VOA标准英语2010年-Tensions Ebb in India Over Court Verdi

In India, tensions are ebbing¹ over a sensitive court verdict which has divided a contested holy site between Hindus and Muslims. The government says it is satisfied at the country's response to the verdict.

In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh where the religious site lies, schools and businesses opened and traffic returned to the streets Friday as fears of violence in the aftermath of the court judgment² ebbed³.

On Thursday a high court ruled that two-thirds of the site where a 16th century mosque⁴ once stood in Ayodhya town should be given to two Hindu groups, and the remaining to Muslims.

Hindu groups have long claimed that the site is the birthplace of their god, Lord Rama. The dispute reached a flashpoint in 1992, when Hindu extremists destroyed the Babri mosque. This sparked deadly nationwide rioting.

Fearing a backlash to the judgment, the government has put tens of thousands of security forces on alert.

But so far the reaction to the judgment has been restrained.

"The law and order situation has been extremely peaceful," Palaniappan Chidambaram, India's Home minister said. "There have been no incidents reported to us. We are therefore very pleased and satisfied that the response of the people of India has been respectful and dignified⁵."

However, authorities are taking no chances and the heavy security deployment⁶ will continue in the days to come.

Hindu litigants⁷ appear to be more satisfied than the Muslim litigants, but both sides have vowed⁸ to appeal the ruling to the Supreme⁹ Court. This means the final word on what will happen at the holy site may still be years away.

Home Minister Chidambaram says the site will remain untouched for the next three months as directed by the court.

"The judges have said the status quo will be maintained in its minutest detail... This judgment is not operational now," Chidambaram added.

Political analysts¹⁰ say that the muted response to the judgment is partly due to its diminishing appeal in a country where the divisive issue no longer raises high passions.
 

1 ebbing   

（指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落

参考例句：

• The pain was ebbing. 疼痛逐渐减轻了。
• There are indications that his esoteric popularity may be ebbing. 有迹象表明，他神秘的声望可能正在下降。

2 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 ebbed   

（指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落

参考例句：

• But the pain had ebbed away and the trembling had stopped. 不过这次痛已减退，寒战也停止了。
• But gradually his interest in good causes ebbed away. 不过后来他对这类事业兴趣也逐渐淡薄了。

4 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

5 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

6 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

7 litigants   

n.诉讼当事人( litigant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Litigants of the two parties may reconcile of their own accord. 双方当事人可以自行和解。 来自口语例句
• The litigants may appeal against a judgment or a ruling derived from the retrial. 当事人可就重审案件的判决或裁定进行上诉。 来自口语例句

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 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。