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Scottish independence referendum

 

蘇格蘭自1707年加入英聯邦，但它獨有的歷史文化、以及對英國財富分配不均的不滿，令獨立的呼聲愈來愈大。

 

What is the Scottish independence referendum?

For the first time in a generation Scots are getting to vote on whether they want to remain part of the UK.
 

Scot = Scottish 蘇格蘭人

Brit  = British 英國人

 

referendum 公投

(noun 名詞)

 

The referendum will take place on Thursday 18 September 2014. Polls will be open between 7am and 10pm. Counting will start as "soon as reasonably practicable" once the polls close.

 

poll 民意調查

(noun 名詞)

 

例子：One-third of people questioned in an opinion poll disagreed with the government’s decision.

 

ballot paper 選票

(noun 名詞)

 

例子：The ballot paper will be white with an official security mark for the whole of Scotland on the front and a unique identifying number and name of the relevant council area on the back.

 

► ballot 投暗票

(noun / verb 名詞 / 動詞)

          = a secret vote / vote secretly

 

practicable 可行的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

= feasible  

例子：It is not feasible to set up a new policy at this stage.

 

► practicability 可行性

(noun 名詞)

 

= feasibility

 

referendum  vs.   popular vote  vs. plebiscite

以上三個字都跟公眾投票有關，意思略有不同，值得細心比較！

 

有見蘇格蘭獨立派、當地首席部長薩蒙德在上屆選舉大獲全勝，英國首相卡梅倫答應今年9月18日進行獨立公投，由蘇格蘭市民決定去留：

Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National party (SNP蘇格蘭民族黨), cruised to a historic victory north of the border in the 2011 election.

 

cruise to victory 輕易取勝

= win easily (journalism)

 

► cruise 航遊；旅遊航行

(verb 動詞)

 

Scottish independence never figured very prominently in the campaign or in SNP election leaflets, but the scale of his win was so large Westminster felt it needed to respect the result and hold a referendum.

 

figure in 出現

(verb 動詞)

 

= appear in

 

Kevin 教室

 

historic  vs.  historical

 

historic 歷史性的, 有重大歷史意義的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

= important in history (involving judgment)

 

例子：Alex Salmond cruised to a historic victory north of the border in the 2011 election.

例子：historic changes 歷史性的改變 (critical / crucial / significant)

 

historical 有關歷史的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

= existed in the past and are considered to be a part of history (more neutral)

 

historical books = books that describe or represent people, situations or things in the past

 

例子：He is writing a historical (有關歷史的) novel about the 18th century Britain. The book is historic (歷史性的, 有重大歷史意義的) because it has been influential. 

   
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