GRE阅读练习：脆弱民主制度下的选举.docxVIP

Word文档下载后（可任意编辑） 第 第 PAGE 1 页 共 NUMPAGES 1 页 GRE阅读练习：脆弱民主制度下的选举 GRE阅读训练：GRE阅读练习：脆弱民主制度下的选举 GRE考试精品课程指导  No one batted an eyelid earlier this year when Turkmenistans strongman, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, was “re-elected” with nearly 98% of the vote.  今年早些时候，当土库曼斯坦铁腕人物Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov以近乎98%的支持率重新当选的时候，没人对此产生异议。  Why, one wonders, did he bother with an election at all?  有人就好奇，既然已经知道是这样的结果，Berdimuhamedov为什么还要进行重新选举?  Yet in a growing number of fragile new democracies, especially in Africa, where similarly absurd results were once common, elections have become genuine.  在民主进程缓慢进行的国家，尤其是非洲国家，这样压倒性的选举优势曾经常出现，但是现在，民主选举确实是在进步了。  Since 1991 incumbent governments or leaders have been ousted at the ballot box at least 45 times, most recently in Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia and Lesotho.  从1991年以来，在尼日尼亚、加纳、冈比亚、莱索托等国家，当权政府和领导人已经被从选举箱中除名至少45次。  Nerves still jangle at election time, especially when the outcome is likely to be close, patronage and corruption are pervasive, and rigging and violence have blighted previous ballots.  但是在选举期间，人们还是会担心，尤其是选举结果即将出炉的时候。在这期间，到处都是赞助和腐败，徇私舞弊和暴力也会影响先前的投票结果。  A fraudulent election can tarnish a countrys reputation, threaten its stability, and deter investment and aid.  一次掺有欺诈的选举会破坏一个国家的声誉、危害它的安全、阻挡外国投资和援助。  Kenya, whose voters go to the polls on August 8th, is just such a case.  8月8日，即将进行选举的肯尼亚就是个例子。  Violence after an election in 2007 left at least 1,300 dead and 700,000 displaced.  2007年选举之后的暴乱，导致1300民众死亡，70万人流离失所。  The country is the economic and strategic hub of east Africa, so a credible election this time matters not only to Kenyans but to many beyond their borders.  作为非洲东部的经济和战略中心，肯尼亚选举的影响波及很多国家。  Foreign and local observers will be vital to ensuring a clean contest in such a “transitional democracy”.  肯尼亚国内外观察员在保证透明选举这件事上，起着至关重要的作用。  In the bad old days no one (except the hapless citizens of the countries concerned) seemed to care much