高中英语阅读:New British PM 卡梅伦当选为英国新首相。

更新时间:2010-5-27 8:31:00    views:点击返回

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THE Conservative Party leader David Cameron has become the new British prime minister. Labor’s Gordon Brown, the former PM, had to hold back the tears as he said his goodbyes outside of 10 Downing St.

The 43-year-old Cameron is the youngest UK prime minister in almost 200 years.

According to electoral (选举的) rules, the leader of the party that wins a majority in Parliament becomes the new prime minister and forms the new government. If no party wins a majority, a coalition (联合) government made up of several parties may be formed. The head of the coalition party that holds most seats in parliament probably becomes the new prime minister.

In Britain’s May 6 parliamentary election, Cameron’s Conservative Party won the most seats, but did not get a majority. After negotiations, a deal was struck between the Conservatives and the third-placed Liberal Democrats, and a governing coalition formed. The Labor Party came second in the election.

Cameron has grown from a shy primary school student with poor school reports into a famous political figure. He is reportedly a *descendant of King William IV (1765 –1837). Cameron studied at the elite Eton College, for centuries the school of choice for the nation’s wealthiest people to send their male children to. He went on to Oxford University, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Once at primary school, Cameron had the poorest school report in the class. At Eton, Cameron was a problem boy. In 1983, he allegedly (涉嫌) took drugs. He was punished, and ordered to copy 500 lines of Latin text. He recovered from the incident and worked harder.

Cameron was very active at Oxford. He captained the tennis team there. He was a member of a dining society, the Bullingdon Club, famous for its vandalism (恶意破坏行为) and drinking culture.

After graduation, he entered politics. In 2001 Cameron became a member of Parliament and in 2005, at the age of 38, was elected the leader of the Conservative Party.

Now he has been elected prime minister of a country with deep economic troubles. At least 1.3 million people have been laid off in the serious recession (萧条). British voters will be looking to see if the program his party has proposed to deal with the problem can do anything to help.

BONUS

Descendant意为“后裔”。比如,我们经常说华人是“龙的传人”。英文是“Descendants of the Dragon”。其动词形式是“descend”。例如:She was descended from a pioneer family.

Teens点金

高考词汇

hold back

隐瞒,抑制

I know you're angry, so don't hold anything back from me.

elite // n. 精英

Many of the business elite oppose the new policy.

lay off 解雇

The company has had to lay off most of the staff.

propose //

v. 计划,提议,求婚

In his speech he proposed that the UN should set up an emergency committee for the environment.

考点看台

British voters will be looking to see if the program his party has proposed to deal with the problem can do anything to help.

本句中出现的will be looking是将来进行时态,表示将来某一时间正在进行的动作或按计划将来要发生的事情。

真题演练

1.Daniel’s family ______ their holiday in Huangshan this time next week. (2009安徽卷)

A. are enjoying

B. are to enjoy

C. will enjoy

D. will be enjoying

进阶词汇

2.-Did you tell Julia about the result?

-Oh, no, I forgot. I _____ her now. (05全国卷3)

A. will be calling

B. will call

C. call

D. am to call

Key: DB

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