Clinton to visit Haiti on election standoff, reconstruction

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State(国务卿) Hillary Clinton will visit Haiti on Sunday to focus on the island state's election standoff and reconstruction¹ efforts, the State Department said on Friday.
    In addition to meeting with Haitian President Rene Preval, Clinton will meet with leaders of civil society, electoral candidates and the special representative of the United Nations to discuss the ongoing² electoral situation and reconstruction efforts, the department said in a statement.
    "The United States and Haiti share the mutual³ commitment to building Haiti anew after the devastating⁴ earthquake one year ago, and to ensure a strong future for Haiti's people and its democracy, " the statement said.
    It added that the secretary will visit a cholera⁵ treatment clinic in Haiti.
    Haiti held presidential and legislative（立法的） elections on Nov. 28, 2010. With the international community questioning irregularities in the process, the Haitian authorities decided⁶ to recount the votes. The result could be announced next Wednesday.
    The second round of elections was originally scheduled for January 16, but has been indefinitely postponed⁷.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

4 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

5 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。