VOA标准英语2013--Career Dreams Deferred by Gaza Blockade

 

Career Dreams Deferred¹ by Gaza Blockade 

BEACH REFUGEE CAMP, GAZA — Amir Arafat is shopping for his family. He has nothing better to do. Since he returned to Gaza 18 months ago with a degree in computer science from a U.S. university, he has not been able to find a job.

“The economy is pretty tough around here. There’s no room for new innovations, technologies, because you don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring," Arafat said.  "There could be no electricity and, especially in the technology industry, you need electricity.”

Fuel is in short supply and expensive when available. There are frequent power blackouts and people can afford only basic necessities.

The crisis worsened recently after Egyptian security forces destroyed hundreds of smuggling² tunnels as part of a crackdown on militant³ attacks in the Sinai Peninsula.

Unemployment was already 40 percent in Gaza, 50 percent for young people. Hamas, which governs Gaza, says the tunnel closures have thrown 20,000 more people out of work and cost the economy $400 million.

“This is only the beginning," Arafat says. "Everything [the tunnels]has been closed for a couple of months now. So, who knows, six months down the road if everything stays the same, everything [prices] will keep going up.”

Arafat hopes conditions eventually will improve. After all, he says, what goes down must eventually come up. 

 

1 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

2 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

3 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。