英语听力精选进阶版 6298（在线收听）

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 bloc aimed at forging a tax and budget consensus to tackle the eurozone debt crisis.

Mr Cameron argued he had to protect Britain's financial services industry from further taxation 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 defiance.

But many in Britain believe that the decision to go it alone has put the bulldog in the doghouse. Opposition leader Ed Milliband fears the country could be left out of the loop in future decisions taken by the continental group. And the Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, Cameron's partner in a coalition 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 isolated 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 irritation. 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