英语听力精选进阶版 7311

墨西哥总统培尼亚 (Enrique Pena Nieto)建议对含糖饮料征税以控制该国肥胖症的蔓延。培尼亚把此税收比喻成一个国家性的“医疗税收”，因为墨西哥肥胖症患者人数巨全世界第二。

Promising¹ that the fiscal² reform was "good news for Mexicans", President Enrique Pena Nieto unveiled a wide-ranging proposal which managed to sidestep a political controversy³ about sales tax on food and medicine.

Those would remain unchanged, undermining a central part of the left's opposition⁴ to the reform programme. But a hike in the tax on soft drinks was included. In part, the government hope it will help tackle the country's serious obesity⁵ problem. Mexico has the second-highest obesity rates in the world after the United States.

However, the reform is also intended to deal with Mexico's weak tax revenues. The country's coffers urgently need bolstering⁶ and the intention was that long-running loopholes, which have allowed large corporations to benefit for decades, would be closed.

In particular, there were calls to impose greater taxes on the country's top earners, including the world's richest man, Carlos Slim.

However, the final document appears to have been watered down in that regard. The proposal must now be approved by Congress and the Senate, as well as a majority of Mexico's states.

Quiz 听力测验

1. True or false? The United States has the highest obesity rates in the world.

True.

2. True or false? Mexico needs to increase its government money reserve.

True.

3. What problems does the president hope to tackle by increasing tax on soft drinks?

The president hopes to reduce obesity rates and improve weak tax revenues.

4. Who has to approve the president’s new tax proposal?

The Congress and the Senate, as well as a majority of Mexico's states need to approve the new tax proposal.

Glossary 词汇表

fiscal 财政的

reform 改革，改良

sidestep 回避（问题）

undermining 削弱，动摇

hike 突然大幅上升

coffers 金库，资金（国库）

bolstering 支持，援助

loopholes （法律上的）漏洞

watered down 被削弱

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 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。

5 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

6 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句