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進入英語學(xué)習(xí)論壇下載音頻 去聽寫專區(qū)一展身手

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour party gained an opinion poll boost on the final day of campaigning ahead of Thursday's election, but three national newspapers came out in support of opposition parties.

Conservative leader David Cameron campaigned through the night and Brown made an early visit on Wednesday morning to market workers in northern England to woo the one-third of voters said still to be wavering. A YouGov poll for the Sun newspaper suggested the center-right Conservatives' momentum had stalled, putting them unchanged on 35 percent, while center-left Labour rose to 30 percent.

The Liberal Democrats, who had been enjoying a strong rise in support on the back of a higher profile for their telegenic leader Nick Clegg, fell four points to 24 percent.

The quirks of the British electoral system, in which voters elect a member of parliament from their local constituency, mean that these figures would allow Labour to remain the biggest party, but short of a majority in parliament.

Labour has been in power since 1997, but has been battered by recession and public anger over a parliamentary expenses scandal that has tainted all the main parties.

A ComRes poll for the Independent newspaper put support for the parties unchanged, with the Conservatives 8 points ahead of Labour, making David Cameron's opposition party the largest in a 650-seat parliament, but denying him outright control.

Both polls suggest a 'hung parliament', in which the centrist Lib Dems could hold the balance of power.

Britain has not had an inconclusive election of this kind since 1974 and is not used to the kind of coalition-building familiar to many countries in continental Europe.

Two senior Lib Dem party members said on Wednesday they would work constructively with whoever the British public decided should lead the country, but reiterated their view that they could not support a party that won the most seats despite coming third in votes.

Questions:

1. What party does Gordon Brown belong to?

2. According to the latest poll what percentage are the Conservatives at?

3. Which party does Nick Clegg belong to?

Answers:

1. Labour

2. 35 percent

3. Liberal Democrats

去聽寫專區(qū)一展身手

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Julie 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.