Thousands in Spain March to Protest Economic Crisis

     Spaniards angered about the economic situation have been staging regular protests in Madrid since May 15.

    Thousands of Spaniards have marched in Madrid to protest high unemployment and the government's handling of an economic crisis.

    They converged¹ on the Spanish capital's Neptune² plaza³ near parliament from six locations around the city Sunday, calling themselves "indignant" about Spain's nearly two-year-long recession. There were no reports of unrest.

    Spaniards angered about the economic situation have been staging regular protests in Madrid since May 15. The movement later spread to other parts of the country.

    Demonstrations also were planned Sunday in the northern city of Barcelona and the eastern city of Valencia.

    Many protesters blame the crisis on banks and inept⁴ politicians. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has tried to ease the country's large debt burden by cutting government spending, raising the retirement⁵ age, and making it easier for companies to fire workers.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 Neptune   

n.海王星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun.海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Neptune turned out to be a dynamic,stormy world.海王星原来是个有生气、多风暴的世界。

3 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

4 inept   

adj.不恰当的，荒谬的，拙劣的

参考例句：

• Whan an inept remark to make on such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，怎么说这样不恰当的话。
• He's quite inept at tennis.他打网球太笨。

5 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。