英语听力精选进阶版 6136（在线收听）

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 refreshing change from Mr Blair’s slick and prepared style.

Mr Brown’s honeymoon 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 speculation 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 eroded 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 Chancellor 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 dissent 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