VOA标准英语2009年-G8 Leaders Prepare to Meet in Italian Eart

The annual G-8 summit of the world's leading industrialized nations gets underway on Wednesday in Italy with agenda items ranging from the ongoing¹ global economic crisis to regional security issues and development aid to the world's poorest regions.
　
A giant logo made from the leaves of a plant is seen at the G8 summit site in L'Aquila, Italy, 07 Jul 2009

L'Aquila is set to host the leaders of the world's most powerful economies. The local airport has been readied, roads have been blocked off, and police and security personnel are highly visible.

This summit will be somewhat different from past ones in that the meeting site is a spartan² military barracks in an area that was devastated³ by a powerful earthquake just three months ago.

The idea is to give world leaders a firsthand look at what happened. At least some of them are expected to visit areas destroyed by the quake.

The international spotlight⁴ on the region is welcome says the head of Italy's Civil Protection Agency, Guido Bertolaso.

"The worldwide attention will be focused for a week on L'Aquila. This is the best guarantee for the homeless people that they will not be forgotten," he said.

Many local residents welcome the presence of the G-8, but others question whether it will bring change.

During their talks here, world leaders also are expected to focus on major global issues, including the ongoing world recession and the deteriorating⁵ economic situation in the developing world. Development aid and food security for areas of Asia, Africa and elsewhere are expected to figure prominently.

Some G-8 countries, host nation Italy among them, have been criticized for not following through on aid pledges they have made.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 spartan   

adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人

参考例句：

• Their spartan lifestyle prohibits a fridge or a phone.他们不使用冰箱和电话，过着简朴的生活。
• The rooms were spartan and undecorated.房间没有装饰，极为简陋。

3 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

4 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

5 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。