英语听力精选进阶版 13178

ReportProtestors say they are just ordinary Australian workers and taxpayers¹ who feel betrayed by the government's plans to put a price on carbon. They insist it would damage the economy and drive up the cost of living by making energy far more expensive.

Man 1: "There is a ground swell² of people that have finally had a gutful."

Man 2: "Since the Labor³ government has come into this country, the union rules. We just cannot do it anymore. We have no more money left to pay the taxes."

Reporter: The demonstrators have the support of the conservative opposition⁴ leader, Tony Abbott. He says that without a global carbon pricing agreement, Australian businesses would be less competitive:

Tony Abbott: "A one-sided carbon tax, a unilateral carbon tax is an act of economic self-harm."

Woman: "Here we have 12,000 signatures supporting action on climate change."

Man 3: "12,000. Fantastic."

Reporter: Supporters of the tax believe it will cut pollution in Australia, which is one of the world's worst per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, and will also encourage the development of a low-carbon economy. 

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard says that opposition won't derail the plan:

Julia Gillard: "Now, I understand there's always going to be a variety of views in the community. We'll see that on display today, but pricing carbon is the right thing for our nation's future and that's why I am determined⁵ to do it." 

Reporter: The Prime Minister hopes to bring in a tax on carbon next year, before introducing an emissions⁶ trading scheme as early as 2015. She insists that without these key economic reforms, Australia will be left behind by its international competitors.

Phil Mercer, BBC News, Sydney

1 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

2 swell   

vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强

参考例句：

• The waves had taken on a deep swell.海浪汹涌。
• His injured wrist began to swell.他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

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 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。