VOA标准英语2012--EU Leaders Angry at Credit Downgrade
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(一月)
EU Leaders Angry at Credit Downgrade
From Larnaka to Brussels, European Union officials were on the defensive 1 Saturday, downplaying the downgrades while vowing 2 to push through fiscal 3 reforms.
In a widely anticipated move, the rating agency downgraded by a notch 4 the ratings of five European countries, including the region's second-largest economy France. It downgraded four others - Italy, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus - by two notches 5.
The finance minister of Cyprus called the move "arbitrary and unfounded." The Austrian government also criticized the measure. European Economic and Monetary 6 Commissioner 7 Olli Rehn called the downgrades inconsistent.
Other politicians, like French Finance Minister Francois Fillon, sought to put a positive spin on the news.
At a press conference on Saturday, Fillon said that while S&P had downgraded France's once-sterling AAA to AA+, the agency had also confirmed the French economy was solid, diversified 8 and resistant 9. It noted 10 the government had implemented 11 the necessary reforms and applied 12 a credible 13 strategy to reduce its debt and deficit 14.
Fillon also said a new fiscal discipline pact 15 agreed to by European leaders last month showed they were proactive in addressing the eurozone crisis. In Germany, which retained its AAA rating, Chancellor 16 Angela Merkel called on European leaders to move quickly to adopt the pact, which was spearheaded by France and Germany.
But S&P has criticized the European Union pact as an insufficient 17 answer to the crisis, an assessment 18 shared by analysts 19 like Tomasz Michaelski of the HEC business school in Paris. Michaelski also doesn't believe the downgrades will prompt European leaders to take bolder steps when they meet at the end of January.
"I don't believe that there's going to be a general solution to the problem reached at a common European summit," said Michaelski. "I don't believe that can happen. There are so many different interests. Each country is going to have to heal itself."
In practical terms, the downgrades mean that some countries may have to borrow money at higher costs. The EU's bailout fund may also be affected 20. But some analysts believe that since so many countries have been downgraded, including the United States last summer, it may have little tangible 21 impact.
Still others, like Michaelski, say the markets may have anticipated the downgrade and may not react dramatically when they reopen on Monday.
- Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
- The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。
- President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
- President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。
- The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
- The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。
- The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
- He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。
- The Indians cut notches on a stick to keep count of numbers. 印第安人在棒上刻V形凹痕用来计数。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- They cut notches in the handle of their pistol for each man they shot. 他们每杀一个人就在枪托上刻下一个V形记号。 来自辞典例句
- The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
- Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
- The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
- He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。
- The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
- They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句
- She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
- This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
- The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
- Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？
- The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
- We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。
- The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
- The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。
- They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
- He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。
- There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
- In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。
- This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
- What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
- She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
- His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。