英语听力精选进阶版 7070

Background: 联合国秘书长潘基文呼吁采取紧急行动来对付全球高昂食品价格问题，他在今年六月罗马高峰会议上呼吁采取措施来解决食品这一国际贸易问题。

A number of countries have responded to the high cost of food by imposing¹ export restrictions² 出口限制, or even bans, or by seeking to control prices.

The UN Secretary General said such measures only distort markets 扭曲/误导市场 and force prices even higher. These policies are generally intended to divert supplies 改变供应路线 to local markets and to alleviate³ price rises for local consumers.

Many observers see them as understandable but ultimately counter-productive 事倍功半 because if farmers do not get the full benefit of increased prices, the incentive⁴ 动力 for them to increase production is weakened.

Those incentives⁵ are sure to be a key element in the global response to the current food problem. Already, the prices of many food crops 粮食作物 - although still high - have come down from their peaks 高峰期 in the expectation of substantial supply increases 实质性地增加供应 for some crops in the coming season.

The shape of the global food business is also affected⁶ by government subsidies⁷, 政府补贴 notably⁸ in the United States and Europe.

Cuts in those subsidies are a key part of global negotiations⁹ 全球磋商 underway in the World Trade Organisation¹⁰ 世界贸易组织, and Mr Ban called for a rapid resolution of those talks.

But even if the talks do end soon, and there has been some sign of progress at WTO headquarters in recent weeks, the significance of subsidy¹¹ cuts 削减补贴would be longer term.

Lower subsidies in the rich countries world might make it a little easier for less subsidised farmers to compete and develop the capacity to feed their own countries.

Many developing countries 发展中国家, including most in Africa, do not currently produce enough to meet their own needs.

GLOSSARY¹² 词汇表

export restrictions 出口限制

distort markets 扭曲/误导市场

divert supplies 改变供应路线

counter-productive 事倍功半

incentive 动力

food crops 粮食作物

peaks 高峰期

substantial supply increases 实质性地增加供应

government subsidies 政府补贴

global negotiations 全球磋商

World Trade Organisation世界贸易组织

subsidy cuts 削减补贴

developing countries 发展中国家

Questions and Answers

1. What measures have some countries taken to deal with rising food prices?

They have limited exports of food and attempted to control prices.

2. True or false? The UN Secretary General has praised these measures.

False. Ban Ki Moon criticised these practices, saying they push food prices up and distort markets.

3. What is happening with regard to government subsidies for food production?

Talks are taking place at the WTO to cut government subsidies especially in the US and Europe.

4. True or false? Most developing countries need to import food from other countries.

True. Many such countries do not produce enough food to feed their people.

1 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

4 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

5 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

11 subsidy   

n.补助金，津贴

参考例句：

• The university will receive a subsidy for research in artificial intelligence.那个大学将得到一笔人工智能研究的补助费。
• The living subsidy for senior expert's family is included in the remuneration.报酬已包含高级专家家人的生活补贴。

12 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。