Four Countries Gain Increased I.M.F. Voting Rights(1/2)
单词和重要词组（已在下文用颜色标注）：
The International Monetary Fund (I.M.F) 国际货币基金组织
World Bank 世界银行
Subject: person or thing that is being discussed or described (in speech or writing), or represented, e.g. in a painting; topic; theme主题；对象
Reform measure 改革措施
pressure:做动词时，相当于pressurize: use force, influence or strong persuasion to make sb do sth强使某人做某事
全文翻译和总结
Developing countries were the main subject last week at yearly meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Finance ministers met for two days in Singapore.
在上周举行的国家货币基金组织和世界银行年会上，发展中国家成为会议主要讨论议题。各国财政部长于新加坡进行了为期两天的会晤。
Members of the I.M.F. approved reform measures that aim to increase the voting power of countries with growing economies. As a first step, they agreed to increases in the voting rights for China, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey. These four countries were considered the least represented given the size of their economies.
I.M.F.成员国同意了一项旨在增加发展中国家投票权的改革措施。第一步，他们同意增加了中国、南韩、墨西哥和土耳其的的投票权。（尽管）这四个国家的经济规模增长很快，但在选举中的权力却不能与之相符。
The fund has 184 members. Currently, the weight of each government's vote is based on the amount of money it provides to the international lender. China, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey will increase their I.M.F. shareholdings, so their voting rights will increase.
国际货币基金组织有184个成员国。目前，每个国家投票的分量取决于他们提供给国际贷方的钱款数额。中国、南韩、墨西哥和土耳其将增加其在I.M.F.的股权，从而提高他们的投票权。
The reforms call for the I.M.F. to develop a way （听成了away）to rebalance voting rights for other countries within two years.
此项改革要求I.M.F在两年内找到重新平衡世界其他各国投票权的方法。
Critics say the United States and other Western nations have too much influence in the fund. Aid（听成了eight） groups and activists have been pressuring the I.M.F. and World Bank to give poor countries more power in those organizations.
批评家认为，美国和其他西方国家在基金组织中发挥的影响过大。援助机构和积极分子们已经向国际货币基金组织和世界银行施压，希望他们在此类组织上给与穷国更多的权力。
posted @ 2006-09-26 12:39
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编辑 收藏Generals in Thailand Find Strong Support, at Least for Now(1/2)
今天的专有名词:
1.Thaksin Shinawatra
2.King Prajadhipok
3.Siam
单词
seizure n.抓，捉，没收，查封，夺取
ouster n. 驱逐，夺取，剥夺
Bangkok n. 曼谷（泰国首都）
protestor n. 抗议者，反对者
denounce v. 公开指责，公然抨击，谴责
overthrow n. 推翻，达到，扔得过远的球 vt. 打到，推翻，颠覆
civilian n. 平民，公务员，文官 adj. 民间的，民用的
coup n. 砰然而有效的一击，妙计，出乎意料的行动，政变
翻译
1.Thai military leaders say their seizure of power Tuesday was necessary to unite a nation divided by months of political tension.
泰国军事领袖说他们在周二夺取政权是必要的，它团结了因数月紧张政局而分裂的国家。
2. But some Thais are concerned about the military's return to power in a nation that has grown deeply involved in the world economy.
（VC的翻译：）但是在已经深深成为世界经济体系一部分的泰国，让军队来重新执政让一些泰国人感到担忧。
3. That year, King Prajadhipok signed the first constitution for the nation then called Siam. He did so after government workers and military officers led a peaceful coup to demand a constitution.
那年，国王Prajadhipok 签署了第一部后来被称做Siam的宪法。在政府官员和军官领导了一次和平政变，要求制定宪法后，国王签署了该宪法。
posted @ 2006-09-25 12:20
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编辑 收藏Trying to Pump New Life Into World Trade Talks(2/2)
Developing nations want wealthy industrial countries to reduce or end subsidies. These payments, they say, drive down prices because they permit farmers from rich nations to sell their products for less on the world market.
发展中国家希望富裕的工业国减少或终止补助金。他们认为这些支付使得发达国家的农民以更低的价格在国际市场上出售农产品。
Industrial nations want developing economies to ease their trade barriers, like import taxes and customs requirements. Developing nations, though, worry that foreign competition will hurt their own industries. Concerns about the effects of foreign competition are not limited to developing nations, of course.
