2006年VOA标准英语-Albania's Capital Struggles With Booming Popula

By Barry Wood
Tirana
26 September 2006

Few places in Europe have experienced as explosive a growth in population as Tirana, the once small and now vibrant¹, sprawling² capital of Albania.

 
Downtown Tirana, Albania
During the harshest of Albania's communist rule that persisted until 1991, people could not own cars.  They were reserved for party officials.  As recently as 1993 there were more bicycles and horse carts than cars on Tirana streets.

That all changed with dramatic suddenness.  Today, Tirana is often choked with motorized traffic.  Horse carts are long gone and only the bravest dare navigate³ by bicycle.

U.N. Development Program team leader Eno Ngjela says Tirana's growth was completely unplanned.  When restrictions⁴ on people's movements ended, they came to Tirana.

 
Tirana Mayor Edi Rama
"No one thought [during communism] at the time there would be cars or anything, or a major need for electricity or air conditioning, or central heating from electricity," he said.

By the late 1990s Tirana's population had doubled to at least 300,000.  With little regulation, development was chaotic⁵. Illegal kiosks and restaurants went up in every available space. 

That changed in 2000 when Edi Rama, a young artist, was elected mayor.  He removed illegal squatters and developed an urban plan. 

Today, Tirana sparkles, its new high rises and modernity stunning⁶ even to a frequent visitor.  Rama, also the head of Albania's opposition⁷ socialist⁸ party, has a list of the city's major challenges.  Progress, he says, is held back by a central government run by his political rivals.

 
Downtown Tirana, Albania
"Electricity is a central government responsibility," he said.  "Housing is a local government responsibility, but without central government coordination⁹, this becomes impossible because of restrictive laws.  Sanitation¹⁰ is a disaster and it is a central government responsibility."

These complaints are rejected by Prime Minister Sali Berisha. He promises no electicity cuts this coming winter and says housing regulations are much improved. He says corruption¹¹, rampant¹² under the Socialist government he succeeded one year ago, is now less of a problem

There are estimates that Tirana's population will reach one million within the next few years.  Albanians continue to move to the capital, where wages are at least twice as high as in rural areas.

 
Workers pave new roads in Tirana
Planners say growth is so rapid that soon Tirana and the port city of Durres, 35 kilometers away, will become a single urban area comprising about half of the country's population.

UNDP official Ngjela says Albania is developing in two directions.

"Some areas of the country like Tirana, Durres and some tourist areas in the south are developing quickly," he noted¹³.  "And the rest of the country is just staying there [still] and lagging behind."

 
Tirana Mayor Edi Rama
With explosive growth continuing, what will Tirana look like in 10 years?

"I do not know," said Edi Rama.  "I do not know.  The most interesting thing about this country is that you can never predict the future."

Mr. Rama, 42, says being mayor of Tirana is the most exciting job he could have.  On a national level, he says he wants to create a political party that is responsive to people and can facilitate generational change.

1 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

2 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

3 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

6 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

9 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

10 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

11 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。

12 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。