新视野大学英语视听说教程 4 Unit 9-7

MODEL2   The Chinese are working miracles.
Script
Susan:  Hey, John!
John:   Hey! Look at this headline! China’s foreign trade should reach $1 trillion this year!
Susan:  Are you sure the figure is correct? How can they keep up such rapid growth for so many years running?
John:   A senior official of the Ministry¹ of Commerce said so in Beijing Wednesday.
Susan:  As far as I know, China’s foreign trade volume was already $851.2 billion last year, a 37.1 percent jump over the previous year. That volume ranked fourth in the world, following only the United States, Germany, and Japan.
Susan:  But the Chinese are working miracles. In the first half of this year, foreign trade reached $523 billion, up 39.1 percent over last year.
John:   I wonder how it can grow so fast.
Susan:  The U.S. economy has been very good. Booming consumption has created opportunities for China’s exports.
Susan:  Is that the only one reason China’s exports have increased? No other factors?
John:   China encourages exports. Exporters can get rebates² from the customs department.
Susan:  What’s happening with Chinese imports?
John:   Well, China has met her commitments to the World Trade Organization since she joined two and half years ago. She has gradually been decreasing tariffs³ and strengthening intellectual property rights. She has opened her doors to the outside world wider. All these changes have led to an increase in her imports.
Susan:  You seem to be looking at China through rose-colored glasses.
John:   China is not without her problems. Some of her state-owned industries have only a blunt competitive edge. They have a weak anti-risk capability⁴. Some industries still depend on trade protectionism.
Susan:  John, I really admire your wide knowledge. I think you’ll be in line for Nobel Prize in Economics some day.
John:   You’re just pulling my leg again.
 

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 rebates   

n.退还款( rebate的名词复数 )；回扣；返还（退还的部份货价）；折扣

参考例句：

• The VAT system offers advantages, such as rebates on exports. 增值税有其优点，如对出口商品实行回扣。 来自辞典例句
• In more recent years rate rebates have been introduced for households. 近年地方税的减免已适用于家庭。 来自辞典例句

3 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。