British Vision Issue 77, 法国总统离婚记
英语课
Transport strikes have brought France to a standstill; the Rugby World Cup hopes have been dashed in the capital; the President and his wife have divorced by mutual 1 consent. Not a good week for the French leader Nicolas Sarkozy. After just five months in office, his political honeymoon 2 has come to an abrupt 3 end.
On top of his personal affairs, comes Mr. Sarkozy's first major political challenge, as workers across the country ... in protests against his planned pension reforms. From Paris, John Sparks has this report.
The critics and columnists 4 are calling it Black October. Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential nightmare, crippling strikes, sporting humiliation 5, and the end of his marriage. Is this the end of the affair between Sarko and French people?
Sheer energy, boundless 6 ambition, the promise of a reform won Nicolas Sarkozy the presidency 7 in May. The people seem to like his plans to introduce welfare reform and liberalize the labour market. Well, that was until many sought the details. This is a major headache for the president and it came in the form of 100,000 men and woman on the streets of Paris. Sarkozy has targeted raila and public transport workers: he wants them to work longer for their pensions. But meet Bernard Thibault, the leader of the communist affiliated 8 CGT union, like a bull with a Beatles mark, he says this reform has to be stopped. He said, "The president is preparing the public by singling us out. Next everybody's pensions will be drastically redued."
Out in the suburbs where the train drivers left their carriages, we've found a British company that has attracted more venom 9 form the unions. Founded in Sheffield, A4e trains, advises and pesters 10 people back to work, even older ones, and Sarkozy loves it.
"People need it if they want to work longer. I am okay with that."
"So they should be able to do that."
"Yes, they should be able to do that. But that's true that's in France, ur, less than in, ur, UK, or United States, and so on. We do not really give the chance to older people to just, to work."
This engraves 11 a new world in France, but from at least 2000 pounds for every person placed in a job. But the unions still don't like that either.
"(laugh), make money, of course, because we are not a sharing team, we are an association, so of course we make money to do that."
And then a dramatic announcement, subjected to much rumor 12, but now a reality. We got the news at 13:20 this afternoon. Well, like it has been a bad week for Nicolas Sarkozy, hasn't got a whole lot worse. He has begun seperation proceedings 13 with his wife Cecilia. The rumors 14 had been true. Now he's got the palace to himself. Life of the French First Lady is not to the liking 15 to this glamourous and headstrong 49-year old. Her friend saying here today, she couldn't stand the pressure of public life. For easiness today, even members of the Union stated it was a private matter, not really any of their business, they said. "I think the President is a man. he has a right to divorce," he said. "I really don't care," said this woman, "my pension now, I am really worried about that."
And the other disater. Well, it's all about French rugby. The President had closely associated himself with the team. The manager, Bernard Laporte, will become his new sports minister.France will (be) practicing today for their runners-up match against Argentina tomorrow night.
"Well, there's a large press contingent 16 here and plenty of people from the rugby world. But it's deathly silent here. Everybody is wispering. It feels a bit like a funeral."
The national team and the nation's leader (are) both in a certain amount of pain this evening, although they are hoping for better times ahead.
On top of his personal affairs, comes Mr. Sarkozy's first major political challenge, as workers across the country ... in protests against his planned pension reforms. From Paris, John Sparks has this report.
The critics and columnists 4 are calling it Black October. Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential nightmare, crippling strikes, sporting humiliation 5, and the end of his marriage. Is this the end of the affair between Sarko and French people?
Sheer energy, boundless 6 ambition, the promise of a reform won Nicolas Sarkozy the presidency 7 in May. The people seem to like his plans to introduce welfare reform and liberalize the labour market. Well, that was until many sought the details. This is a major headache for the president and it came in the form of 100,000 men and woman on the streets of Paris. Sarkozy has targeted raila and public transport workers: he wants them to work longer for their pensions. But meet Bernard Thibault, the leader of the communist affiliated 8 CGT union, like a bull with a Beatles mark, he says this reform has to be stopped. He said, "The president is preparing the public by singling us out. Next everybody's pensions will be drastically redued."
