VOA常速英语2019--全球经济不确定性愈演愈烈 引人担忧

The setting for the annual World Economic Forum¹ is an elite² ski resort in the Swiss Alps. Anti-poverty advocacy group Oxfam has brought a message for the influential³ leaders gathered there. The richest people in the world, the most powerful people in the world, the political leaders of the world take action to reduce extreme inequality because it is out of control. The people in Davos, the big company leaders and the political leaders are part of the problem. They are the problem, and we want them to be the solution to ending extreme inequality because it’s out of control. It’s widening. It’s hurting our economy, slowing our economies. It’s undermining democracy, distracting people in poverty.

一年一度的世界经济论坛在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一个高级滑雪胜地举行。扶贫倡导团体乐施会（Oxfam）向有影响力的领导人们传达了一个在那里收集到的讯息。世界上最富有的人、最有权力的人、世界各国的领导人都应该采取行动减少极端不平等现象，因为这种现象现在已经失控。达沃斯的人、大公司的领导层、政治领袖都与这个问题脱不开干系。他们是系铃人，所以我们希望他们能解铃，终结极端不平等现象，因为这种现象已经失控。极端不平等还在不断扩大，在损害我们的经济，放慢了我们经济发展的步伐。它破坏了民主，让人民困于贫穷之中。

Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum founder⁴ acknowledged that the global economy has left some people behind. In the age of social media, we just cannot tolerate anymore, so people are left behind. So we have to create a much more inclusive globalization.

克劳斯·施瓦布是世界经济论坛的创始人，他承认全球经济中有一些人是落后于大潮的。在社交媒体的时代，我们的忍耐力下降，所以有人落后了。我们必须要创造更有包容性的全球化。

The head of the International Monetary⁵ Fund said Monday the global economy is growing but at the somewhat slower rate than expected. We need to redouble our efforts to resolve the shared problems that we are facing from fixing the global trade system. Yes, the G20 has called for that and it needs to be delivered upon, to fighting corruption⁶ and tax evasion⁷, to addressing the existence or threat of climate change.

国际货币基金组织（IMF）负责人周一表示，全球经济正在增长，但速度比预期的要慢。我们需要加倍努力，以解决我们共同面临的诸多问题，这些问题都是在完善全球贸易系统的过程中产生的。没错，G20峰会已呼吁过这一点，现在需要的是执行。为了打击腐败和逃税，也为了应对气候变化的威胁。

The IMF director said there is no fear of recession, but the trends must be closely watched and vulnerability is quickly corrected. While leaders expressed general optimism, a preformed survey of hundreds of business executives showed the opposite. The mass class divide has never been wider between the elites⁸ who think the world is going great and the mass who are really worried.

IMF负责人表示，虽然大家不担心经济倒退，但经济趋势必须密切关注，有薄弱环节也要迅速纠正。虽然多个领导人普遍表示乐观，但一项调查采访了上百名企业高管，他们的观点却截然相反。阶级分歧已经达到了低谷时期，这种分歧出现在经营之间，他们都认为世界经济走势强劲，但大众都是极为担忧的。

The survey also showed that the pessimism⁹ in the business circles is caused by global uncertainties¹⁰. One day, we think BRICS is gonna happen and the other day it’s off, so you never know where these things are gonna go. You today have okay, we’ve got trade barriers in terms of the conflicts with China and then the next day: Oh hold on a second. We’ve had a great meeting are coming off. This survey also showed an increased lack of trust in political leaders worldwide.

该调查显示，商界产生悲观情绪是因为全球经济存在不确定性。我们今天以为金砖会议要开了，但指不定哪天就取消了。所以你永远不会知道未来会发生什么。今天信誓旦旦地跟中国打贸易战，明天又会说：先不打了，有一场重要的会议要开。该调查还显示，全球普遍对政治领袖缺乏信任。

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

3 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

8 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

9 pessimism   

n.悲观者，悲观主义者，厌世者

参考例句：

• He displayed his usual pessimism.他流露出惯有的悲观。
• There is the note of pessimism in his writings.他的著作带有悲观色彩。

10 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告