European Debt Crisis Dampens Holiday Cheer

 　　Concerns about the European debt crisis and high unemployment are sapping the Christmas holiday spirit in some of Europe's capitals.

　　Along the Gran Via in Madrid, the holiday lights are up but do little to brighten the mood - shoppers and pedestrians¹ are getting used to disappointment.

　　One woman complained that the lights were very, very poor this year and will do little to cheer up those with little or nothing.

　　Even as night fell, many of the lights displays remained dark. Those that did come on, got a smattering of applause.

　　Cities like Madrid are cutting back on holiday decorations, part of austerity measures during a growing fiscal² crunch³ that has dampened spirits across the continent.

　　A school teacher said there needs to be savings⁴, but she hopes they will turn on more lights to create a beautiful atmosphere.

　　In Lisbon, Portugal, city officials did away with the traditional light displays altogether, prompting one local designer to take action.  She says the usual light displays were too expensive but that she hopes the lit-up art displays make people smile.

　　The Associated Press says Lisbon hopes to save more than $900,000 by turning off the traditional lights.

　　The impact on crucial holiday sales remains⁵ to be seen.

　　Some Lisbon shopkeepers said the tough economy and gloomy outlook are forcing them to innovate⁶ more than ever to keep reluctant customers coming in.

1 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

3 crunch   

n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声

参考例句：

• If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
• People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。

4 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。