VOA标准英语10月-While European Shares Slide, British PM Pledges t

Taking their lead from Asia, the European markets are kicking off the week in another gloomy mood. Meanwhile, Britain's prime minister has been defending his plans to increase government borrowing in an effort to combat the economic downturn. For VOA, Tom Rivers in London reports.

Worries about a looming¹ global recession are again dragging European shares down. This comes on the back of big losses in Asia with Japan's Nikkei dropping 6.4 percent to a 26-year low while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index tumbled nearly 13 percent.

Among the biggest losers, the mining, energy and banking² sectors³.
　

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown during question-and-answer session at Imperial College, in London, 27 Oct 2008

With those recessionary storm clouds building, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in London he plans to boost government spending during this time of economic downturn.

"Even in these difficult times, let me say the investment that is necessary for the future will continue," he said. "The long-term decisions that require investment that have to be made are being made and will be upheld because that is the only way that we can benefit from what is as I have described, the new global age."

While not everyone agrees with Mr. Brown, he says it is the right medicine to bring about recovery and he adds, for those countries that take the correct measures now, the long-term picture will look good.

"If we are able to solve these problems, then I believe the prospects⁴ for Britain and for countries that have dynamism and talent and able to produce the new products and the new goods and services that the world wants, the prospects are very good indeed," he said. "The world economy, whichever way we look at it, will double in the next 20 years."

As he sees it, Brown says opportunities will also double over that time span and he predicts that by then one billion more people around the world will join the ranks of the middle class.

But there will be more short-term pain before any kind of a turn around can even begin. The British leader and the Governor of the Bank of England predict the next quarter's figures will again show economic contraction⁵. That would be the second-consecutive quarter of negative growth, and by definition Britain will be in a recession.

1 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

5 contraction   

n.缩略词，缩写式，害病

参考例句：

• The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。