英语听力精选进阶版 6298

Britain has found itself swimming against the tide in the last few days, after a European Union make-or-break summit to save the euro.

The British PM David Cameron vetoed treaty changes for the 27-member bloc¹ aimed at forging a tax and budget consensus² to tackle the eurozone debt crisis.

Mr Cameron argued he had to protect Britain's financial services industry from further taxation³ and was praised by eurosceptic politicians in his Conservative Party who had urged him to show the "bulldog spirit". The bulldog has become an unofficial symbol of the British spirit of independence and defiance⁴.

But many in Britain believe that the decision to go it alone has put the bulldog in the doghouse. Opposition⁵ leader Ed Milliband fears the country could be left out of the loop in future decisions taken by the continental⁶ group. And the Liberal Democrat⁷ Nick Clegg, Cameron's partner in a coalition⁸ government, has acknowledged that there is "a real danger that over time the UK will be marginalised within the EU".

Business leaders are also concerned about a perception that their country could become isolated⁹ in Europe. Ian Rodgers, director of the trade body UK Steel, says the domestic metals industry is dominated by foreign firms, which would make their investments in Britain on the basis that it was a key part of the European community.

Across the English Channel, the British stance caused some irritation¹⁰. According to the European Commissions' president Jose Manuel Barroso, "the UK's position on financial regulation represented a "risk to the integrity of the single market".

Quiz 小测验

1. Is this statement true, false or not given? The EU summit has managed to save the euro.

It is not given. The impact of the discussions over the euro hasn't been mentioned.

2. Who was happy with Cameron's veto, according to the article?

Eurosceptic politicians in his party.

3. What does the bulldog symbolise?

The British independent and fighting spirit.

4. Who wasn't happy with the "bulldog spirit" shown by Cameron?

Politicians Ed Milliband and Nick Clegg fear Britain might be excluded from decision-making in the EU and business leaders are concerned that the country might be seen as isolated in Europe. The EC president expressed concern about the future of the single market.

5. Look at the article. What expression highlights the critical importance of the EU meeting?

A make-or-break summit.

Glossary 词汇表

to swim against the tide 逆流而行

a make-or-break summit 决定成败与否的峰会

the euro 欧元

to veto 否决，反对

a bloc 一个联盟

a consensus 共识

to tackle something 解决什么问题

the eurozone debt crisis 欧元区债务危机

the financial services industry 金融服务产业

a eurosceptic 反对欧洲一体化者

the bulldog spirit 战斗精神

to go it alone 单干

in the doghouse 被打入冷宫

to be left out of the loop 被排除在外

the continental group 欧洲大陆组合

to be marginalised 受排挤，被边缘化

the perception 看法，观念

to be isolated 被孤立

a stance 立场，态度

irritation 恼怒

integrity 整合性

the single market 欧洲单一货币市场

1 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。

2 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

3 taxation   

n.征税，税收，税金

参考例句：

• He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。
• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。

4 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

7 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

10 irritation   

n.激怒，恼怒，生气

参考例句：

• He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
• Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。