VOA常速英语2014--Weakening Chilean Economy to Test Bachelet's Social Reform Plans 智利疲软经济考验巴切莱特总统社会改革计划

 

Weakening Chilean Economy to Test Bachelet's Social Reform Plans 智利疲软经济考验巴切莱特总统社会改革计划

MIAMI — Chilean President Michelle Bachelet took office in March with a pledge to make Chile a "different and fairer" country.  But some of her key promises will be difficult to keep in a country facing increasingly difficult economic challenges. 

Nothing will be easy for Chilean President Michelle Bachelet during her second term as the nation's leader, after a landslide¹ win in a December runoff vote.

在12月以压倒性的优势获得终选胜利后，对第二任期再次当选国家领导人的智利总统米歇尔·巴切莱特而言，任何事情都不简单。

The moderate socialist² vowed³ to reform education and taxes.

这位温和的社会主义者誓要改革教育和税收。

But that won't be easy in a nation with a slowing economy and tight budget.

但在一个经济放缓和预算吃紧的国家这并非易事。

Observers say Chileans, especially students, won't hesitate to take to the streets to demand she carry out the reforms.

观察人士称智利人民,尤其是学生,毫不犹豫地走上街头要求她进行改革。

"The people that voted for her, believing in all these promises, have already challenged her that if the promises are not fulfilled, as she has promised, will be social upheaval⁵ in Chile," said Juan Larrain, Chile's former ambassador to the Organization of American States.

“投票给她的人民对所有这些承诺深信不疑,但如果没有履行总统所承诺的，人民就会挑战她的权威,这将会引发智利的社会动荡,”驻美洲国家组织智利前大使胡安·拉里因说道。

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Chile's economic growth has slowed to nearly a four-year low, in part because of tumbling copper⁶ prices.

智利的经济增长已经放缓至4年来的历史新低,部分原因是铜价下跌造成。

Chile is a top copper exporter.

智利是最大的铜出口国。

Despite the country's economic woes⁷, Bachelet has promised to push ahead with her ambitious plan to carry out more than 50 reforms in her first 100 days in office.

尽管这个国家处于经济困境当中,巴切莱特已承诺推行她雄心勃勃的计划,那就是在她上任100天进行50多项改革。

"We have a commitment to the citizens to fulfill⁴ major policy goals and also to meet urgent tasks, and that we will do," she said.

“我们对市民的承诺是履行主要政策目标,也要着手紧急任务,那就是我们将要做的,”她说道。

At the center of reform agenda,providing free education to students all the way up to the university level.

而改革议程的重点是为学生提供免费教育，一直到大学水平。

"Although she does have a majority in the Congress right now, and I think she will be able to make some reforms, particularly in the educational system, I don't think they will be the kind of deep reforms that the students expect," said Jose Azel of the University of Miami. "

“虽然她现在确实在国会有多数支持者,而且我认为她会特别在教育系统上做出一些改革, 但我不认为会是学生们所预期的深层改革,”迈阿密大学的何塞·亚泽尔说道。

And because the students are impatient, I think that will be her challenge going forward.

而且由于学生们没有耐心,我认为这将是她面临的挑战。

The president says she wants to help pay for education with funds from the country's copper wealth and by increasing corporate⁸ tax rates.

这位总统表示她想用这个国家的铜出口带来的财富及增加企业税率帮助支付教育基金。

Mrs.Bachelet says her sweeping⁹ reforms will shrink the big disparity between Chile's rich and poor citizens.

巴切莱特称她的全面改革将会缩小智利贫富人之间的巨大差距。

The president enjoyed huge approval ratings at the end her first term as president in 2010.

在2010年她的第一个总统任期结束时总统享有巨大的支持率。

But with a worsening economic outlook, it is unclear how she plans to implement¹⁰ the deep reforms she promised the voter base that returned her to office.

但随着现在经济前景每况愈下,目前仍尚不清楚她会如何计划实现她对选民们所承诺的让她重新当选总统的深层改革。

1 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

2 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

6 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

7 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

8 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

9 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

10 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。