工业国希望发展中国家消除贸易壁垒，例如进口税以及海关必需品。然而，发展中国家担心外来竞争会损害本国工业。 当然，担心外来竞争的影响并不仅限于发展中国家。
United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab attended the meeting in Brazil. Earlier, she said she was "actively seeking a new way forward for the Doha Round." She said the United States had offered big cuts in import taxes and supports. But E.U. Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson called for the United States to make a "fresh proposal."
美国贸易代表苏珊出席了在巴西的会议。早些时候她曾说“正积极寻找新的方法来推进多哈回合。”她说美国已经削减关税并给予支持。但是欧盟贸易委员彼得要求美国找到“新鲜提议”。
After the meeting, some officials said there had been progress. No agreements were reached to restart the Doha Round. But Brazil’s foreign minister, Celso Amorim, said, "The round is alive."
会后，一些官员认为此次会谈已经有所进展。虽然没有协议促成多哈会谈的再次召开，但是巴西外交部长Celso表示“关于（多哈）会谈的争论还没有停止”。
Brazil and other developing countries with fast-growing economies established the G-20 in 2003. The group has members in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
巴西和其他经济发展飞速的发展中国家在2003年建立了G-20。其成员国分布于拉丁美洲、亚洲和非洲。
posted @ 2006-09-25 11:28
sjjanet 阅读(211) |
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编辑 收藏Complicated Saddam Case Raises Concerns(1/2)
Kurdistan n.库尔德斯坦(在西南亚,疆界不明确)
testimony n.证词(尤指在法庭所作的), 宣言, 陈述
blindness n.失明, 文盲, 愚昧, 轻举妄动, 盲目性
render vt.呈递, 归还, 着色, 汇报, 致使, 放弃, 表演, 实施vi.给予补偿, 交纳, 粉刷, 打底
neutral n.中立者, 中立国, 非彩色, 齿轮的空adj.中立的, 中立国的, 中性的, 无确定性质的, (颜色等)不确定的
defendant n.防卫者, 拥护者, 辩护者, [运动]卫冕者
genocide n.有计划的灭种和屠杀
accused n.被告
ethnicity n.种族划分
Verdict n.[律](陪审团的)裁决, 判决, 判断, 定论, 结论
Here in the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, residents follow the case closely on television. Much of the trial's recent testimony consisted of Kurdish witnesses describing their often horrible experiences, suffering burns and blindness from chemical weapons attacks. Later defense attorneys tried to cast doubts on the witnesses' credibility.
这里是伊拉克北部的库尔德斯坦地区，居民们通过电视密切关注事态（发展）。最近很多庭审的证词都来自目击者——库尔德人，他们描述了频繁遭遇的恐怖经历，因化学武器攻击而遭受的火灾和失明。随后，辩方律师试图使人们对证人的可信度产生质疑。
Human Rights Watch, which gathered evidence used in the case, has expressed concerns about the capacity of Iraq's court to meet international standards of justice and render a fair verdict. Those concerns may have been heightened this week when Iraq's government dismissed the Chief Judge for failing to be neutral and being too sympathetic to the defendant.
收集案件证据的人权观察组织表示对伊拉克当地法庭能否达到符合国际司法公正并且给出公正的判决感到忧虑。在本周伊拉克政府因主法官有失中立，太过同情被告方而罢免后，这种忧虑可能更深。
Human Rights Watch's International Justice Program Director Richard Dicker says the court must be particularly skillful because genocide is a difficult crime to prove.
人权观察组织的国际正义计划负责人 Richard Dicker表示因种族屠杀是一项很难被认定的罪名，法院必须有特别的技巧（处理次案件）。
"Because it’s got this requirement that the prosecutor must show the accused was motivated by or acting with very specific intent to eliminate their target group on the basis of either their ethnicity, their religious beliefs or their nationality, not because they were political opponents."
“因为它要求检举人必须证明被告乃出于非常明确的目的，基于他们的种族，信仰或是国籍，而非政治对手，而去消灭目标群体。”
posted @ 2006-09-25 10:15
sjjanet 阅读(350) |
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编辑 收藏Annan Describes Polarized World in Farewell Address(2/2)
Ovation n. 热烈欢迎，大喝彩，大受欢迎
Standing ovation n. 长时间起立鼓掌
Luncheon n. 午宴，正式的午餐
Dignitary n. 高贵的人，高官，高僧
Toast v. 敬酒
Ceremonial n. 仪式 adj. 正式的
Slate v. 提名，推举（一般用被动态）
Slot n. 时间
Vacant adj. 空的
hastily adv.急速地, 轻率地, 慌忙地, 草率地
The Secretary-General spoke of the challenge of easing tensions in the Middle East. He said that as long as the Security Council is unable to end the conflict, respect for the world body would continue to decline. He also said that sadly, the biggest challenge facing the world community comes from Africa.
