新奇事件簿 英国退欧公投尘埃落定

The United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union in what is being seen as a political earthquake. Just over 52 per cent of Britons expressed their desire to exit the EU in a referendum on Thursday. Currency markets were immediately affected¹ as the British pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985. Britain's decision to leave has caused political upheaval². Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU and so politicians in both countries are now contemplating³ breaking from the UK. Right-wing politicians in Europe congratulated the UK for leaving. One said: "It is Great Britain's independence day. The people were asked, and they decided⁴. The European Union as a political union has failed."

英国退欧公投尘埃落定，人们将其看成一场政治地震。在周四公投上，超52%选民支持退欧。股票市场随即受到影响，英镑对美元汇率滑落到1985年以来最低值。这场退欧公投引发了政治动荡。苏格兰和北爱尔兰支持留欧，两地政界人士正在考虑脱英。欧洲右翼人士庆祝英国脱欧。称：“今天是英国独立日。民众做出了明智之举。作为政治联盟的欧盟失败了。”

The magnitude⁵ of the result was summed up by Rob Ford⁶, professor of politics at Manchester University, who said: "This is the biggest shock to European politics since the fall of the Berlin Wall." The vote has already prompted Britain's leader David Cameron to resign. He led the campaign to stay part of the EU and will step down in October. He said the country needed "fresh leadership". Less certain is the plight⁷ of the 3.3 million non-British EU citizens living in Britain, and the 1.3 million Britons living in other EU countries. Others may follow the UK's lead in exiting the EU. Representatives from Holland's Dutch Freedom Party and France's National Front Party said: "Now it is our turn."

曼彻斯特大学政治学教授罗伯·福特对退欧的严重性进行了阐述，他表示：“这是自柏林墙倒塌以来，欧洲政坛经历的最大震动。”投票结果已让首相卡梅伦辞职。卡梅伦此前主张留欧，他将于今年10月离职。他称英国需要新的领导人。目前有3300万非英籍欧盟公民生活在英国，1300万英国公民生活在欧盟国家，他们的处境还不确定。其它国家或将效仿英国退欧。荷兰自由党以及法国国民阵线代表表示：“这回该轮到我们退欧了。”

1 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。

2 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。

3 contemplating   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
• She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 magnitude   

n.大小；重大；星等

参考例句：

• I want to know the magnitude of this equipment.我想知道这个设备的大小。
• I hadn't realized the magnitude of the problem.我没有认识到这个问题的重要性。

6 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

7 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。