VOA标准英语2014--Plunging Oil Prices Have Unpredictable Impact on Politics, Economics

 

Plunging¹ Oil Prices Have Unpredictable Impact on Politics, Economics

WASHINGTON— 

Global oil prices are falling drastically, and a new World Bank study says they may remain low for a year or more. Lower energy costs can often help boost economic growth. Low prices might also increase political tensions and hurt investments in key energy sectors².

The oil market is seeing a production surge from the United States as new techniques dramatically increase oil output, according to La Salle University economic and political expert Edward Turzanski, who spoke³ via Skype.

“Transforming the world energy market and also playing a consequential⁴ role in geopolitics, " said Turzanski.

Reduced demand

That transformation⁵ comes as economists⁶ say slowing economic growth in Europe and Asia is cutting energy demand at a time of plentiful⁷ oil supplies. That combination is driving down oil prices.

Less money spent on energy leaves families more money to buy other goods and services, boosting economic growth for many nations.

But low oil prices can weaken the economies and the political power of oil exporters like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia.  

Russia’s economy already is facing economic sanctions to punish Moscow for its role in Ukraine.

Competing interests

An analyst⁸ at Strategic Energy and Economic Research said long term low oil prices will complicate⁹ Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to maintain domestic political power. Michael Lynch spoke via Skype.

“Longer term, the combination of sanctions and weaker oil prices are going to put pressure on him,” said Lynch.

Rising oil production is due to techniques like fracking that collect oil that is missed by other methods, but does so at a higher cost -- between $50 and $80 per barrel of oil.

High costs and low prices may make these techniques unprofitable, according to Standard and Poor's analyst Peter Rigby.

“U.S. oil production could fall if prices drop below break-even levels for expensive shale¹⁰ oil production, causing drillers to stop drilling,” said Rigby.

Renewable energy alternatives to oil also will find it harder to compete for investment dollars if oil prices drop low and stay there.

Lynch said we may be entering a new era of lower energy costs, while S&P's Rigby says oil prices will remain volatile¹¹ and vulnerable to global economic and financial changes.

1 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 consequential   

adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的

参考例句：

• She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
• This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。

5 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

6 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

10 shale   

n.页岩，泥板岩

参考例句：

• We can extract oil from shale.我们可以从页岩中提取石油。
• Most of the rock in this mountain is shale.这座山上大部分的岩石都是页岩。

11 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。