VOA标准英语2013--Italian Political Gridlock Threatens Euro

 

Italian Political Gridlock Threatens Euro

Italians surprised the world, and perhaps themselves - splitting their vote among disgraced former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a center-left coalition¹ and a protest movement led by a former comedian². The current prime minister, an economist³ praised by the international community, got only 10 percent of the vote.

Retired⁴ couple Gabriella Magini and Mario Pezzella were as surprised as anyone. They worry about their finances, and even more about their grandchildren.

“If I think of the future, I’m not terribly optimistic, no. I think uneasiness is the most spread out feeling all over Italy,” she said.

And there is good reason for concern. Unemployment is nearly 12 percent. Italy has had virtually no economic growth for more than 10 years. It struggles to pay the interest on its huge debt and it needs extensive reforms to make it competitive again. And now, the parliament is deadlocked⁵.

“This is, I think, the worst outcome, the worst scenario⁶ that we could have hoped for," said economics professor Nicola Borri.

He says even if a government is formed it will not have the power to take the necessary steps to revive the Italian economy and end talk of a collapse⁷ of the 17-nation euro system.

“We could find ourselves in a situation in which it’s really hard, politically, to service our debt. And, you know if Italy decides not to service its debt anymore, I think that the euro zone is over,” said the professor.

European leaders are determined⁸ not to let that happen. And at least one longtime Italian analyst⁹, Andrea Margelletti, believes his country will get through this economic, and now also political, crisis.

“We have to study the results and to find a good, I may say, way to find an ‘Italian Solution,” he said.

Such optimism does not impress Professor Borri.

“When we say ‘Italian Solution,’ we mean some agreement that doesn’t deliver any reforms. So, if that is an ‘Italian Solution,’ personally, I don’t like it.” he said.

And neither do Gabriella and Mario, who have seen their pensions frozen while prices go up, squeezing even relatively¹⁰ well-off people like them.

“It has been an awful surprise for us, for the majority of people,” said Gabriella.

“I hope in the future. I think the Italian people are so strong, so intelligent, to solve the crisis,” said Mario.

But that is more difficult than ever now, with a paralyzed parliament. No one expects much progress at least until after new elections, which could come before the end of the year. 

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

3 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。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。

6 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

7 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。