VOA慢速英语2019 英国议会再次投票否决脱欧协议

British Parliament Votes Down Brexit Deal Again

Britain’s parliament has rejected for a second time Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal to leave the European Union.

英国议会再次否决了首相特蕾莎·梅的脱欧协议。

British lawmakers voted 391 to 242 against May’s plan Tuesday, 17 days before Britain is to withdraw from the political and economic alliance.

周二，英国国会议员以391票对242票否决了首相的协议，17天后英国将退出这一政治、经济联盟。

The vote meant Britain will have to choose: leaving the EU without a deal; delaying the March 29 departure date; or having a new Brexit vote.

这次投票意味着英国将不得不做出以下选择：无协议脱欧；推迟3月29日的脱欧日期；或者举行新的脱欧公投。

May told lawmakers before the vote, “If this vote is not passed tonight, if this deal is not passed, then Brexit could be lost.”

首相在投票前曾警告议员们，“如果今晚不通过这一投票，如果这项协议被否决，那么英国脱欧可能会失败。”

On Wednesday, lawmakers will vote on whether Britain should leave the world’s biggest trading group without a deal. Business leaders warn that such an exit would cause severe disorder¹ in markets and supply chains. Others say it could cause shortages of food and medicines.

周三，议员们将就英国是否应该在无协议情况下脱离这个全球最大的贸易集团进行投票。商界领袖警告称，无协议脱欧将导致市场和供应链严重混乱。其他人表示，此举可能导致食品和药品短缺。

Supporters of Brexit argue the withdrawal² would permit Britain to succeed and negotiate new trade deals across the world.

支持英国脱欧的人士辩称，脱欧将使英国获得成功，并在全球范围内就新的贸易协定进行谈判。

However, parliament is expected to reject a “no-deal” Brexit as well. If so, lawmakers Thursday will then vote on whether to request a delay of the withdrawal to permit further talks.

然而，预计英国议会也将否决“无协议”脱欧。如果是这样，议员们周四将投票决定是否要求推迟脱欧日期，以便进行进一步的谈判。

After two and a half years of Brexit negotiation³, both May and the EU have already ruled out any other changes to the deal.

经过两年半的脱欧谈判，梅首相和欧盟已经排除了对协议进行任何其他修改的可能性。

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Monday, “There will be no third chance. There will be no further interpretations⁵ of the interpretations, no further assurances of the reassurances⁶ if the ‘meaningful vote’ tomorrow fails.”

周一，欧盟委员会主席容克表示，“不会再给第三次机会。如果明天的‘有意义的投票’失败，就不会对这些解释作进一步解释，也不会对这些保证作进一步保证。”

In 2016, 52 percent of Britons voted to leave the E.U. Forty-eight percent voted to remain in the group. The result has divided Britain over concerns about immigration and economic globalization.

2016年，52%的英国人投票支持脱离欧盟，48%的人投票支持留在欧盟。这一结果导致英国在移民和经济全球化问题上产生了分歧。

Opponents fear that Brexit will leave Britain economically weaker and with reduced security capabilities⁷. Supporters say it would let Britain control immigration and seize global opportunities.

反对者担心脱欧将进一步削弱英国经济，降低其安全能力。支持者表示，脱欧将让英国控制移民并抓住全球机遇。

Words in This Story

exit - n. the act of going out or away?; a departure

interpretation⁴ - n. the way something is explained or understood?

assurance - n. confidence of mind or manner: easy freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty⁸?

globalization - n. something made or done to involve or affect the entire world?

opportunity - n. a good chance for advancement or progress

1 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

2 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

3 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

4 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

5 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 reassurances   

n.消除恐惧或疑虑( reassurance的名词复数 )；恢复信心；使人消除恐惧或疑虑的事物；使人恢复信心的事物

参考例句：

• We have had some reassurances from the council that the building will be saved. 理事会保证会保留那座建筑，这使我们得到了些许安慰。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Everybody's reassurances have encouraged me. 大家的勉励鼓舞了我。 来自辞典例句

7 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

8 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。