VOA常速英语2014--世界杯庆祝在里约热内卢工人阶级社区遇冷

 

World Cup Celebrations Subdued¹ in Rio Working Class Neighborhood 世界杯庆祝在里约热内卢工人阶级社区遇冷

RIO DE JANEIRO — Football fever is building as Brazil prepares to launch the 2014 World Cup on Thursday, but celebrations in some areas are subdued compared to previous years.

The weekly “feira,” or street market, in Vila Isabel, a working class neighborhood near Maracana Stadium. Shoppers look for bargains, but they say prices keep going up.

每周在马拉卡纳体育场附近工人阶级社区的维拉伊莎贝尔都有着被称为“feira”的街市。买主们在这里淘便宜,但是他们说价格一直在持续上涨。

This neighborhood was always known for its fierce football fans, according to vegetable vendor² Luiz Henrique.

菜贩路易斯·恩里克称这个社区因为其狂热的足球迷们而远近闻名。

世界杯.jpg

“In the old days, there used to be a competition for the most decorated street, and this street won many times. There used to be so many people out on the street that you couldn't even get through.” He said people cannot afford the decorations anymore.

“过去这条街曾经竞争过最装修一新的街道,结果斩获多次殊荣。过去这条街上人多的你甚至过不去。”他表示现在人们已经不能再花钱装修了。

Retired³ schoolteacher Vera Lucia Gatti said many are angry with the government for spending billions of dollars on stadiums while hospitals and schools have been left to deteriorate⁴.

退休教师维拉·露西亚·加蒂称许多人不满政府将数十亿美元浪费在体育场馆建设但忽视条件恶劣的医院和学校。

“So I think the money should have been spread around, some for the Cup, a little for the schools, a little for the hospitals.This was the way to go, but it wasn't done that way.”

“所以我认为钱应该被分散,一部分用于世界杯,一部分给学校和医院。这才是民心所向,但现实却适得其反。”

Some Brazilians have demonstrated against the World Cup and say they will boycott⁵ the games. Strikes by transit⁶ workers also threaten to disrupt⁷ the tournament that is expected to draw some 800,000 foreign visitors.

一些巴西人已经举行示威反对世界杯并且表示将抵制世界杯。运输系统工人的罢工还威胁要扰乱这一预计将吸引约800000名外国游客的赛事。

Some hope the international attention will lead to change in Brazil. Henrique doubts this.

一些人希望世界杯带来的国际关注会为巴西带来变革。恩里克对这一说法持有疑虑。

“You know, a country like this with so many corrupt⁸ people that you can't trust anyone, where even the most honest person in politics is on the take, there is no law. So for me, there is no solution.”

“你知道,身处这样的一个有这么多腐败之人的国家,你不能相信任何人,甚至是最诚实的人身陷政治圈中也会收受贿赂,律法根本无法介入。所以对我来说,没有解决方案。”

Gatti said Brazil's leaders need to change.

加蒂表示巴西的领导人需要改变。

“As far as the Cup goes, if Brazil wins, great. There'll be happiness. I will be, too, of course.But if those who govern do not change and begin to spread the wealth around, nothing will be solved.”

“随着世界杯如火如荼的展开,如果巴西最终夺冠,那就太好了。巴西人民会非常高兴。当然,我也会如此。但如果那些管理者不进行变革并开始将资金分散,就等于什么都没有解决。”

Almost everyone here believes Brazil will win the championship. There is little hope, however, that this World Cup will bring anything more than temporary joy.

1 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

2 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

5 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

6 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

7 disrupt   

adj.分裂的，分散的；vt.使分裂，使瓦解

参考例句：

• The war seemed likely to disrupt the state.战争可能使这个国家分裂。
• The conflict seemed likely to disrupt the government.这场冲突可能使政府垮台。

8 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。