VOA标准英语2013--南非上调最受欢迎的鸡肉税费

 

South Africans Upset Over Tax Hike on Favorite Meat: Chicken 南非上调最受欢迎的鸡肉税费 

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s government has raised taxes on imported  chicken - a move that directly affects millions in a nation where  inequality and poverty still are rife¹. The government says the move  will protect local chicken producers and save jobs, but consumers say  the change is ruffling² their feathers.

约翰内斯堡,南非政府增加了对进口鸡肉的税收——此举直接影响这个国家的数百 万人,不平等和贫困仍然盛行。政府称此举将保护当地的鸡肉生产商和工作机会, 但消费者说变化是触怒他们的羽毛。

The humble³ chicken is South Africa’s favorite meat. South Africans ate  nearly 1.8 million tons of chicken last year, according to the U.S.  Department of Agriculture.

A new tax on imported chicken, however, may peck away at the meat’s  supremacy. In late September, the government imposed tariffs⁴ ranging  from 30 percent to 82 percent on various imported chicken products.  

South Africa has been importing increasing amounts of chicken, and  industry experts say that is negatively affecting a sector⁵ that employs  about 100,000 people. The new tariffs will make local chicken more  attractive, but analysts⁶ have said all chicken might rise in price.

Widespread displeasure

Predictably, VOA did not meet a single South African consumer who was  happy about the price hike.

“I eat vegetables because I’ve got no money to buy chicken,” said  domestic worker Pamela Sitstshongye.

“A lot of people are suffering in South Africa. They don’t have a lot  of money to buy expensive chicken,” said Paulina Rangoanashe, a law  firm employee.

Michael Sejaphala runs a food truck in Johannesburg selling traditional  foods for modest prices. He said he is struggling.  

“I used to buy four chickens for 100 rand [about $10], and now already  I’m buying four chickens for 140 rand [about $14]. So if it’s going  to have to rise more, wow, it’s going to be quite heavy on my  customers,” said Sejaphala.

Poverty level persists

A new study by the independent research group Afrobarometer found that  South Africa's poverty level has not gone down despite the nation's  economic growth.

At this family-owned butchery in Johannesburg, Alpeka Meat Market  manager Frankie Goncalves said the tax is unfair.

“Well, imported chicken, it’s a bit better than the local chicken, it ’s much better than the local chicken. And the only problem is that we ’re going to battle to keep up with the prices,” he said.

But "chickenomics," experts say, is more complicated.

Kevin Lovell, head of the South African Poultry⁷ Association, said the  industry needs to be protected. “And nobody wants to pay more for the  same thing. But everyone wants to keep their job. And that’s what  tariffs are meant for. They’re policy instruments that countries can  use to try and develop specified⁸ industries for a specific purpose, and  by doing that to improve the overall economic performance of their  country.”

Whatever happens, South African families may find it increasingly hard  to achieve a future with a chicken in every pot. 

1 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

2 ruffling   

弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱

参考例句：

• A cool breeze brushed his face, ruffling his hair. 一阵凉风迎面拂来，吹乱了他的头发。
• "Indeed, they do not,'said Pitty, ruffling. "说真的，那倒不一定。" 皮蒂皱皱眉头，表示异议。

3 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

4 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

8 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。