VOA常速英语:Eastern Congolese Gear Up for Election

短语讲解：

1. This week, as they gear up to vote in Congo's second election since the end of a civil war, some voters are jubilant, while others fear - and threaten - that these elections will not be peaceful.

gear up使做好行动准备
例句：The party is all geared up for the forthcoming election campaign.
该党为即将来临的竞选活动已完全做好了准备。

2. In the final days of campaigning, trucks packed with dancers and bullhorns play music and crisscross the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma. 

pack with用…充满
例句：He packed a briefcase with what might be required.
他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。

3. There are 11 contenders for the DRC's presidential seat and about 1,800 candidates running for parliament.

run for竞选,赶快去请
例句：The Republican Party will run Johnson for President.
共和党将提出让约翰逊竞选总统。

4. But no one is certain the elections will come off on time, peacefully or fairly.

come off举行
例句：When will the race come off?
比赛何时举行?
on time按时, 准时
例句：The alarm clock awoke me on time.
闹钟按时把我闹醒了。

5. But local ruling party leaders say they are optimistic about Monday’s polls, saying they are preparing for a clean election.

prepare for (使)为…作准备
例句：The doctor prepared Mother for her operation.
大夫让母亲做好手术前的准备。

6. "It is him who is engaging in the process of national reconstruction because the country was at war for a long time," Muhongya noted. "

engage in参加; 从事; 忙于
例句：He engaged in a serious study of the problem.
他对这个问题进行了认真的研究。

7. Hopes and tensions are high as campaigns wind down, and commissioners prepare for Monday’s contest. 

wind down渐次停止，使逐步缩减(以便结束)；逐步结束，趋于尾声
例句：We should not wind down our business in Shanghai.
我们不该逐渐结束在上海的生意。