新奇事件簿 缅甸和伊拉克是最慷慨的国家

Myanmar was for decades ruled by an oppressive military junta¹. However, since the country returned to democratic ways, things have changed. The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has just stated that Myanmar is home to the world's most generous people. It is the third successive year for the country to achieve this accolade². The CAF "World Giving Index" found that 91 per cent of Myanmar residents gave money to charity in the past year, 62 per cent helped a stranger, and 55 per cent claimed they had volunteered. An economic adviser³ to Myanmar's president said: "The results demonstrate very sharply how a 'poor' country can be a 'rich' one through its generosity⁴, by focusing on giving rather than getting."

几十年来，缅甸都由压迫性的军事集团统治。然而，自这个国家恢复民主制度以来，形势发生了变化。英国慈善救助基金会(CAF)认为，缅甸人是世界上最慷慨的人。这是这个国家连续第三年获得该荣誉。英国慈善救助基金会世界捐助指数发现，过去一年，91%的缅甸居民曾向慈善机构捐款，62%的人曾帮助过陌生人，55%的人宣称曾经做过志愿者工作。缅甸总统一名经济顾问表示：“该结果非常明确地显示，一个贫穷的国家变得富有是通过慷慨，通过捐赠，而不是通过索取达到的。”

The report also found that people in Iraq are the kindest to strangers. Eight in 10 Iraqis are reported to have helped someone they don't know in the past year. The BBC commented on how significant this statistic⁵ was, given the turmoil⁶ Iraq has been in for years because of war. It stated that: "It is the kindness of Iraqis…to complete strangers in the face of years of conflict and terrible violence which stands out in the list." John Low, CEO of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: "The generosity of people, even in countries suffering from disaster and turmoil, is truly humbling⁷." He added: "Unconditional⁸ gifts of time and money are a life-changing force for good in the world."

该报告还发现，伊拉克人民对陌生人是最友好的。过去的一年，八成的伊拉克人曾经帮助过陌生人。BBC评论称，考虑到过去几年战争导致伊拉克一直处于动乱状态，该统计数据具有非常重要的意义。BBC称：“面对过去多年的冲突和可怕的暴力仍然能够帮助陌生人，因此伊拉克人的友善才如此突出。”英国慈善救助基金会执行总裁约翰·卢(Dr John Low)表示：“即使在遭遇灾难和动乱的国家，人们都如此慷慨，这让人感到自惭形秽。”他补充说：“无条件地奉献时间和金钱是让世界变得更好的动力。”

1 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

2 accolade   

n.推崇备至，赞扬

参考例句：

• Four restaurants have been awarded the highest accolade of a three-star rating.四家餐馆获授予三星级餐馆的最高荣誉称号。
• The Nobel prize has become the ultimate accolade in the sciences.诺贝尔奖已成为科学界的最高荣誉。

3 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

4 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

5 statistic   

n.统计量；adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• Official statistics show real wages declining by 24%.官方统计数字表明实际工资下降了24%。
• There are no reliable statistics for the number of deaths in the battle.关于阵亡人数没有可靠的统计数字。

6 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

7 humbling   

adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气

参考例句：

• A certain humbling from time to time is good. 不时受点儿屈辱是有好处的。 来自辞典例句
• It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-buildingexperience. 据说天文学是一种令人产生自卑、塑造人格的科学。 来自互联网

8 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。