2014年ESL之日常生活 06 Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

 

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions 

Andy: Well, it’s happened. 

Marjorie: What’s happened? 

Andy: The U.S. has placed diplomatic and economic sanctions on McQuillanland. It’s about time! The McQuillanland government has violated international law for the last time! 

Marjorie: That’s great, but what does it really mean? 

Andy: Well, it means that all high-level talks between the U.S. and McQuillanland have been called off, and the U.S. embassy is closing. 

Marjorie: That sounds serious. 

Andy: You bet it is, and that’s just the beginning. With economic sanctions, there’ll be serious consequences for business and trade. There’ll be an embargo¹ on U.S. companies doing business there, and there’ll be a naval² blockade to enforce it. 

Marjorie: Wow, the McQuillanlanders have really done it this time. 

Andy: They have. What made them think they could thumb their noses at us and get away with it? 

Marjorie: I have no idea, but they’re about to find out what the repercussions³ are when they flout⁴ international law! 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

2 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

3 repercussions   

n.后果，反响( repercussion的名词复数 )；余波

参考例句：

• The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry. 这家公司的垮台将会给整个行业造成间接的负面影响。
• Human acts have repercussions far beyond the frontiers of the human world. 人类行为所产生的影响远远超出人类世界的范围。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 flout   

v./n.嘲弄，愚弄，轻视

参考例句：

• Parents who flout Family Court orders may be named in the media in Australia.在澳洲父母亲若是藐视家庭法庭的裁定可能在媒体上被公布姓名。
• The foolish boy flouted his mother's advice.这个愚蠢的孩子轻视他母亲的劝告。