VOA标准英语2012--Iran Threat to Close Strait Could Hurt Economic Recovery
时间：2018-12-16 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(一月)
Iran Threat to Close Strait Could Hurt Economic Recovery
Nearly one-fifth of the world's traded oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, much of it destined 1 for Asian and European nations.
Lucian Pugliaresi at the Energy Policy Research Foundation says any attempt to block the shipping 2 route could send oil markets into a frenzy 3. "If there were an action by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, we would probably see an initial spike 4 of oil prices, who knows, $40, $50, $60 a barrel," he said.
With fuel demand rising in China and other emerging nations, the severity and length of higher fuel prices would depend largely on how long the Strait remained closed, and whether other oil producing countries stepped in to fill the demand.
"The real issue here is that we are part of a highly integrated world oil market and that a disruption in any place in the world causes consequences everywhere in the world," said Pugliaresi.
The latest round of European sanctions includes freezing Iranian assets and banning its oil imports to Europe. Iranian lawmakers responded Monday by renewing threats to shut down the strategic route.
Many Western analysts 5 believe Iran is bluffing 6, but Pugliaresi is not so sure. Oil accounts for 80 percent of Iran's foreign revenue, about 2 million barrels of oil per day. "Once you close the Strait of Hormuz and then once you take action to open it up, there's no telling what the Iranians might do. They may engage in a lot of what's called asymmetric 7 responses, which could add to a lot of turmoil 8 in the Middle East," said Pugliaresi.
The United States has warned it will not allow Iran to close the Strait. However, the threat of a blockade has already sent U.S. gasoline prices to a 12-month high.
Pugliaresi says instability in many of the world's largest oil producing nations is adding to economic uncertainty 9 for consumers, and could derail an already weak global recovery. He says it also underscores the need for the U.S. to greatly expand its domestic energy production.
- It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
- The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
- We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
- There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。
- He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
- They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。
- The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
- They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。
- 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。
- Most people's faces are asymmetric. 大多数人的脸不对称。
- We have made no reference to asymmetric carbon atoms. 我们未曾涉及不对称碳原子。
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- The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。
- Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
- After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。