VOA标准英语2012--Celebrity, Novelty Mark Burmese Political Season

Celebrity¹, Novelty Mark Burmese Political Season

Emotional crowds have been gathering² by the tens of thousands across Burma to cheer on Aung San Suu Kyi, whom they lovingly refer to as Mother Suu, as her National League for Democracy (NLD) party fields a star-studded cast of former political prisoners, such as Zeya Thaw³, a well-known hip⁴ hop⁵ artist.

Little more than a year ago, Suu Kyi was still under house arrest, and now her presence on the campaign trail is another sign of rapid change in a country stifled⁶ by military rule for more than 60 years, and campaign rallies have become festive⁷ occasions.

Journalists such as May Htwe, a local videographer, cover the election with newfound freedom. she says many are drawn⁸ by the spectacle of a campaign that would have been unthinkable just 18 months ago.

"I think this crowd of people some don’t really know about NLD and politics, they just want to see Daw Suu," she says.

But despite the excitement, some remain wary⁹ of talking to foreign media.

"I'm just here because I’ve never seen Daw Suu before, but I have nothing more to say," says one man.

Suu Kyi’s fame has turned her party's headquarters into a popular tourist destination, and many visitors, like French traveler Francine, say they are deeply touched by her story.

"Of course it would be a great honor to meet The Lady," she says. "I think she is very courageous¹⁰ and has led an exceptional life."

Despite concrete signs of reform, though, NLD election campaign manager U Nyan Win still worries about the vote’s fairness.

"We're facing many difficulties right now, especially with irregularities in voter lists, and especially in the Lady's township in Kawhmu," he says. "There are some underage voters on the list, some as young as ten or eleven years old."

Organizers say they hope Suu Kyi's star power and its accompanying international scrutiny¹¹ will help ensure a clean election. 

1 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

4 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

5 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

6 stifled   

（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵

参考例句：

• The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
• The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。

7 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

8 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

9 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

10 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

11 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。