(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
This is the VOA Learning English Education Report.
Eighteen people in central Kenya are taking the country's secondary education test, called the KCSE. Even under normal conditions, this examination can make a student nervous. But these 18 students may feel especially fearful. They are serving sentences in a top-security prison. And if they do well on the test, they might get to leave the prison.
During the test the inmates sit at school desks at Naivasha Prison. These prisoners have writing tools and plastic devices used in mathematics. The classroom looks like any other except that the students are wearing prison uniforms.
David Noah Okwemba has just finished the examination for history and biology. He says he wants people to know that the prisoners are no longer criminals. Instead, he says they are students.
Prisoners who perform well can have their sentences amended. They may be released early to go to university or find employment.
Patrick Mwenda is head officer at Naivasha prison. He says Naivasha works with the high courts to consider the cases of prisoners who get high marks.
Mr. Mwenda says nine prisoners have been released since 2008 as a result of their schooling and tests. So far, the releases have gone only to prisoners sentenced to short terms.
Only one other possibility for freedom exists for those facing life in prison and those who have used up all their legal appeals. Kenya's Power of Mercy committee advises about pardons for prisoners. Officials set up the committee in 2011.
Mr. Mwenda admits the difficulties of getting a pardon. But he says the prison urges students with longer sentences to build skills. He says doing this would help them have a good record to show the committee.
Inmate Prince Winsor Mosii does not approve of the whole system.
"The Power of Mercy is not actually helpful. It is there, but it is not helping in setting us at liberty (freeing us), even if you have performed."
Prince Winsor Mosii took his KCSE exam last year. But he says he does not see much reason to get an education if he is to remain in prison.
"It is of no good to get or to acquire something of great value, skills, and not put it into action."
More than half of the 3,000 inmates at the Naivasha prison are involved in the school program. The inmates themselves choose the subjects and decide the content of the studies.
And that's the VOA Learning English Education Report for today. I'm Jeri Watson.
文本来自51voa，译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载。
词汇解释
1.inmate n. (尤指)同院病人；同狱犯人；同被(收容所)收容者
He learned this song as an inmate at a Texas prison.
他在得克萨斯监狱服刑时学会了这首歌。
2.amend vt. 修改；改善，改进 vi. 改正，改善；改过自新
The president agreed to amend the constitution and allow multi-party elections.
总统同意了修正宪法并且允许多党选举。
3.pardon n. 原谅；赦免；宽恕 vt. 原谅；赦免；宽恕
They lobbied the government on his behalf and he was granted a presidential pardon.
他们为他游说政府，他因之得到了总统特赦。
内容解析
1.Only one other possibility for freedom exists for those facing life in prison and those who have used up all their legal appeals.
use up 用完，耗尽
The ink is used up.
墨水用完了。
We have used up most of the cloth, and all we have left is a few bits and pieces.
布大部分用完了， 只剩下一些零头。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道。
在肯尼亚中部有18人在参加该国名为KCSE的初中教育考试，即使在正常的情况下，这种考试也会让学生紧张。不过这18个学生可能会感到尤其害怕，他们是戒备森严的监狱里的服刑人员。如果他们考试成绩不错，可能会出狱。
考试期间，囚犯们坐在纳瓦沙监狱的课桌前，他们有书写工具和数学中需要的塑料文具。这个教室和别的教室没什么两样，除了学生穿着囚服外。
戴维·诺亚刚完成历史和生物考试，他说他想让人们知道，囚犯不再是罪犯了，而是学生。
成绩不错的囚犯可以减刑，可以提前获释去上大学或找工作。
帕特里克是纳瓦沙监狱的最高负责人，他说该监狱和高级法院会合作考虑得高分囚犯的案件。
帕特里克说自从2008年以来，已有9名囚犯因学业和考试成绩获释，到目前为止，只有短期刑期的囚犯获释。
对于那些长期徒刑和上诉权已经使用完的囚犯来说，他们只有一种机会获释。肯尼亚宽恕力量委员会提供有关赦免囚犯的建议，官方2011年成立了该委员会。
Mwenda承认很难得到赦免，但他说监狱鼓励长期徒刑的学生学习技能，他说这样就可以有机会向委员会展示其好成绩。
囚犯Mosii不认可这整个体系。
“宽恕力量委员会事实上起不到帮助，它的确存在着，但它不能帮助我们获释，即使我们表现良好。”
Mosii去年参加了KCSE考试，但他说如果一直坐牢，他看不出有什么理由要接受教育。
“没有什么好处，得不到太大的价值或技能，无法付诸实践。”
纳瓦沙监狱的3000名囚犯中，已有一半以上的人参加了这个学校项目，由囚犯自己选择科目并决定学习内容。
这就是美国之音慢速英语教育报道，我是杰瑞·沃森。
