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VOA标准英语2009年-Australia Debates Revamping Controversial

时间：2009-10-19 07:57:39

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（单词翻译）

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
18 September 2009

Australia is revising controversial citizenship1 tests, to make sure applicants2 are more aware of their rights and responsibilities rather than examine their general knowledge about sports and culture.

The government wants to make the tests more helpful for prospective3 citizens settling in to life in their adopted country.
 
In the new version of the test, to be rolled out October 19, there will more questions about gender4 equality, compulsory5 voting and the Australian legal system.
 
In unveiling the test this week, Immigration Minister Chris Evans, who was born in Britain, says the amendments6 will help immigrants better understand their responsibilities to the community.
 
Evans and many immigrant activists7 think questions on the current test about famous sports personalities8 and explorers are irrelevant9.
 
The country on Thursday celebrated10 Citizenship Day and to mark the occasion 4,000 people were sworn in as new Australians.
 
Among them was China-born opera singer Sharon Zai, who gave up her Chinese citizenship to become an Australian.
 
"I would love to have both but because I have been in Australia for six years and I feel very, very involved with this Australian life and I love to live here forever," she said.
 
Critics say the citizenship tests are a waste of money, do nothing to help newcomers integrate into society and discriminate11 against those from a non-English speaking background.
 
Migrants must pass the test to gain citizenship. 
 
Under the proposed changes, those taking the test will have to answer 20 multiple-choice questions in English and the passing grade will rise from 60 percent to 75.
 
The tests were introduced in 2007 and were intended to enhance social cohesion12. Recent studies have found that some prospective citizens had been deterred13 from applying for citizenship, wrongly fearing they would be deported14 if they failed the test.
 
Applicants can take the exam as many times as they like until they pass.


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1 citizenship AV3yA     
n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)
参考例句：
  • He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
  • Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。
2 applicants aaea8e805a118b90e86f7044ecfb6d59     
申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
  • He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
3 prospective oR7xB     
adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的
参考例句：
  • The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
  • They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。
4 gender slSyD     
n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性
参考例句：
  • French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
  • Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。
5 compulsory 5pVzu     
n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的
参考例句：
  • Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
  • Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。
6 amendments 39576081718792f25ceae20f3bb99b43     
（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案
参考例句：
  • The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
  • Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。
7 activists 90fd83cc3f53a40df93866d9c91bcca4     
n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
  • Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 personalities ylOzsg     
n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
  • Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。
9 irrelevant ZkGy6     
adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的
参考例句：
  • That is completely irrelevant to the subject under discussion.这跟讨论的主题完全不相关。
  • A question about arithmetic is irrelevant in a music lesson.在音乐课上，一个数学的问题是风马牛不相及的。
10 celebrated iwLzpz     
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。
11 discriminate NuhxX     
v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待
参考例句：
  • You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
  • They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。
12 cohesion dbzyA     
n.团结，凝结力
参考例句：
  • I had to bring some cohesion into the company.我得使整个公司恢复凝聚力。
  • The power of culture is deeply rooted in the vitality,creativity and cohesion of a nation. 文化的力量，深深熔铸在民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。
13 deterred 6509d0c471f59ae1f99439f51e8ea52d     
v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
  • Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句
14 deported 97686e795f0449007421091b03c3297e     
v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止
参考例句：
  • They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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