VOA标准英语2011-India's Economy Rebounds in 2010

The rebound¹ in India's economy in 2010 brought good news for the nation's middle class, which had experienced a boom prior to the global financial crisis. The world's second fastest-growing economy was also lauded² by a stream of world leaders who visited India.

When 28-year-old Ankit Gupta reserved an apartment in a housing complex under construction in Gurgaon, close to New Delhi, last year, he was concerned the project might be delayed. Property prices had plummeted³, and many cash-strapped developers had put building projects on hold as the global financial crisis slowed down India's booming economy. But Gupta says his worries are over.

"Things have changed for good now," Gupta said. "I just visited the site like two weeks back, and they have started the construction, its going on full-fledged. And even the market has recovered. Even if I tried selling my property, I am getting good return."

It is not just property prices that have risen as the economy has returned to the more than eight per cent growth rate seen in the years before the financial crisis.

Companies are hiring again. Shoppers are crowding malls, and luxury merchandise are entering the country. For the 300 million middle class who are fueling the country's economic growth, the global recession is a faded memory.

It is access to this robust⁴ economy that world leaders were considering when they visited India this year. British Prime Minister David Cameron, who came to New Delhi in July, was followed by U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chinese Premier⁵ Wen Jiabao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the last two months.

Officials point out that it was the first time that all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council visited India in a space of six months. Among the top items on their agenda was closer trade and business ties with the country's fast-growing economy.

Economist⁶ D.H. Pai Panandiker, who heads the research group RPG Goneka Foundation in New Delhi, says Western leaders see in India the potential for exports and investment, and the prospect⁷ of creating more jobs at home.

"The Indian economy is now over a trillion dollar economy, and it is developing pretty fast," Panandiker said. "That means a very big market for many of these countries where the growth rate is very small. They are looking at India as a market which can give a fillip to their own economy."

Multi-billion dollar deals were announced during the visits, mostly in the infrastructure⁸ and defense⁹ sectors¹⁰, where India is making huge investments. Deals worth $10 billion were sealed during U.S. President Barack Obama's visit. During the French President's visit, deals worth about $13 billion were announced, while the Chinese Premier secured deals totaling $20 billion. A $30 billion deal for fighter aircraft was the highlight of the Russian President's visit. All countries set ambitious new targets for increasing trade with India amid forecasts that the high rate of growth will continue.

India is the world's second fastest growing major economy after China. By 2030, India is projected to have the world's third largest gross domestic product after the United States and China.

1 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。

2 lauded   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They lauded the former president as a hero. 他们颂扬前总统为英雄。 来自辞典例句
• The nervy feats of the mountaineers were lauded. 登山者有勇气的壮举受到赞美。 来自辞典例句

3 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

5 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

6 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

7 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 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》