巴西抗议世界杯活动继续

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A new round of protests unfolded across Brazil Saturday despite President Dilma Rousseff's latest pledges to improve public services and fight corruption¹.

　　According to the police, more people protested in over 100 Brazilian cities on Saturday, totalling 250,000 nationwide.

　　The host cities of Confederations Cup football tournament continued to be the major flash points of furious demonstrations².

　　Local media reported that around 60,000 people chanting "The Cup for whom?" took to the streets and gathered in a central square in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte where Japan faced Mexico in a Confederations Cup match.

　　Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas when some protesters hurled³ rocks and tried to pass a barrier.

　　Protests also turned violent in the northeastern city of Salvador where Brazil's national football team defeated Italy in another Confederations Cup match.

　　Some 5,000 protesters rallied about 5 km from the stadium, denouncing Brazilian government's spending on the 2014 World Cup. Protesters blocked a main road and clashed with police who tried to clear the street.

　　In Sao Paolo, around 30,000 demonstrators rushed to a main street in the city, protesting against a proposed constitutional amendment⁴ that would limit the power of public prosecutors⁵ to investigate crimes. Protesters said the legislation would make it harder to fight corruption.

　　Over the past few weeks, more than 1 million Brazilians have taken to the streets, venting⁶ anger against recent hikes of public transportation fares, heavy spending on international sports events and a wide range of other issues.

　　Nationwide protests on Thursday were initially⁷ peaceful, but turned violent in many places, with attacks on city hall buildings, even in the capital city of Brasilia.

　　The protests continued Friday in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo among other cities. Police used tear gas to disperse⁸ the crowd in Rio.

　　In a nationally televised speech Friday night, President Rousseff tried to placate⁹ protesters, promising¹⁰ plans on public services, education and fight against corruption.

　　Brazil, which will host next year's FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, has reportedly invested billions of dollars in infrastructure¹¹ and other preparations.

1 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

6 venting   

消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风

参考例句：

• But, unexpectedly, he started venting his spleen on her. 哪知道，老头子说着说着绕到她身上来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• So now he's venting his anger on me. 哦，我这才知道原来还是怄我的气。

7 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

8 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

9 placate   

v.抚慰，平息(愤怒)

参考例句：

• He never attempts to placate his enemy.他从不企图与敌人和解。
• Even a written apology failed to placate the indignant hostess.甚至一纸书面道歉都没能安抚这个怒气冲冲的女主人。

10 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

11 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。