VOA标准英语2011--Rough Road Ahead for Greece Despite Aust

Rough Road Ahead for Greece Despite Austerity Measures

Greek politicians have voted in favor of $40 billion worth of austerity measures that were a precondition for Greece to receive international loans and stave off financial disaster. But as strikes take place across the nation and thousands gather in the capital Athens for a second day of protest.
Root problem
Democracy was born in Greece and many still consider it the cradle of Western civilization.
But in 2011 the bedrock of democracy in Greece, its parliament, has been defended by armed police against battalions¹ of citizens who say their voice has been forgotten.
The root of this crisis is money.
After years of borrowing, Greece is in debt. Faced with a massive deficit² and under pressure from the international community, the government has revved³ up taxes and put the brakes on spending.
That's been bad news for most Greeks. Business profits are low and poverty rates are high.
Video footage of protests in Athens
Austerity, many in Greece say, is destroying lives.
Babis Papadimitriou, a journalist with the daily paper Kathimerini, says some Greeks conclude that the country would be better to default on its debt and leave the eurozone.
"The same people who think the austerity measures are too harsh and too difficult to implement⁴, the same people think that if we go out of the eurozone, we will not need such austerity measures," Papadimitriou said.
Government protection
Many protestors say the rights and well-being⁵ of Greek citizens are not at the heart of government policy.
They say their government is making decisions that serve the interests of global economic powers and wealthy nations, while Greek people suffer the costs.
"This is a game of the global financial government. They want people to be down, not any resistance, absolutely nothing. So we have to fight for this," one protester said.
"I don't need them," added another protester. "I want to feel Greek again. But I'm not Greek. I'm German, I'm American. I don't know what I am."
Many though still believe that Greece is made stronger by its partners in the EU.
"I think the policies are a good step towards finding common ground with the European Union, which is I think a vision that all Greeks should aspire⁶ to," a bystander told reporters. "I don't think any country can operate in isolation⁷ these days, especially a country the size of Greece."
Hennessy video report
European 'dictatorship'
Speaking to VOA in London, analyst⁸ Vanessa Rossi says it's up to Greek politicians to avert⁹ the appearance of a "European dictatorship."
"Most of this problem actually pertains¹⁰ to the internal situation - that is the lack of engagement between the population and its own political class and the lack of engagement with solutions to go forward," Rossi explained.
Rossi says the fate of Greece and its place in the eurozone is in Greek hands, but its grip is weak. She says politicians must balance the needs of its people with the demands of its global partners.
"I really don't think that there is a desire with the eurozone to see member states leave," Rossi added. "But there are conditions under which it's quite difficult to offer further assistance. We have to look at both sides of that equation and we have to make a fair deal that's agreeable to all of them."
And with street battles raging in the Greek capital, without a compromise it's unclear if the government can maintain its authority. If it fails to do so, Greece may be forced to bid farewell to its membership of the eurozone, whether it wants to or not.

1 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 revved   

v.（使）加速( rev的过去式和过去分词 )；（数量、活动等）激增；（使发动机）快速旋转；（使）活跃起来

参考例句：

• The taxi driver revved up his engine. 出租车司机把发动机发动起来。
• The car revved up and roared away. 汽车发动起来，然后轰鸣着开走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

5 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

6 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。

7 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

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 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

10 pertains   

关于( pertain的第三人称单数 )； 有关； 存在； 适用

参考例句：

• When one manages upward, none of these clear and unambiguous symbols pertains. 当一个人由下而上地管理时，这些明确无误的信号就全都不复存在了。
• Her conduct hardly pertains to a lady. 她的行为与女士身份不太相符。