英伦广角 2010-08-01 BP总裁即将下台

He's been the focus of criticism for months. His future is uncertain since oil began gushing¹ out from a damaged BP rig off the coast of Louisiana. Now the man, criticized for his handling, one of the world's worst oil spills, is set to leave. BP admits it's time for change at the top and that means the demise² of CEO Tony Hayward.
Tony Hayward's poor record on safety and reliability³ is largely to blame his downfall. He seemed to ought to be responsible for the explosion on the BP rig which killed 11 oil workers in April this year. In the three months which followed over 15 million gallons of oil flowed into the Gulf⁴ of Mexico, causing extensive environmental damage. Thrusts somewhat unwillingly⁵ into the limelight and clearly under pressure, as well as intense media scrutiny⁶, Hayward has also committed a series of shocking PR gaffes⁷. At one stage he claimed,  'There is no one who wants this thing over more than I do, you know, I'd like my life back.' A comment which brought him instant notoriety in the U.S. Equally unpopular was his choice to take time off to go sailing at the height of crisis. But it was his performance at this special Senate hearing which sealed his reputation as a hated figure in America.
"It's impossible for me to answer that question."''All right.''
"And I don't recall that I'm afraid. I'm afraid I can't recall. I'm not stonewalling. I simply was not involved in the decision making process."The response was anger.
"This is what it looks like in the marshes⁸; this what it looks like part of the picture of them down there."Once Hayward is gone, Bob Dudley is widely tipped to succeed him. Respected within BP, he's already been put in charge of managing the oil spill, and his American nationality will also work in his favor at times of anti-British feeling. But the future for the former BP chairman may not be all that bleak⁹. It's been speculated that he could receive a severance¹⁰ package of up to 12 million pounds.
Kitty Logan,Skynews.

1 gushing   

adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话

参考例句：

• blood gushing from a wound 从伤口冒出的血
• The young mother was gushing over a baby. 那位年轻的母亲正喋喋不休地和婴儿说话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。

3 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 unwillingly   

adv.不情愿地

参考例句：

• He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
• Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。

6 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

7 gaffes   

n.失礼，出丑( gaffe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The presidential candidate made three mistakes, or gaffes, during his speech. 校长候选人在演讲中出了三次错，或失态。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• When the microphones were on, gaffes gushed from his lips. 而当电话响起，他却口无遮拦，屡屡失言。 来自互联网

8 marshes   

n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cows were grazing on the marshes. 牛群在湿地上吃草。
• We had to cross the marshes. 我们不得不穿过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

10 severance   

n.离职金；切断

参考例句：

• Those laid off received their regular checks,plus vacation and severance pay.那些被裁的人都收到他们应得的薪金，再加上假期和解职的酬金。Kirchofer was terminated,effective immediately--without severance or warning.科奇弗被解雇了，立刻生效--而且没有辞退费或者警告。