英伦广角 2013-09-14 英议会公共账目委员会反对高铁建设

 Its promise is to slash¹ journey times between our major cities.But plans for HS2 are going too fast for Parliament spending watchdog which is yet to be convinced it's worth the 50-billion-pound cost.

 

-We think they have been over-optimistic on time, over-optimistic on the benefits. They haven't got a handle on the real costs of this. And if you really want to spend 50 billion pounds which will all do on infrastructure² investment, there are better ways of spending it, sooner getting better benefit to the provincial³ cities.

 

In 2017, constructions due to start on HS2's first phase, linking London with Birmingham if Parliament approves. The estimated cost has gone up from 16 to 21 billion pounds but MPs in the Public Accounts Committee are worried that the estimated return on that investment has gone down because of an error with how it was calculated.  And they want a fresh analysis carried out before giving the go-ahead to phase two.

 

-The trouble with a lot of these reports is that by the time they surface, they can be out of date.But look, I'm determined⁴ that the points that made by the National Audit⁵ Office，the points that made by the Major Project Authority are points we address within the department and that we use those points to get it right. 

 

As time moves on, it feels like HS2 is winning more enemies than friends. Former champions have turned skeptical⁶. The institutor director has called it a "grand folly⁷". And the debate has followed the Prime Minster all the way from here in Buckinghamshairo to the G20 in Russia where he has pledged to fight back against the unholy allies opposing it.

 

Seems strange in these austere⁸ times to hear the government fighting so hard to spend money. This week expects to make the case for HS2 even stronger.

1 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

2 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。

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

6 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

7 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

8 austere   

adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的

参考例句：

• His way of life is rather austere.他的生活方式相当简朴。
• The room was furnished in austere style.这间屋子的陈设都很简单朴素。