happen. It is obvious. Changes for the better will appear if we have a head of state, if he will be worthy³ and skillful enough to manage,” said one man named Denis, who didn’t give his last name.

But others are concerned the fighting eastern Ukraine will make it too dangerous to hold the election.

“They will not happen if the situation in the east does not change, absolutely. I think that Russia will do everything possible to make us cancel the election and create a sense of emergency,” said a woman named Valeriya, who didn’t give her last name.

Pro-Western activist⁴ Ivan Kurudzyak said by moving forward with the election and reform, more Ukrainians in the east will be motivated to engage in the democratic process.

“I believe that people from Donetsk region, simple people and even some separatist people, if they will listen about changing the country, about concrete steps to change their lives, they will not be in the consciousness of war,” Kurudzyak said.

Even though Kyiv's protest area is quiet and peaceful, people here remain uncertain about the future and how this conflict will end.

1 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

2 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

3 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

4 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。