VOA标准英语2014--关于世界杯对巴西经济的影响各方意见不一

 

Mixed Opinions About World Cup Impact on Brazilian Economy 关于世界杯对巴西经济的影响各方意见不一

RIO DE JANEIRO —

As fans enjoy football’s (soccer’s) month-long World Cup, Brazilian authorities are pleased over the boost they say the tournament is giving the country's economy.  However, independent analysts² who study such mega-events are less enthusiastic.

The 2014 World Cup has injected an estimated $15 billion into the Brazilian economy and created many jobs, this according to the head of the government’s Embratur tourism board, Vicente Neto at a news conference June 19.

“Regarding the human legacy³, the numbers are extraordinary: the creation of one million jobs in the country due to this great event, one million jobs or 15 percent of all the jobs created this year in Brazil,” he said.

The government has invested $11 billion in stadiums and infrastructure⁴ and another $2 billion in security.  It is expected to spend billions more preparing for the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.

But an analyst¹ who studies such mega-events, Architecture and Urbanism Professor at Rio de Janeiro’s Fluminense Federal University, Chris Gaffney, believes these figures are exaggerated.

“I don’t think that they’ve invested enough money to create those kinds of permanent jobs. In the scale of the Brazilian economy we’re not looking at that much money being invested.  It’s 30 billion [dollars invested] in a $1 trillion economy.”

Another expert, Lisa Delpy Neirotti of George Washington University's business school in the United States, says the real economic benefits of such events are less tangible⁵ and more long-term.

“There’s a lot of transfer of knowledge," she said. "People are learning more about hospitality.  There’s also the broadcast center where they’re being trained in how to use technology.  And so I think it’s in the media sector⁶, a lot in the hospitality industry and also in licensing⁷ and merchandizing, retail⁸.”

Gaffney believes the money being spent benefits very few Brazilians.

“The World Cup and Olympics are part of an extractive business model that moves around the world very freely, a top-down business model that uses the interests of local political and economic elites⁹ to make money for international corporations,” he said.

Delpy Neirotti disagrees.

“Yes, there’s been a lot of money spent here but we have to realize that the infrastructure that they’ve built up around the World Cup is something that will last and it stays in the country,” she said.

Other analysts say the Cup may help the Brazilian economy but it also boosts inflation and public debt.  Less than half of the Brazilians in a recent poll believed that hosting the Cup was a good idea.

And there have been many demonstrations¹⁰ against the Cup, though they have declined since the tournament began.

Nevertheless, many Brazilians are proud to host the World Cup and the 600,000 foreign visitors it brings. The hope is that they will spread the good word about Brazil when they return home.

1 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。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 licensing   

v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A large part of state regulation consists of occupational licensing. 大部分州的管理涉及行业的特许批准。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• That licensing procedures for projects would move faster. 这样的工程批准程序一定会加快。 来自辞典例句

8 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

9 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

10 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。