英语听力精选进阶版 6136

The British Prime Minister Makes an Important Speech 英国首相发表重要讲话

Gordon Brown’s speech was aimed at those within Labour who think the only way their party can win again is for him to go as soon as possible.

How did it come to this? When Mr Brown came into office 14 months ago, he was riding high in opinion polls and had a secure place in his party. His serious, no-nonsense approach was seen as a refreshing¹ change from Mr Blair’s slick and prepared style.

Mr Brown’s honeymoon² came to an end this time last year. There were hints that he might try to capitalise on his lead in the polls by calling a snap election. The Prime Minister allowed speculation³ to build for several weeks before finally ruling out an autumn election.

The delay allowed the Prime Minister’s opponents to call him indecisive and even cowardly.

There followed unpopular changes to the tax system, which left some poorer voters worse off. This led to an embarrassing U-turn that further eroded⁴ Mr Brown’s image as a safe pair of hands to run the economy.

And then we have the growing financial crisis that has already caused one UK bank to be nationalised and another, HBOS, to be taken over.

Some of his opponents say Mr Brown must shoulder some of the blame for recent events, since he was Chancellor⁵ for 10 years under Tony Blair.

Yesterday the Prime Minister accepted that his first year in power might have gone better, saying, “Where I've made mistakes I'll put my hand up and try to put them right”.

But he insisted that his long experience meant he was best placed to handle the financial crisis.

Perhaps speaking of Mr Cameron, the Prime Minister said, “This is no time for a novice”.

The Prime Minister’s impassioned speech has impressed many supporters, but it is not clear if it will be enough to quieten the dissent⁶ within his party.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

a new settlement for new times 新时期的新对策

time might be running out 恐怕没时间了

Opposition 反对党

riding high in opinion polls 民调支持率高

slick 圆滑的

honeymoon 蜜月（期）

capitalise 利用

snap election 临时选举

speculation 揣测

ruling out 排除

indecisive 犹豫不决

U-turn 掉头回转

eroded 损坏了

safe pair of hands 经验老手

nationalised 国有化

shoulder some of the blame 承担部分责任

put my hand up （举手）认错

This is no time for a novice 不是新手上阵的时候

impassioned 慷慨激昂的

quieten the dissent 平息不满情绪

1 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

2 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

3 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

4 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

5 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

6 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。