英语听力精选进阶版 13240

Opec holds first summit after Arab Spring

Report

Oil is expensive again. The price is more than three times the lows it hit in the wake of the financial crisis, driven higher by robust¹ growth in emerging economies and by the political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. 

It is increasingly an economic problem for oil importers, especially in the developed countries, where recovery is not very convincing. The oil price is adding to inflationary pressures and it's hitting consumers who have less to spend on other goods and services. 

Saudi Arabia, along with Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are willing to respond by boosting supplies which should bring prices down. But others aren't so keen, including Iran and Venezuela who don't have a great deal of spare capacity and have poor diplomatic relations with the rich world. 

Saudi Arabia, however, does have room to increase production and might well choose to do so whatever Opec decides. 

Andrew Walker, BBC News

1 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。