Greece Warns of Euro Exit if 2nd Bailout Not Finalized

 　　Debt-ridden Greece is warning that it could be forced to abandon the common euro currency if it does not secure a second international bailout to avoid defaulting on its loans.

　　Greece won tentative European approval for the $169 billion bailout in October, but now the country is engaged in new negotiations¹ with creditors² over terms of the deal.  Government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis said finalizing³ the bailout is essential.

　　Kapsis said that negotiations over the next few months will "determine everything."  Greece is currently financing its government with the help of a $142 billion bailout it secured in May 2010, but creditors have demanded that the Athens government adopt new, unpopular austerity measures in exchange for the second bailout.

　　As a whole, the bloc⁴ of 17 nations that use the euro is faced with a stalled economy.  But the contrasting fortunes of the continent's individual, national economies became apparent again Tuesday.  Debt-plagued Spain reported a 15-year high in the number of unemployed⁵ workers, while robust⁶ Germany recorded a two-decade low.

　　Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's new conservative government in Spain has embarked⁷ on an austerity plan to trim its deficit⁸ spending, but its economy is troubled.  The Madrid government said the number of jobless workers increased in December for the fifth straight month, to more than 4.4 million.  More than 21 percent of Spanish workers are unemployed.

　　Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said that unemployment is the country's most pressing problem.

　　The contrast with Germany, Europe's strongest economy, is marked.  Germany's jobless rate dipped in December to 6.8 percent.  The government reported that the average number of unemployed workers over the last year -- just under three million -- was the lowest figure since 1991, shortly after communist East Germany reunified with West Germany.

　　Germany's labor⁹ agency chief, Frank-Juergen Weise, said the demand for workers was high throughout 2011.  One analyst¹⁰ noted¹¹ that the unemployment rate has dropped in 29 of the last 32 months.

　　But Germany's export-driven economy could be weaker this year.  The effects of the European government debt crisis and sluggish¹² economic growth in major economies elsewhere could limit demand for German products.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

4 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

5 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

8 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• 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。

9 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• 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。

12 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。