英国新闻听力 古巴经济振兴计划推迟

 

Words and Expressions

Raul Castro 古巴现总统

Fidel Castro 古巴前总统 (现总统的亲哥)

Manuel Beltran

Havana 古巴首都哈瓦那

Tour de France 环法自行车赛

Liquigas Team

The Cuban president Raul Castro has given the most somber¹ assessment² of the country's economic situation since he succeeded his elder brother Fidel in February. From Havana, Michael Voss has the details.

In a televised address to the Nantional Assembly, President Raul Castro said the key reforms, such as increasing salaries would have to wait. He blamed this on rising global oil and food prices. The 77-year-old leader also warned the further belt-tightening with reduction in subsidies³. He gave no specifics but this could include food rationing⁴. But Raul Castro is pushing ahead with distributing unused agricultural land to private farmers and allowing workers to earn productivity bonuses.

Organisers of the world's most prestigious⁵ cycle race, the Tour de France, say a Spanish rider has become the first to fail a drug test in this year's event. An anti-doping official said Manuel Beltran, who rides for the Liquigas Team had tested positive for the blood-boosting agent, EPO.

1 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• 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？

3 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

5 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。