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Expectations Mixed Before Global Summit in London

Just days before world leaders gather in London for a key summit on the global economic crisis, expectations vary widely.

針對全球的經濟危機,各國領袖近日將於倫敦展開高峰會議,外界對此看法分歧。


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 英語宅急便

Expectations Mixed Before Global Summit in London

By Tom Rivers
London
29 March 2009

Listen to the report

 

Just days before world leaders gather in London for a key summit on the global economic crisis, expectations vary widely.

Thousands of demonstrators take part in 'Put People First' march through central London, 28 Mar 2009.

On the streets of London this weekend, people vented their fears, frustrations and anger at the bankers and the politicians they see as responsible for the economic woes they are feeling in their daily lives.

"We have had depressions," the protestor said. "We have had recessions. It is a boom and bust cycle that we are having and people are starting to get fed up with it."

But the big question leading up to the G20 summit is, will there be genuine unity in addressing the world economic crisis?

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband stressed that nice words alone would not do, but real substance must come out of the meeting.

"This is about trying to tackle an exceptional economic crisis, far beyond the financial system and set in place measures, measures that really do make a difference," Miliband said.

A difference not only now, Miliband says, but also in the long term.

Interviewed on the BBC, the influential billionaire investor George Soros delivered a somber assessment. He said the summit would represent a "make or break" moment for the world economy.

"Unless we reconstruct and maintain the international financial system, if countries start doing it bilaterally instead of multilaterally, the system will fall apart and we will end up in a depression," Soros said.

Meanwhile on a trip to Chile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it is easy to be cynicalabout the summit, but he remains optimistic a meaningful outcome can and must be achieved.

Despite disagreements over the scope of further fiscal-stimulus programs with some of his European colleagues, Mr. Brown said great progress has been made through joint action during the past few months and he said the G20 summit must build on that progress.

 

Vocabulary

summit (n) 高峰會

gather (v) 聚集

recession (n) 經濟的衰退;經濟蕭條

substance (n) 實質;物質 *文中是指實質的或是具體的方案或幫助

tackle (v) 處理、解決、對付(問題、困難)

somber (a) 嚴峻的;陰暗的

assessment (n) 預估;評量

bilaterally; multilaterally (ad) 雙邊的;多邊的

fiscal-stimulus program (n) 經濟振興計畫

joint action (n) 聯合性的行動

 

Words and Phrases in Use

vary widely (v.phr) 差異性很大

Different cultures vary widely in parenting.
不同的文化對於教養下一代的差異性很大。

vent sth (anger, frustration, hatred, etc) on sb. (v.phr) 對人發洩不滿的、負面的情緒
*文中使用的是at;但on是較常合併使用的慣用語。

“I know you’re frustrated, but please don’t vent your anger on me.”
我知道你很氣餒,但別把你的氣出在我身上。

get fed up with (v.phr) 對…感到厭煩;受夠了. . .

“To tell you the truth, I am quite fed up with your constant complaints.”
告訴你實話,我已經受夠你不停的抱怨了。

make-or-break (a) 非成即敗的

Most political critics consider this to be the president’s make-or-break move for his career.
大多的政治評論家都視此為總統生涯裡非成即敗的一步。

fall apart (v. phr) 分崩離析;(計畫)失敗

Their marriage fell apart when the youngest child left home for college.
最小的孩子上大學離家之後,他們的婚姻也就結束了。

end up in (v. phr) 以 . . . 作為結果

Many people will end up in serious debt as a result of a second mortgage.
需多人會因為二次房貸而陷入嚴重負債。

cynical (~about) (a) 對. . . 感到憤世嫉俗;悲觀的

Since he was unexpectedly laid off last month, he has become cynical about the world.
自他上個月突然被裁員之後,他就對這世界感到悲觀。

 

 

Source

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-29-voa12.cfm

 

 
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