2006年VOA标准英语-Thousands of Protesters Call for Nepal Kin

By Patricia Nunan/Kate Pound Dawson
Kathmandu/Hong Kong
21 April 2006

Tens of thousands of protesters covered the main road surrounding Kathmandu, demanding that Nepal's King Gyanendra give up the control of the government, which he seized more than a year ago. Friday's protests were largely peaceful, although at least 12 people have died in more than two weeks of demonstrations² calling for the restoration of democracy. VOA's Patricia Nunan is in Kathmandu and spoke³ with editor Kate Pound Dawson in Hong Kong.

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Pro-democracy supporters shout slogans and march in a demonstration¹ against King Gyanendra in Katmandu, Nepal, Friday   
  

DAWSON: Patricia, can you tell me where you are in Kathmandu?

NUNAN: I'm in an area called Kalanki, which is right on the ring road on the outskirts⁴ of Kathmandu. This is the spot where some protesters were killed yesterday. But what is happened today is the police have been retreating steadily⁵. The ring road was prohibited yesterday, protesters weren't supposed to be on it, which is what brought about the confrontation⁶. Today they've (police) given way and they've let the protesters just join each other, linking up several arms of the ring road.

DAWSON: How many people are estimated to be out there?

NUNAN: It is very difficult to tell, but I wouldn't be surprised if we got over a hundred thousand. It is absolutely packed out here. The crowds are huge, they go on for kilometers and kilometers.

DAWSON: Is there any sense that the king today will make any announcement about changes in the government?

NUNAN: I haven't heard anything substantive⁷. We heard some reports on local TV that he has talked about restoring parliament, but it wasn't considered to be a substantive enough proposal. But again, we haven't heard anything official.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

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 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

7 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。