欧洲经济复苏 但仍存挑战

 　　欧洲经济复苏 但仍存挑战

　　LONDON — It was a better year for the economy in Europe, an important buyer of exports from around the world. But, the crisis that has gripped the continent since 2008 is not over yet.

　　According to the statistics, Europe's economic crisis is stubbornly lingering into a sixth year. But you wouldn't know it on London’s Oxford¹ Street, the week before Christmas.

　　“I definitely feel that this year, in comparison to the last two to three years, I think the mood is that people can treat themselves and their family a bit better,” said Robert, a communications specialist.

　　“I think this year has been really good," said software saleswoman, Sandra. "Also I think London is a bit of a bubble. Things are really good in London, whereas if you go outside into other cities in Europe it may not be exactly the same case.”

　　She’s right. Britain’s economy is among the strongest in Europe, and even here retailers² introduced discounts well before Christmas. In several countries that use the euro, the economic downturn is much more noticeable, according to Capital Economics analyst³ Ben May.

　　“Debt is still very high, as is unemployment," he said. "There’s a need for further austerity in some of these countries, and there’s a growing unwillingness⁴ amongst the population to accept that.”

　　That “unwillingness” has been reflected in protests, like this one in Greece, and at the ballot⁵ box, where voters in some countries have elected anti-austerity governments.

　　Austerity is controversial even among economists⁶ because it hurts growth. And Ben May says Europe's growth will continue to be weak in 2014, during what he calls a “grinding” and “fragile” recovery.

　　“The situation has improved in the eurozone, but I think there are still a lot of problems, and there’s plenty of scope for the region to lurch⁷ back into crisis,” he said.

　　Still, even beyond the relatively⁸ strong economies of Britain and Germany, there is reason for hope. Professor Iain Begg of the London School of Economics says one positive sign is that talk of the euro system collapsing⁹ has all but ended.

　　“I’d say it was a year that European leaders will look back on with, if not affection, at least some satisfaction that things have improved," he said. "It doesn’t yet filter through into the sentiment on the street because incomes are stagnating¹⁰, unemployment is still high.”

　　That was clear on Oxford Street, where many people said they were worried about the future, even as they spent money on Christmas presents.

　　“I won't do like crazy spending," said one man. "I’ll buy stuff for my kids, for my woman, and for my family as well, just a little present to say ‘Merry Christmas.’ But I’m not doing like crazy.”

　　That seems to reflect the views of many Europeans, as the continent emerges from five years of crisis to promises of prosperity many people have not yet seen, and are not convinced will come.

1 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

2 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

3 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。

4 unwillingness   

n. 不愿意，不情愿

参考例句：

• Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position. 她不愿回答问题，这不利于她所处的形势。
• His apparent unwillingness would disappear if we paid him enough. 如果我们付足了钱，他露出的那副不乐意的神情就会消失。

5 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

6 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 lurch   

n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行

参考例句：

• It has been suggested that the ground movements were a form of lurch movements.地震的地面运动曾被认为是一种突然倾斜的运动形式。
• He walked with a lurch.他步履蹒跚。

8 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

9 collapsing   

压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The rocks were folded by collapsing into the center of the trough. 岩石由于坍陷进入凹槽的中心而发生褶皱。

10 stagnating   

v.停滞，不流动，不发展( stagnate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I feel I'm stagnating in this job. 我觉得，干这份工作我没有长进。
• ITT was stagnating when Geneen became the chief executive officer in 1959. 1959年吉宁出任行政总负责人时，国际电话电报公司正处于不景气时期。 来自辞典例句