联合国秘书长提到了缓和中东紧张局势的挑战。他表示只要安理会无法解决冲突，对此世界组织的信任就会持续减退。他遗憾地表示，世界面临最大的挑战来自于非洲。
Mr. Annan received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his final General Assembly speech. Later, at a luncheon attended by scores of world leaders and other dignitaries, President Bush raised a glass to toast the secretary-general's accomplishments.
安南在联合国大会上的最终演说得到了全体成员长时间的起立鼓掌。随后，各国首脑和权贵出席了一个午宴，布什总统为联合国秘书长取得的成就干杯。
But not all went according to script on this ceremonial opening day. As leaders spoke, word spread of a military coup in Thailand.
但是根据开幕式当天的摘，并不是所有领发人都出席了此次宴会。领导人之间大多谈论着泰国的军事政变。
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was to have attended the luncheon honoring Secretary-General Annan, and was slated to address the General Assembly Wednesday. When news of the coup broke, the prime minister's slot on the schedule of speeches was hastily moved up to Tuesday evening. A spokesman said the change had been made to allow Mr. Thaksin to go home.
泰国的总理他信原计划出席这个祝贺安南的午宴，并在星期三的联合国大会上发表演说。当政变消息传来，泰信的演说安排仓促地提前在周二晚上。发言人说这个变动是为了让总理他信能够回国。
But at the luncheon, the prime minister's seat was vacant, and a short time later, an announcement came that his speech had been cancelled.
但在宴会上，总理的位置是空着的。随后传来通知，宣布他的演说被取消了。
posted @ 2006-09-25 09:40
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编辑 收藏Annan Describes Polarized World in Farewell Address(1/2)
Farewell n.辞别, 再见, 再会int.再会, 别了!(常含有永别或不容易再见面的意思)
Unjust adj.不公平的
contempt n.轻视, 轻蔑, 耻辱, 不尊敬, [律]藐视法庭(或国会)
blistering adj.酷热的；（批评）严厉的，尖锐的
lift n.举起, 电梯, 起重机, 搭车vt.升高, 提高, 举起, 空运vi.升起, (指雾等)消散, 耸立
statistic n.统计量adj.统计的, 统计学的
insecure adj.不可靠的, 不安全的
thinly adv.稀疏地
veiled adj.以面罩遮掩的, 隐藏的
General Assembly 联合国大会
stark adj.明摆着的，显而易见的
lament v.悔恨，哀叹
In his farewell address to the General Assembly, Secretary General Annan painted a stark picture of a world beset（困扰，威胁） by social and economic inequality, war and terrorism. He lamented that his 10 years in office had witnessed little progress（重音） in resolving the planet's most pressing（相当于urgent，紧迫的，急切的） problems.
在联合国大会的闭幕演讲中，联合国秘书长安南勾画了一个被社会、经济不平等，战争以及恐怖主义问题威胁着的世界。在其10年在职期间，他没有目睹在解决世界紧迫问题上的进展，对此安南表示遗憾。
"The events（么听出来）of the last ten years have not resolved, but sharpened, the three great challenges - an unjust world economy, world disorder, and widespread contempt for human rights and the rule of law.”
“过去十年间的事件不但没有解决，反而加剧了三项重大的挑战，不公平的世界经济、世界混乱和日益增长的对人权、法制的蔑视。”
The Secretary-General launched a blistering attack on the phenomenon of economic globalization. He charged that while globalization brings people together in theory, in practice it drives them apart.
秘书长向经济全球化的现象发起了猛烈的抨击。他指责全球化在理论上将人们集聚在一起，实际上却使人们产生隔阂。
"My friends, globalization is not a tide that lifts all boats. Even among those who statistics tell us are benefiting, many are deeply insecure, and strongly resent the apparent complacency of those more fortunate than themselves."
“朋友们，全球化并不是让船只上升的浪潮。即使一些国家的统计数据告诉我们获利了，他们中的许多经济都极不稳定，而且强烈的憎恨那些比他们自己更富有的国家。”
Mr. Annan was equally harsh（严厉地）in his criticism of the fight against terrorism. In a thinly veiled criticism of the United States, he suggested the terror fight is being used as a cover for human rights abuses.
