VOA慢速英语 2007 0528a

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

 
May 17, 2007: Delegates at the yearly meeting of the African Development Bank in Shanghai, China.
The African Development Bank held its yearly meeting in Shanghai, China earlier this month. The bank’s chief economist¹ announced the economic growth rate in Africa is expected to reach six percent this year.  This is the highest in twenty years.  Foreign demand for natural resources, especially oil, has helped create the growth. 

Dennis de Tray is vice² president of the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C.  He says that six percent economic growth in Africa is good. But he says long-term development on the continent will be a problem for generations. 

Mister de Tray led a working group last year that provided independent advice to the bank’s shareholders³ and its president, Donald Kaberuka.  The Rwandan economist took over leadership of the African bank in two thousand five. Ten years earlier, the economic security of the African Development Bank had been in question.  It was almost out of money.

Mister de Tray says needed reforms at the African bank are different from reforms announced at a meeting of the Asian Development Bank.  That bank met earlier this month in Kyoto, Japan. Mister de Tray believes the Asian Development Bank is facing an identity crisis. The countries receiving the most money are becoming established nations with rich resources.  As a result, loans from the Asian Development Bank are unnecessary.  Yet, Mister de Tray says there is a small group of countries in Asia still developing, including Laos and Cambodia. These countries will continue to need assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

He says the African Development Bank is in the middle of a continent that will need development aid for years to come.  Some countries have gained success. But many others are still trying to create continued development that does not harm the environment.  The African Development Bank is doing a better job serving its member countries, Mister De Tray says.  But, he believes the bank still has a long way to go to reach a level of success.

Mister De Tray thinks that reforms needed within all of the world’s international banks are related.  And, over the next year, he predicts a debate about how the system works. 

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss⁴. You can read and download audio of Special English programs at our web site, voaspecialenglish.com.  I’m Shep O'Neal.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

4 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。