voa标准英语2008-Laura Bush Meets With US-Afghan Women's Council

For the last time as first lady, Laura Bush has presided over a meeting of an organization dedicated¹ to promoting women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. During the meeting at the White House, U.S.-Afghan Women's Council participants discussed achievements and challenges in the quest to grow the ranks of businesswomen in a historically male-dominated nation.
　

Laura Bush (L)during a video teleconference with Afghan businesswomen, 18 Dec 2008

Ever since the United States invaded Afghanistan in late 2001, First Lady Laura Bush has taken a special interest in the Afghan people, particularly its women.

For years, the country's former Taliban leaders banned women from formal education and did not tolerate women who stood on their own as business proprietors².

Mrs. Bush said Afghan women have made great strides in recent years, but much remains³ to be done.

"The women of Afghanistan still need a lot of encouragement. We know that, because of years of lack of education, a lack of health care, of extreme poverty, that women in Afghanistan still face many, many challenges," she said.

The first lady was speaking in a video teleconference between the White House and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. In attendance were U.S. and Afghan officials, American business leaders and academics, and Afghan businesswomen who, together, form the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council.
　

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has encouraged women entrepreneurs (file photo)

The council seeks to link aspiring⁴ Afghan entrepreneurs with U.S. business leaders and professors who can serve as mentors⁵ and help the women launch their fledgling businesses. Begun by President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2002, the council has devoted⁶ tens of million of dollars to a wide range of educational and training programs in Afghanistan, while also bringing Afghan women to the United States for schooling⁷.

The council heard from a variety of women who now run businesses ranging from fruit packing to soccer ball manufacturing to selling women's lingerie - a first for Afghanistan.

One entrepreneur, Masooda Sultan, was born in Afghanistan, came to the United States as a child, and returned to her native country following the Taliban's ouster from power. Sultan said hurdles⁸ remain for Afghan women - in the courts, for instance, she said the testimony⁹ of a lone¹⁰ woman cannot be heard without a male relative present.

"It is an example of some of the difficulties in the formal legal system that we still have to get over - they are a bit of a disadvantage. However, I think there are advantages, as well, to being a woman entrepreneur in Afghanistan. There is the element of surprise. When I walk into a room, and it is full of men, they often think I am someone's secretary. And I have gotten many job offers. And then I tell them, 'actually I am in business and if you want to partner up [with me] for something, that is great.," said Sultan.

All participants thanked Mrs. Bush for her efforts on behalf of Afghan women over the last seven years. For her part, the first lady said she intends to continue to advocate for the people of Afghanistan as a private citizen after leaving the White House.

Washington's Georgetown University will manage the council during the transition period to the Obama administration.

1 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

2 proprietors   

n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These little proprietors of businesses are lords indeed on their own ground. 这些小业主们，在他们自己的行当中，就是真正的至高无上的统治者。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Many proprietors try to furnish their hotels with antiques. 许多经营者都想用古董装饰他们的酒店。 来自辞典例句

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 aspiring   

adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求

参考例句：

• Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
• He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句

5 mentors   

n.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Beacham and McNamara, my two mentors, had both warned me. 我的两位忠实朋友，比彻姆和麦克纳马拉都曾经警告过我。 来自辞典例句
• These are the kinds of contacts that could evolve into mentors. 这些人是可能会成为你导师。 来自互联网

6 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

7 schooling   

n.教育；正规学校教育

参考例句：

• A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area.孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
• Backward children need a special kind of schooling.天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。

8 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。