英语听力精选进阶版 7348

四百名俄罗斯海军陆战队员已经抵达法国，准备在法国出售给俄国海军的两艘军舰上接受培训。尽管受到美国和其他盟国的批评，但是法国总统奥朗德拒绝取消这笔军舰交易。

This is a deal worth €1.2 billion to France – not to mention the jobs.

But it sorely undermines¹ France's position – they've been one of the countries pushing Germany to take a tougher line with Russia over the recent unrest in eastern Ukraine.

President Obama has made his feelings clear. "It would have been preferable," he said, "to press the pause button".

The Hollande government says the current sanctions² agreement doesn't cover military hardware³ and the contract, signed by President Sarkozy's government in 2011, is too expensive to cancel.

Quiz 听力测验

1. Which word means 'makes less confident or effective'?

Undermines.

2. True or false: The deal is worth €1.2 billion to France, including the jobs it will create.

False. The report says "not to mention the jobs", which means the figure of 1.2 billion euros doesn't include the jobs.

3. Which metaphor⁴ did Barack Obama use to say France should have stopped what it was doing?

He said they should have pressed "the pause button".

4. Would it be a good financial decision for France to cancel the contract with Russia? Why? / Why not?

No, because the contract "is too expensive to cancel".

Glossary 词汇表

sorely 严重地

undermines 破坏，削弱

to take a tougher line 采取一种更为强硬的立场

unrest 动荡局势

to press the pause button 按下暂停键，这里指暂停交易

hardware 硬件设备，装备

1 undermines   

在某物下挖洞或挖通道( undermine的第三人称单数 )； 侵蚀…的基础； 暗中破坏； 逐渐削弱

参考例句：

• It undermines cohesion and creates dissension. 这件事会破坏团结，制造纠纷。
• In healthcare, the cash nexus undermines the doctor-patient relationship. 在医疗行业，金钱有可能扭曲医务人员与患者之间应有的关系。

2 sanctions   

批准( sanction的名词复数 )； 认可； 制裁； 约束力

参考例句：

• There was general acquiescence in the UN sanctions. 普遍默认了联合国的制裁。
• Trade sanctions were imposed against any country that refused to sign the agreement. 凡拒签该协议的国家均受到贸易制裁。

3 hardware   

n.重型武器；五金器具；硬件

参考例句：

• He bought a pot and other hardware at the store. 他从商店买了一个壶和其他金属制品。
• That family has carried on a hardware business for five generations.那家已经经营五金生意五代了。

4 metaphor   

n.隐喻，暗喻

参考例句：

• Using metaphor,we say that computers have senses and a memory.打个比方，我们可以说计算机有感觉和记忆力。
• In poetry the rose is often a metaphor for love.玫瑰在诗中通常作为爱的象征。