VOA常速英语:Britons 'E-Petition' for Death Penalty Return

词汇讲解：

1. petition vi. 祈求；请求；请愿
例句：Parents petitioned the school to review its admission policy.
家长请愿恳求学校修订招生政策。

2. scheme n. 计划, 方案
例句：When you began to work, you might work out a practical scheme.
当你开始工作之前, 你可以先制定出一个可行的计划。

3. signature n. 签名,签署;画押
例句：Petitions bearing nearly a half-million signatures were sent to the White House.
有将近五十万人签名的请愿书被送到白宫。

4. restore vt. 修复,整修;修补
例句：I wonder if this picture can be restored.
我很想知道这幅画能否修复。

5. abolition n. 废除, 废止
例句：They declared for the abolition of slavery.
他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。

6. reject vt. 拒绝, 谢绝; 驳回
例句：The board rejected all our ideas.
董事会拒绝审议我们的所有意见。

7. unlock vt. 开;开启；揭开;表露
例句：He unlocked the secrets of his heart.
他表露了他心中的秘密。

8. criticize v. 批评;批判
例句：He criticized her in a very unfair way.
他极不公平地指谪她。

9. vital adj. 极重要的, 必不可少的
例句：It is vital that we should be kept informed of all developments.
重要的是我们必须熟悉所有的发展情况。

10. tendency n. 倾向, 趋势
例句：Prices continue to show an upward tendency.
物价呈继续上升的趋势。

11. gimmick n. 花招,诡计,骗人的玩意儿
例句：He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.
他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

12. toll n. 通行费
例句：A man collected tolls at the gateway.
一个人在大门口收通行费。