VOA慢速英语:20 Years After the Soviet Union, Renewed Calls for Political Reform

词汇讲解：

1. collapse n. 倒塌, 崩溃
例句：The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.
国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。

2. loosen v. 解开; 放松；松弛
例句：He loosened his tie.
他松开了领带。

3. exile n. 流放, 放逐, 流亡
例句：Napoleon was sent into exile on an island.
拿破仑被流放到一个岛上。

4. attempt vt. 试图; 尝试
例句：He attempted the exam but failed.
他试图通过考试, 但失败了。

5. resign v. 辞职, 放弃
例句：He resigned his directorship and left the firm.
他放弃了董事职务, 离开了公司。

6. symbolic adj. 象征的,象征性的;作为象征的
例句：The snake is symbolic of evil.
蛇象征邪恶。

7. supply n. 供给, 供应, 补给
例句：The water supply to the room failed.
这房间的供水中断了。

8. evolve v. 演变; 进化
例句：Language is constantly and gradually evolving.
语言在不断地缓慢发展。

9. prosecution n. 起诉, 诉讼
例句：The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.
史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。

10. replace vt. 代替，取代
例句：Trams are being replaced by the buses.
电车正在被公共汽车所代替。

11. narrow adj. 勉强的; 险胜的;刚刚好的
例句：She won the champion by a narrow margin.
她以微弱优势赢得冠军。