A national strike called by Venezuela’s opposition Thursday brought much of the country to a halt.
委内瑞拉反对党周四发动的全国罢工导致该国大部分地区陷入停滞状态。
Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro called the 24-hour strike.
委内瑞拉总统尼古拉斯·马杜罗（Nicolas Maduro）的反对者们号召举行24小时的罢工行动。
The opposition groups want to show national disapproval for Maduro’s plan to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution.
反对组织想要借此展示全国反对马杜罗的制宪计划。
It was the first major strike in Venezuela since 2002, when the opposition tried unsuccessfully to oust former president Hugo Chavez.
这是该国自2002年反对党未能成功罢免前任主席雨果·查韦斯（Hugo Chavez）后的首次大规模罢工活动。
The action appeared to have stopped nearly all bus traffic across the capital, Caracas.
这次罢工导致首都加拉加斯几乎所有的公交系统停运。
Many private businesses were closed even though the government demanded that they stay open.
虽然政府明令要求继续营业，但许多私人企业还是关门了。
Government-run companies remained open. But some had limited services because many employees did not show up for work.
政府经营的企业继续营业。不过，因一些职员没有上岗，某些服务也受到了限制。
Some people noted that the opposition action would cost them money at a time of extreme economic crisis and food shortages.
有人指出，在经济危机和食物短缺的大背景下，进行反对活动实在劳民伤财。
Many others said it was important to show support for the cause.
还有民众表示，支援这次罢工非常重要。
Several groups set up roadblocks in areas across Caracas to show opposition to Maduro’s rule.
有些团体在加拉加斯地区设置路障，借此表达对马杜罗政府的不满。
A collection of groups oppose Maduro’s proposal to create a new legislative body to rewrite the country’s 1999 constitution.
多个组织反对马杜罗提出的制定新立法机构来改写委内瑞拉1999年宪法的提议。
It would also have the power to dissolve state institutions.
该机构还拥有解散国家机构的权力。
Maduro has set a July 30 vote to create the body.
马杜罗要求民众7月30号进行投票，制定新的宪法。
The opposition has accused Maduro of seeking to build up the proposed new legislature with his supporters.
反对组织控告马杜罗和其支持者试图制定新的宪法。
They say this would permit him to remove the few remaining checks on his power and create a Cuba-style system controlled by his socialist party.
他们指出，这样马杜罗就有权取消对其政权的监督，继而建立一个由社会党控制的古巴式体制。
The opposition wants the military to defend the current constitution.
反对组织希望军队能够合力保卫现存宪法。
It has also demanded new elections before Maduro’s term ends in early 2019.
他们还要求在2019年马杜罗任期结束前，举行新一轮选举。
The strike came after more than seven million Venezuelans voted last weekend in an unofficial referendum.
这次罢工活动之前，700多万委内瑞拉人民在上周举行了非正式公投。
In the opposition-organized vote, 98 percent rejected Maduro’s proposal to rewrite the constitution.
这场由反对派组织的选举中，98%的选民反对马杜罗的制宪提议。
The referendum was seen as symbolic because it was not part of an official government election.
这次公投只是象征性的，因为其并非官方政府选举。
Maduro dismissed the voting as unconstitutional. He said it would have no effect on the government or his proposals.
马杜罗认为这一选举有违宪法规定。他说，这次选举对政府和制宪提议不会产生任何影响。
On Monday, American President Donald Trump also spoke against the proposal.
周一，美国总统特朗普发声反对制宪提议。
In a statement, Trump said, “If the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the United States will take strong and swift economic actions.”
特朗普在声明中表示：“如果马杜罗政权在7月30日召开立宪议会，美国会采取强有力的经济措施应对。”
Anti-government unrest over the past four months has left almost 100 people dead and 1,500 injured.
过去4个月里，反政府组织发动的骚乱造成100人死亡，1500人受伤。
I’m Caty Weaver.
凯蒂·韦弗为您播报。
【词汇解析】
1.economic actions 经济行动
In the age of knowledge economy, all the economic actions depend on the existence of knowledge.
在知识经济时代，所有的经济行为都依赖于知识的存在。
2.build up 增进；加强
The collection has been built up over the last seventeen years.
在过去的17年中，收藏的规模不断扩大。
3.even though 虽然
I will have a try even though I should fail.
哪怕失败，我也要试一下。
4.private businesses 私人企业
Many governmental accounting problems are similar to those applicable to private businesses.
许多政府会计问题与那些适用于私营企业的问题相似。
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