Italian, Greek Leaders Face Crucial Tests

 　　The newly-elected leaders of Italy and Greece are facing crucial tests as they try to help pull the eurozone back from the brink¹ of economic disaster.

　　Italian Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti is set to present his new government Wednesday before being sworn into office.

　　Monti refused to comment on the make-up of his new Cabinet or share details of his economic plan ahead of a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.  But he said he is absolutely convinced Italy can make the sacrifices needed to overcome its debt crisis.  The prime minister-designate also assured Italians he has the backing of political, business, and union leaders.

　　Italy is the eurozone's third largest economy.  Fears that Italy might default on its debt or be forced to ask for a bailout has shaken financial markets around the globe.

　　The caretaker government in debt-ridden Greece, meanwhile, faces a confidence vote Wednesday.

　　Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is expected to survive, but Papademos still faces a daunting² task of avoiding a financial collapse³ that could force Athens to abandon the euro.

　　Tensions surfaced early Wednesday when the country's electricity workers' union briefly⁴ cut off power to the health ministry⁵ building.  Union officials said the shut down was part of their protest of a tax on property owners - a tax the government is trying to collect through household electricity bills.

　　The government of Prime Minister Papademos is specifically tasked with getting parliament to approve a new bailout deal with the European Union. Greek officials warn the country faces bankruptcy⁶ without the new funding and an $11 billion installment⁷ of last year's bailout.

1 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。

2 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

3 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

4 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 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。

7 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。