VOA标准英语2010年-Iranian Officials Urge Public to Cut B

A heat wave in Iran has prompted the government to call for cutbacks in the consumption of water and electricity.  The move comes as Iran deals with intensified¹ international sanctions and an ongoing² strike by Tehran's bazaar³ owners.

 

The Iranian economy appears to be under pressure on a number of fronts, including a sporadic⁴ energy crisis, an ongoing strike by shop owners at Tehran's venerable bazaar, and rumblings of discontent against the government in parliament.

A severe heat wave last weekend intensified Iran's energy crisis, prompting Energy Minister Majid Namjou to call on the public Monday to lower consumption.  He is pleading with the Iranian public to reduce both electricity and water consumption, noting that the usage of both has increased between this year and last.

According to the Fars News Agency, Namjou's deputy, Mohammad Behzad, is blaming the sudden demand for energy on the World Cup, as well as the summer heat.

Analyst⁵ Houchang Hassan-Yari, who teaches at Canada's Royal Military College, stresses that the decrepit⁶ state of Iran's infrastructure⁷ - coupled with a lack of investment - has caused a widespread energy crisis affecting different sectors⁸.  He says government officials are increasingly shifting the blame.

"It's kind of to hide their government's inability to adjust production to consumption," said Hassan-Yari.  "The system is extremely old, and there is no investment to renew the system, update the system and so forth⁹.  This is one of many examples.  You see this situation not only in electricity, water, but also in gas.  In winter, the government asked many provinces to reduce their consumption."

Last week, Iran's Supreme¹⁰ Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to reduce their consumption of gasoline, as well as consumer goods, in a sign that the Iranian economy is under severe pressure.

Houchang Hassan-Yari believes that new U.N. Security Council sanctions against Tehran, as well as unilateral U.S. sanctions, are straining Iran's already weak economy.  The sanctions are aimed at convincing Iran to stop its sensitive nuclear activities.

"The economics of the country are going through a very, very deep crisis, and I think the sanctions are deepening this crisis," said Hassan-Yari.  "Now, many, including (Iranian) conservatives, are talking about the very negative effects of the sanctions on the economy; opening credits, importing, exporting."

Hassan-Yari stresses that some Iranian factories have been forced to close in recent months, due to the global economic crisis and competition from abroad.  He says tea and sugar plants, as well as industrial plants have been affected¹¹ by the crisis.

Shop owners in Tehran's commercial district, or bazaar, also have been on strike to protest tax increases by the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  The strike has also caused rumblings in parliament against the president and the way he pushes through legislation.

Conservative MP Ahmad Tavakoli criticized President Ahmadinejad last week for imposing¹² laws in a capricious way and ignoring the will of parliament.  Tavakoli also alluded¹³ to the possible impeachment¹⁴ of both the president and his ministers, citing a clause in the Iranian constitution.

 

1 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 bazaar   

n.集市，商店集中区

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• We bargained for a beautiful rug in the bazaar.我们在集市通过讨价还价买到了一条很漂亮的地毯。

4 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。

5 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。

6 decrepit   

adj.衰老的，破旧的

参考例句：

• The film had been shot in a decrepit old police station.该影片是在一所破旧不堪的警察局里拍摄的。
• A decrepit old man sat on a park bench.一个衰弱的老人坐在公园的长凳上。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

10 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

13 alluded   

提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design. 在你的谈话中，你提到了某个阴谋。
• She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles. 她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。

14 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。