VOA标准英语2013--World Bank President: Elimination of Poverty Possible

 

World Bank President: Elimination¹ of Poverty Possible

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says the problems of poverty, hunger and inequality are massive, urgent and a matter of survival for millions.

"We know that despite the dramatic successes of the last decade, there are still about 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty, 870 million who go hungry every day, and 6.9 million children under five dying every year," he said.

But Kim told a Washington audience that previous successful efforts to cut the number of people mired² in extreme poverty by half give him hope.

"We are at an auspicious³ moment in history, when the successes of past decades and an increasingly favorable economic outlook combine to give developing countries a chance - for the first time ever - to end extreme poverty within a generation," he said.

Kim says success will require accelerating economic growth, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

But he warned that civil unrest of the kind seen in the Arab Spring revolts could erupt if economic growth does not help people at all income levels, and also include women and youth.

Kim says the World Bank and other development agencies will need more resources to get this job done right.

"Meeting this 2030 goal will take extraordinary effort," he said. "But is there anyone, anywhere, who doubts that the reward will be worth it? Is there anyone who has lived on less than $1.25 a day who would not join me here today in telling you that it is time to end extreme poverty?"

However, Kim warned that all the progress in fighting poverty could be undone⁴ by climate disasters unless the nations of the world do more to stem climate change. 

1 elimination   

n.排除，消除，消灭

参考例句：

• Their elimination from the competition was a great surprise.他们在比赛中遭到淘汰是个很大的意外。
• I was eliminated from the 400 metres in the semi-finals.我在400米半决赛中被淘汰。

2 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
• With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。

4 undone   

a.未做完的，未完成的

参考例句：

• He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。