Gloom Creeps Across Europe as Greece, Others Struggle

Gloom Creeps Across Europe as Greece, Others Struggle
Another day, another protest in Greece, where anger is giving way to hopelessness.
"It is unfair, it is a mistake, to put an end to social support in Greece, because this will end up being applied¹ to all the European Union," said George and 38-year-old civil engineer.
He says ending the social support system in Greece is unfair, a mistake.
Far from the protest, more anguish² as Greeks lined up for free meat for Ash Thursday, an annual Orthodox Christian³ tradition. And the desperation is spreading.
"I don't know if there's going to be growth again," said Marco Sportelli, a construction worker in Italy. "I think we should abandon Greece, because the more money we give them, the more they will ask and the more it will drag down other European countries. Then we will see what we can do for ourselves. For the moment it seems we are going in the right direction, then we will see what happens."
He adds that he does not know if the economy will ever grow again and worries Greece will drag down all of Europe.
The frustration⁴ is also evident in France, where politicians like Socialist⁵ Party presidential candidate Francois Hollande warns of more economic pain.
"The downward slide of this [financial] system, including in Europe, in the eurozone, where ratings agencies have become all-powerful and decide the fate of the sovereign debts of countries, provoking austerity measures that are more and more painful, and speculation⁶ continues to destroy the eurozone. Have you seen the situation in Greece? They have been brought to their knees," said Hollande.
In Spain, where unemployment is among the highest in Europe, buildings like these in Ciudad Valduez stand empty.
A train that was supposed to take workers to Madrid rolls right through, leaving behind a ghost town amid the gloom.

1 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

2 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

5 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。