Out in the suburbs where the train drivers left their carriages, we've found a British company that has attracted more venom 9 form the unions. Founded in Sheffield, A4e trains, advises and pesters 10 people back to work, even older ones, and Sarkozy loves it.
"People need it if they want to work longer. I am okay with that."
"So they should be able to do that."
"Yes, they should be able to do that. But that's true that's in France, ur, less than in, ur, UK, or United States, and so on. We do not really give the chance to older people to just, to work."
This engraves 11 a new world in France, but from at least 2000 pounds for every person placed in a job. But the unions still don't like that either.
"(laugh), make money, of course, because we are not a sharing team, we are an association, so of course we make money to do that."
And then a dramatic announcement, subjected to much rumor 12, but now a reality. We got the news at 13:20 this afternoon. Well, like it has been a bad week for Nicolas Sarkozy, hasn't got a whole lot worse. He has begun seperation proceedings 13 with his wife Cecilia. The rumors 14 had been true. Now he's got the palace to himself. Life of the French First Lady is not to the liking 15 to this glamourous and headstrong 49-year old. Her friend saying here today, she couldn't stand the pressure of public life. For easiness today, even members of the Union stated it was a private matter, not really any of their business, they said. "I think the President is a man. he has a right to divorce," he said. "I really don't care," said this woman, "my pension now, I am really worried about that."
And the other disater. Well, it's all about French rugby. The President had closely associated himself with the team. The manager, Bernard Laporte, will become his new sports minister.France will (be) practicing today for their runners-up match against Argentina tomorrow night.
"Well, there's a large press contingent 16 here and plenty of people from the rugby world. But it's deathly silent here. Everybody is wispering. It feels a bit like a funeral."
The national team and the nation's leader (are) both in a certain amount of pain this evening, although they are hoping for better times ahead.
1 mutual
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的
- We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
- Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
2 honeymoon
n.蜜月(假期);vi.度蜜月
- While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
- The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。
3 abrupt
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的
- The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
- His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
4 columnists
n.专栏作家( columnist的名词复数 )
- This story will be more fodder for the gossip columnists. 这个传闻会是闲谈专栏作家的又一素材。
- The columnists coined the phrase \"to broderick\", meaning to rough up. 专栏作家们杜撰出一个新词“布罗德里克”意思是“动武”、“打架”。 来自辞典例句
5 humiliation
n.羞辱
- He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
- He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
6 boundless
adj.无限的;无边无际的;巨大的
- The boundless woods were sleeping in the deep repose of nature.无边无际的森林在大自然静寂的怀抱中酣睡着。
- His gratitude and devotion to the Party was boundless.他对党无限感激、无限忠诚。
7 presidency
n.总统(校长,总经理)的职位(任期)
- Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
- Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
8 affiliated
adj. 附属的, 有关连的
- The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
- All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。
9 venom
n.毒液,恶毒,痛恨
- The snake injects the venom immediately after biting its prey.毒蛇咬住猎物之后马上注入毒液。
- In fact,some components of the venom may benefit human health.事实上,毒液的某些成分可能有益于人类健康。
10 pesters
使烦恼,纠缠( pester的第三人称单数 )
- The little girl pesters her mother for a new skirt. 小姑娘跟妈妈磨蹭着要一条新裙子。
- While Sesshoumaru keeps doing all the work, Kagome pesters him. 当杀生丸在做这一切的时候,戈微却很苦恼。
11 engraves
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的第三人称单数 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中)
- Pride engraves his frowns in stones, love offers her surrender in flowers. 骄傲在石头上刻下他的颦眉,爱情在花朵上献出她的投降。 来自互联网
- One who cuts, polishes, or engraves gems. 玉石匠开凿、磨光或雕刻''。'玉石'。''的人。 来自互联网
12 rumor
n.谣言,谣传,传说
- The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
- The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。
13 proceedings
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
- He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
- to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
14 rumors
n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷
- Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 liking
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
- The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
- I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
16 contingent
adj.视条件而定的;n.一组,代表团,分遣队
- The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
- Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。