一）

Speculation1aboutthehealthofJapan’sprimeministerisrampant2

关于日本首相健康状况的猜测甚嚣尘上

WhowillsucceedAbeShinzowhenhegoes?

安倍卸任后谁将接任?

ForAbeShinzoAugust24thwassupposedtobeacelebration.Itwashis2,thstraight3dayasJapan’sprimeminister,makinghimthelongest-servinginthecountry’shistory,surpassingarecordsetbyhisgreat-uncle4,SatoEisaku.Instead,MrAbespenttheafternoonatKeioUniversityHospitalinTokyoundergoing5medicalchecksanddenyingreportsthathewasabouttostepdown6.

对于安倍晋三来说，8月24日本该是个庆祝日。这是他连续担任日本首相的第2天，使他成为日本历史上任职时间最长的首相，超过了佐藤荣作创造的纪录。而安倍先生下午在医院接受体检，并否认了他即将下台的报道。

1.Speculation:/?spekju?le??n/theactofformingopinionsaboutwhathashappenedorwhatmighthappenwithoutknowingallthefacts推测；猜测；推断

2.Rampant:/?r?mp?nt/(ofsthbad坏事)existingorspreadingeverywhereinawaythatcannotbecontrolled泛滥的；猖獗的

3.Straight:/stre?t/oneafteranotherinaseries,withoutinterruption连续的；不间断的

4.Great-uncle:anuncleofonesfatherormother;brotherofonesgrandfatherorgrandmother叔祖父;伯祖父;舅老爷;姑老爷

5.Undergo:/??nd??ɡ??/toexperiencesth,especiallyachangeorsthunpleasant经历，经受（变化、不快的事等）

6.Stepdown:toleaveanimportantjoborpositionandletsbelsetakeyourplace让位；退位

Illhealthhaslongdogged7MrAbe.Hisfirststint8asprimeministercametoanabruptendin,afteraturbulent9yearmarred10by,amongotherthings,aflare-up11ofulcerativecolitis12,achronicintestinaldisease.AnewdrughashelpedMrAbemanagethesymptomssincehetookupthejobagainin.Yetashehasreceded13frompublicviewinrecentmonths,rumoursabouthishealthhaveproliferated14.Japanesemediahavetakentoanalysingfootage15ofhisgait16toseeifithasslowed.Itnowtakeshim21secondstowalkdownthecorridoroutsidehisoffice,