安南先生同时严厉地批评了反恐战争。他含蓄的批评了美国政府把反恐战争用作滥用人权的幌子。
posted @ 2006-09-23 20:16
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编辑 收藏President Bush Promotes Global Literacy Program
单词
literacy: n. 读写能力
illiteracy: n. 文盲
Illiteracy, a serious handicap in life.
attain:v. 达到,获得
The country attained its independence in 1972.
prosperity:n. 繁荣,兴旺
We hope to have a life of happiness and prosperity.
counterpart:n. 相似之物(正副二份中之一,对应物)
Night is the counterpart of day.
advocate:n. 提倡者,拥护者 v. 主张,提倡
He advocates reducing military spending
join forces with v.会师, 联合.
听写
President Bush’s schedule over the next two days includes an address before the United Nation's General Assembly as well as meetings with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and several heads of government. But Mr. Bush kicked off his trip to New York by accompanying First Lady Laura Bush to the White House Conference on Global Literacy. The president said no nation that has high illiteracy rates can attain prosperity.
Also at the conference were officials from the U.S. Departments of State and Education, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The agencies will be joining forces with their counterparts from nations around the world, as well as the United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to hold a series of regional conferences to discuss effective means of promoting literacy.
White House officials say promoting liberty will be a central theme of Mr. Bush's trip to New York. President Bush said the United States will continue to advocate freedom for the people of the world, but will not impose its version of freedom on any nation.
总结
1. Bush’s中’s的发音为/iz/，发现自己读错了。。。
2. schedule over连读
3. assembly没听出来
翻译选段
1. Also at the conference were officials from the U.S. Departments of State and Education, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The agencies will be joining forces with their counterparts from nations around the world, as well as the United Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to hold a series of regional conferences to discuss effective means of promoting literacy.
同时出席会议的还有来自美国国务院，教育部以及美国国际发展署的官员。这些机构将会连同世界各国的相应部门及世界教科文组织就如何有效地促进读写能力举行了一系列的地区性会议。
2. White House officials say promoting liberty will be a central theme of Mr. Bush's trip to New York. President Bush said the United States will continue to advocate freedom for the people of the world, but will not impose its version of freedom on any nation.
白宫官员表示促进自由是布什此次纽约之行的中心主题。布什总统曾经表示，美国会继续提倡全世界人民的自由，但不会把美国版本的自由强加给任何其他国家。
posted @ 2006-09-23 15:28
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编辑 收藏Trying to Pump New Life Into World Trade Talks(1/2)
听写及翻译：
Trade officials from a number of countries met in Brazil last week to discuss ways to restart world trade talks. The failure of agricultural negotiations led to the suspension of those talks in July.
上周，多国贸易官员在巴西碰面，就如何重新开始世贸谈判进行了讨论。7月份农业谈判的失败使得该谈判一度中断。
The group of developing countries known as the G-20 held the meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Trade officials from the United States, the European Union and Japan also attended the meeting. So did Pascal Lamy, the director general of the World Trade Organization.
发展中国家集团，我们所知的G20，在里约热内卢主持了此会议。来自美国，欧盟，日本的贸易官员和世贸组织总干事Pasca Lamy也出席了会议。
The meeting ended with calls for the Doha Round of world trade talks to start again. A statement released after the meeting noted that agriculture is central to the Doha development issues.
会议以呼吁重启多哈谈判而结束，会后发布的一项声明表示，农业问题将是多哈发展问题的关键。
"Most of the world's poor make their living out of agriculture," the statement said. But it said their way of life is threatened by government support programs and barriers to markets in international agricultural trade.
声明声称，“世界上的多数穷人靠务农维持生计”，但政府扶持项目和国际农业贸易正在威胁着他们的生存之道。
Mister Lamy suspended the Doha Round after W.T.O. members could not reach agreement on two major issues: subsidies and market reform.
