VOA标准英语2015--Russians Worried, Defiant Amid Financial Crisis

 

Russians Worried, Defiant¹ Amid Financial Crisis

WASHINGTON—

Despite dire² predictions about Russia's economy for 2015, many Russians welcomed the New Year with cheers and hopes for a better future. With the sinking value of the ruble, some people say they crave³ stability more than they do prosperity. But the troubles, including political tensions with the West, seem to have spurred a surge of national pride, something Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to boost with his New Year's message. Hopes for a better future also seem especially high among Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine.

The fireworks in Moscow's Red Square on New Year's Eve were greeted with much enthusiasm, recalling better times in Russia.

"We wish the most positive, all the best, for Russia. It will win - Russia is always the best, the most powerful. Russia rules! Hooray! Go Russia!" said one Muscovite.

But sinking oil prices combined with Western sanctions against Russia could lead to an economic recession in the country this year. The value of the Russian ruble has declined by about one-half against Western currencies, bewildering ordinary Russians. 

"I looked at the exchange rate every day. It was simply interesting for me to watch this exchange rate that was growing and falling and then growing. But it had no effect on me. When you have nothing you can't lose anything either!" said Elena, a local.

Even President Putin warned Russians of the possible difficulties ahead.

"In the coming year, we will together have to solve many problems.  And the year will turn out the way we ourselves decide to make it -- the results will be as effective, creative, as each of us endeavor to make them. There are simply no other recipes,” said Putin.

But while he vowed⁴ that Russia will soon overcome its problems, Putin's opponents are predicting a dark future.

"The end is near, the country is at the brink⁵ of going down. I have these kinds of feelings. That's why I'm saying that people will take to the street demanding a change to the situation, and we will contribute to this. That's why I think that 2015 is a very important year. I would say it may be a historic year," said Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Russian prime minister and opposition⁶ leader.

Russian financial officials say that with some effort, an economic disaster can be avoided.

"Any improvement, even a very small local one, in general policy, is able to strengthen the markets. For example, European sanctions need to be voted upon to be extended, and maybe if Russia doesn't give cause for a strengthening of sanctions, we can get a positive result in that case," said Sergei Romanchuk, who works in the foreign exchange and money market department at Metallinvestbank.

The most recent polls show that President Putin still enjoys strong popular support, between 70 and 80 percent. That support is especially high among Russian speakers in Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed⁷ by Russia last March - and despite shortages of water and electricity they have suffered ever since.

"We came today to the square to celebrate the New Year together with the town, with the people and to see Putin. They have promised they will switch off the light in the apartments, but we really wanted to see the president. So that's why we came: to feel the unity⁸ and the mood of the town. And to celebrate the New Year," said a resident of Sevastopol.

The annexation⁹ of Crimea and Moscow's support for Russian separatists in the rest of eastern Ukraine have earned Western condemnation¹⁰ and contributed to Russia's economic woes¹¹. Some Russians are looking at it philosophically¹².

"We have got used to being more optimistic, despite everything. Because if you don't laugh, you can go crazy," said Anastasia Khripunova, a student.

Others look at the situation with a sense of humor. One singer asked Santa Claus to send Russians a new and unused president packed in a gift box, with a return label in case he is not satisfactory.

1 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

2 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

3 crave   

vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求

参考例句：

• Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
• You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 annexed   

[法] 附加的，附属的

参考例句：

• Germany annexed Austria in 1938. 1938年德国吞并了奥地利。
• The outlying villages were formally annexed by the town last year. 那些偏远的村庄于去年正式被并入该镇。

8 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

9 annexation   

n.吞并，合并

参考例句：

• He mentioned the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910 .他提及1910年日本对朝鲜的吞并。
• I regard the question of annexation as belonging exclusively to the United States and Texas.我认为合并的问题，完全属于德克萨斯和美国之间的事。

10 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

11 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

12 philosophically   

adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地

参考例句：

• He added philosophically that one should adapt oneself to the changed conditions. 他富于哲理地补充说，一个人应该适应变化了的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Harry took his rejection philosophically. 哈里达观地看待自己被拒的事。 来自《简明英汉词典》