Greece Readies Tough Austerity Package for Bailout

     Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is now pushing for approval of unpopular austerity measures that are aimed at securing emergency international bailout funds to keep the country from defaulting on its debt.

    Earlier Wednesday, Papandreou survived a crucial parliamentary confidence vote, making passage of the controversial economic reforms more likely.

    Crowds in the square outside parliament reacted angrily to the vote. Riot police used tear gas to disperse¹ protestors who broke off from the main rally.

    Many Greeks said that while they understand the need to get the public debt under control, they feel the government, the European Union and International Monetary² Fund are not going about it the right way.

    But EU leaders are adamant³ that Greece move ahead with sharp economic reforms including increased taxes and privatizations of the public sector⁴ before they release the next $17 billion of last year's promised $160 billion bailout funds.

    Wednesday's confidence vote fell strictly⁵ along party lines, indicating that Papandreou will continue to face challenges to the reform program. The vote passed with 155 lawmakers backing the government and 143 voting against it. Two abstained⁶.

    Following the vote, Asian stock markets rose, with Tokyo's Nikkei gaining 1.8 percent.  The euro also managed short term gains.

    EU leaders are to meet in Brussels Thursday to further discuss the debt crisis.

    Papandreou is appealing to lawmakers to pass his package of spending cuts, tax hikes, and the sale of state assets. He warned parliament that Greece would face bankruptcy⁷ and default next month if it fails to back his reforms and secure the loan payment.

    The opposition⁸ and some members of the prime minister's own Socialist⁹ Party say the reforms will not work.

    Economic analysts¹⁰ say a default by Greece could spark another global financial disaster.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

2 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。

3 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

6 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

8 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。

9 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。