2007年VOA标准英语-Prime Minister Says India Will Not Be Totally I

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
15 August 2007

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for the 1.1 billion Indians of all castes and religions to unite to fulfill¹ the goals of those who led India to independence in 1947. VOA's Steve Herman reports from New Delhi on India's independence anniversary.

In a ceremony inside the historic Red Fort in Old Delhi, India marked the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain.

A chorus of schoolchildren leads a crowd of political leaders, government officials and diplomats² in singing the national anthem³.

Manmohan Singh arrives at The Red Fort in New Delhi, 15 Aug 2007

In front of the crowd stood Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, wearing his trademark⁴ powder-blue turban.

In a 40-minute address, Mr. Singh lamented⁵ that not all the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and others who won the struggle to end colonialism have been realized.

Mr. Singh says independence for India will not be complete until poverty is eradicated⁶ in the country.

He called for India to eliminate malnutrition⁷ in five years and vowed⁸ a revolution in education with greater access to new universities and vocational schools.

Mr. Singh announced there would be a massive increase in public spending on education, health care, agriculture and rural development.

He added that industrialization would be the most effective means to expand employment.

Despite a booming economy and a growing middle class, one of every four Indians lives below the poverty line, 40 percent are illiterate⁹ and most do not have adequate health care.

Celebrations in the capital took place under extremely tight security, with roads virtually deserted¹⁰ on the national holiday. Officials say there have been fresh threats against New Delhi from the al-Qaida terrorist network and indigenous¹¹ separatist groups.

The prime minister did not directly mention India's rival Pakistan, although Mr. Singh said that the prosperity and well-being¹² of its neighbors is key to India's security and progress.

When India became independent in August 1947, a separate predominately Muslim state was carved out of the sub-continent. The division prompted a violent migration¹³ of millions of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.

Pakistan celebrated¹⁴ its independence on Tuesday.

Mr. Singh on Tuesday received a telephone call from President Bush to extend best wishes for the independence anniversary.

The government says the two leaders discussed a variety of topics, including civil nuclear cooperation, under a recent agreement that would allow India to use American nuclear fuel for civilian¹⁵ facilities.

1 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

2 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

4 trademark   

n.商标；特征；vt.注册的…商标

参考例句：

• The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
• The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。

5 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 eradicated   

画着根的

参考例句：

• Polio has been virtually eradicated in Brazil. 在巴西脊髓灰质炎实际上已经根除。
• The disease has been eradicated from the world. 这种疾病已在全世界得到根除。

7 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

9 illiterate   

adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲

参考例句：

• There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
• I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。

10 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

11 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

12 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

13 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

14 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

15 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。