VOA标准英语2010年-Asia to Lead Global Economic Growth in

The United Nations says the world economy is on the mend. In its annual economic report released Wednesday (January 20), the U.N. predicts a global growth rate of 2.4 percent in 2010 with East and South Asia taking the lead.  But the organization warns conditions for sustained growth around the world remain fragile.

The U.N. report says the world's economy is beginning to show signs of modest recovery. Equity¹ markets are on the rebound², international trade and industrial production are rising and banks are starting to lend again.  It's an economic revival³ driven in large part by massive stimulus⁴ measures around the world.  

"In Hong Kong, we have spent some $11.2 billion on economic stimulus measures.  That is equivalent to about 5.2 percent of our GDP.  We have taken extraordinary steps to guarantee bank deposits, support small and medium enterprises and provide additional capital to the banking⁵ sector⁶ if required," said Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang. His comments came at the start of the Asian Financial Forum⁷ in Hong Kong, where international delegates and representatives of the International Monetary⁸ Fund met to discuss the region's economic future. 

"The transformation⁹ has been huge and the share of Asia in the global economy has raised a lot, helping¹⁰ hundreds of millions escape poverty.  And in front of us, we have the possibility of sustained growth, helping billion, one billion people to get out of poverty,' said IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who noted¹¹ the crucial role Asia is playing in a post recessionary world.

The world economy has shown steady improvement since the second quarter of 2009, but Strauss-Kahn says the recovery has been uneven¹².  China grew at a blistering¹³ pace of 10.7 percent in the final quarter of 2009, but the government has since placed curbs¹⁴ on lending to reduce inflation and cool down an overheated economy.  In contrast, Japan is worried deflation and weak demand could push the economy back into recession. 

"Macro-economic situation has been very sluggish¹⁵ for last couple of decades.  Japan hasn't seen, in Japan, we haven't seen the actual nominal¹⁶ GDP growth for as long as two decades," said Takashi Hibino, head of brokerage firm, Daiwa Securities. 

Forecasts call for East Asia to grow 6.7 percent this year, followed by South Asia, - at 5.5 percent in 2010. 

The IMF expects growth to accelerate in the poorest regions in Africa as the global recession eases.

And the U.S. and the 16 nation Eurozone can expect modest but continued expansion even as job growth continues to lag in the new year. 

 

1 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

2 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

3 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

4 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

5 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。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

8 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

9 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

13 blistering   

adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡

参考例句：

• The runners set off at a blistering pace. 赛跑运动员如脱缰野马般起跑了。
• This failure is known as preferential wetting and is responsible for blistering. 这种故障称为优先吸湿，是产生气泡的原因。 来自辞典例句

14 curbs   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In executing his functions he is not bound by any legal curbs on his power. 在他履行职务时，他的权力是不受任何法律约束的。 来自辞典例句
• Curbs on air travel were being worked out and would shortly be announced. 限制航空旅行的有关规定正在拟定中，不久即将公布。 来自辞典例句

15 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

16 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。