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France Adopts Same-Sex Marriages 法国通过同性婚姻法案

课文朗读

France has become the 14^th nation to allow same-sex marriages. The signing of the “marriage for all” law, which allows same-sex partners to marry and to adopt children, came after months of heated debate. Despite public protests, the National Assembly passed the law by a vote of 331-225.

法国成为全世界第14个允许同性婚姻的国家。「所有人的婚姻」法案在经过数月的激烈争辩后终于获得签署，该法案允许同性伴侣结婚和收养子女。尽管引来民众抗议，法国国民议会终以331比225票通过该法案。

In big cities around France, happy people gathered to celebrate the result of the vote. However, people who don’t like the law organized demonstrations, some of which turned violent. They claimed that the law damages the meanings of marriage and causes mental harm to children who will be raised by same-sex couples.

在法国的各大城市，兴奋的群众集聚庆祝投票结果。然而法案的反对者组织了数场示威抗议活动，部分示威甚至转趋暴力。他们声称该法案将损及婚姻的意义，并对将由同性伴侣抚养的孩童造成心理上的伤害。

“Marriage for all” was one of President Francois Hollande’s main election promises. Polls show that many French people support same-sex marriage rights, although opinion is split on the issue of adoption rights. The author of the bill, Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, believed it would be “a reform of civilization.” She told Parliament after the vote, “It’s a generous law, and a law of equality.”

「所有人的婚姻」是总统弗朗索瓦．欧兰德的竞选承诺。民调显示许多法国人民支持同性婚姻的权益，然而关于收养的权益莫衷一是。法案的编纂者－司法部长克里斯蒂安．托比拉，相信这是「一次文明的改革」。她在投票后告诉议会：「这是一个宽厚和平等的法案。」

－by Geoffrey Trager

Vocabulary

heated [ˋhitɪd] adj. 激烈的

National Assembly (法国)国民大会

demonstration [͵dɛmənˋstreʃən] n. 示威，示威运动

mental [ˋmɛnt!] adj. 心理的

election [ɪˋlɛkʃən] n. 选举

poll [pol] n. 民意测验

Justice Minister 法务大臣

reform [͵rɪˋfɔrm] n. 改革

civilization [͵sɪv!əˋzeʃən] n. 文明

parliament [ˋpɑrləmənt] n. 议会，国会

equality [iˋkwɑlətɪ] n. 平等

Reading Comprehension

1.   What is TRUE about France's new "marriage for all" law?

(A)  It was supported by all the French people.

(B)  Some people held protests against it.

(C)  It keeps same-sex couples from adopting children.

(D)  It was approved in a few days.

2.   Why do people oppose the new law?

(A)  They believe the law will harm traditional marriage.

(B)  They believe there will be debates on the law for months.

(C)  They believe the law will spread across Europe.

(D)  They believe France is the first country to approve same-sex marriage.

3.   Why did Taubira bring up the new law?

(A)  She wanted to keep her campaign promises.

(B)  She wanted to split the country.

(C)  She wanted to call on more people to adopt children.

(D)  She wanted to promote equal rights.

Answer