因世贸组织的两个成员国不能在补助金和市场改革这两个主要问题达成一致，Lamy先生中止了多哈会谈。
背景资料：
G7: 由西方七国首脑会议演变而来。1975年7月，法国倡议召开法、美、英、德、日五国首脑会议，后又邀请意大利参加，同年11月，西方六个主要工业国家的首脑在法国召开首次会议。1976年加拿大应邀与会，形成七国集团，简称G7。1977年，欧共体委员会主席应邀参加。七国集团首脑每年举行一次会议，轮流做东。会议原以讨论世界经济问题为主，随着国际形势的变化，政治问题也日益成为主要议题。1994年，俄罗斯总统叶利钦正式参加会议的政治讨论，形成“7+1″机制。
G8：1997年，叶利钦参加会议的政治讨论后，首次与七国首脑以“八国首脑会议”名义共同发表“最后公投”，一般认为，七国集团自此演化为八国集团。俄罗斯虽成为正式成员，但不参加有关全球具体经济问题的讨论。G８会议议题多涉及世界经济形势、经济政策、国际贸易、南北关系等国际热点问题，但每次讨论的侧重点有所不同。
G20: 在东南亚金融危机之后，发达国家也认识到，为了保持国际金融体系的稳定，不能不顾及新兴市场国家。在这种考虑下，Ｇ7才成立了一个Ｇ20，里面既有新兴市场国家，也有发达国家，作为Ｇ7财长与央行行长会议的一个辅助机构。
顺便补充一个M7（Megadiversity7）指巴西、墨西哥、马达加斯加、哥伦比亚、刚果民主共和国、澳大利亚、印尼等生物多样性丰富的7个国家。
Doha Round : 多哈回合
“多哈回合”是指目前正在进行的新一轮多边贸易谈判。我们知道，在关贸总协定(GATT)时期，就进行过“乌拉圭回合”、“东京回合”等，当然，每一轮贸易谈判的议题、解决的问题都是不一样的。1995年，WTO取代GATT，“多哈回合”也就成了WTO成立以来举行的首轮多边贸易谈判。因启动这次谈判是2001年11月在卡塔尔首都多哈举行的WTO第四届部长级会议决定的，故称“多哈回合”。这也是今年9月在墨西哥坎昆举行的WTO第五届部长级会议要讨论的重点。多哈回合的进程和结果将对我们的经贸工作产生重大影响。
posted @ 2006-09-22 23:21
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编辑 收藏Concerns Raised About Future Progress in Mine-Clearing(3/3)
专有名词&生词
antipersonnel adj.杀伤的
Bosnia 波斯尼亚[南斯拉夫中西部一地区]
Herzegovina 黑塞哥维那[南斯拉夫中西部一地区]
Cambodia 高棉, 柬埔寨
Mozambique 莫桑比克(非洲东南部国家)
Thailand 泰国
听写&翻译
The report says three governments used them as well: Burma, Nepal and Russia. These nations have not signed the nineteen ninety-seven Mine Ban Treaty.
报告称，缅甸,尼泊尔和俄罗斯三国也使用了地雷。这些国家没有签署1997禁雷公约。
Forty countries remain outside the treaty. Others include China, India, Pakistan and the United States.
还有四十个国家也没有签署，其中包括中国、印度和美国。
The treaty bans the use, production and trade of landmines. It also requires countries to clear all territory of antipersonnel mines within ten years of when they joined the treaty.
公约禁止了地雷的使用、生产和交易，并要求加入国在签署公约的十年内清除领土内所有具有杀伤性的地雷。
More than one hundred fifty governments have joined the Mine Ban Treaty. Twenty-nine still have to finish mine-clearing within the next few years. But the campaign says thirteen might not meet that goal, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Mozambique and Thailand.
大约有150多个国家签署了禁雷公约，仍有29个国家得在未来几年内清除地雷。但是禁雷组织声称，有13
个国家不达标，其中包括波斯尼亚，黑赛格维亚，柬埔寨，莫桑比克和泰国。
posted @ 2006-09-21 10:49
sjjanet 阅读(252) |
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单词
astrophysicist n.天体物理学家
atmospheric adj.大气的
fingerprint n.指纹, 手印; vt.采指纹
听写
"We do believe that within to 10 to 15 years we will find the first planet that is small and earth-like," Scientists Lisa Kaltenegger and Wes Traub have analyzed atmospheric gases keyed to life over Earth's history, creating something of a fingerprint for life. "
我们深信，在未来10到15年内，我们将会找到一颗小型类地球行星。天体物理学家Lisa Kaltenegger说。科学家Lisa Kaltenegger和Wes Traub对地球历史上影响生命的大气进行了分析：他们创造了生命的迹象。
We will be able to isolate the light of these planets and tell whether or not the planets were looking at giant planets which I didn't show you or Earth-like planets. And when we find earth-like planets we have a really good shot of looking at this fingerprint of life on that planet."
我们能够区分这些星球的光线，并判断出我们观察到的天体是我未曾发现的巨行星还是类似地球的天体。当我们找到类地球行星时，我们可以好好地寻找这个行星上面的生命痕迹。
Finding similar compositions around distant planets in theory will indicate conditions for life as we know it.
理论上说，在遥远的行星周围寻找与地球相似的物质成分构造揭示了我们已知生命所需的条件。
总结
1.atmospheric听成atmosphere
2.analyze好久没接触到了，偶又没听出来。。。叹！！
3.of听不出来，后面的ing倒是听出来了。。
posted @ 2006-09-20 11:34
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