美语习语讲座第034期

Words & Idioms Lesson 34

to put all his eggs in one basket

to eat crow

鸡蛋也是一些美国俗语的组成部份。要是一个人把他所有的钱都当做赌注，想冒险发财，这在中文里是“孤注一掷”，在英文里就是： to put all his eggs in one basket。 Eggs就是鸡蛋，one basket 就是一只篮子。 To put all his eggs in one basket 的意思就是把所有的鸡蛋放在一只篮子里，这样是很冒险的。我们来举个例子:

例句-1: "If you want to play the stockmarket, it's smarter to divide your money and buy three or four different stocks instead of putting the whole amount into just one stock and putting all your eggs in one basket."

这个人说：“要是你想玩股票，你最好是把你的钱分开来买三、四种不同的股票，这是比较聪敏的作法。你千万不要把所有的钱都买一种股票。”

To put all your eggs in one basket 不仅可以用在经济方面，它还可以用在其他方面。下面这句句子就是一个例子：

例句-2: "Going steady in high school with only one member of opposite sex is a mistake. Go out with several people -- don't put all your eggs in one basket."

这是说：“在中学里只交一个男朋友，或一个女朋友，那是错误的。应该多交朋友，而不要把自己局限在一个人身上。” 

乌鸦是人们都讨厌的鸟，它又大又黑，叫的声音既粗又难听。乌鸦的肉也老得没法吃。可是，有一个美国俗语偏偏就是“吃乌鸦”: to eat crow。 Eat 就是吃，crow 就是乌鸦。乌鸦肉根本是没法吃的，因此要一个人吃乌鸦，那肯定是非常难受的。这也正是 to eat crow 这个俗语的意思。 To eat crow 的确切意思是一个人把自己弄得很丢脸，因为他犯了一个很难堪的错误，而又不得不承认。也许举个例子能够更好地说明 to eat crow 的意思：

例句-3: "That man running for mayor went around bragging he'd win the election by a big 50,000 majority. But he had to eat crow when the woman running against him won by more than 60,000 votes."

这句话的意思是：“那个竞选市长的人到处吹嘘说他肯定能得到大多数选民的拥护，以五万张选票当选市长。可是，现在他很丢脸，因为那位和他一起竞选的女候选人最后获得六万多张选票而当选市长。”

可是，爱夸口的人似乎到处都是。下面的一个例子更是可笑:

例句-4: "Our neighbor had to eat crow yesterday. He's been telling us what a good tennis player he is. Well, he took my 12-year-old son out to play and the kid beat him three straight sets."

这个人说：“我们的邻居真是丢了脸。他老是在我们面前吹嘘，说他网球打得多么多么好。他昨天带着我那十二岁的儿子去打网球，结果我儿子以三比零把他打败了。”

现在让我们来复习一下今天讲的两个俗语。我们讲的第一个俗语是：to put all his eggs in one basket。 To put all his eggs in one basket 是指一个人把他所有的一切都当作赌注来冒险，也就是中文里“孤注一掷”的意思。今天我们讲的第二个俗语是：to eat crow。 To eat crow 是指因为自己的错误而丢脸。

美语习语讲座第033期

Words & Idioms Lesson 33

as American as apple pie

hot potato

美国人很喜欢吃 apple pie。 Apple pie是一种用烤箱制作的甜点心，它的外面是一层面粉，里面是用苹果做的馅儿。中文有时把 apple pie翻成“苹果排”。美国人喜爱吃 apple pie 是他们刚从欧洲移居到美洲来以后就开始了。每个家庭主妇都经常做苹果排。为了说明 apple pie 是美国生活的一个特点，人们常说: "As American as apple pie." 这句话的意思是：就像苹果排一样具有美国特色。下面就是一个例子：

例句-1: "So many Asian restaurants have opened up in Washington that a writer on a daily paper here jokes that dim sum, Japanese sushi and Vietnamese spring rolls have become as American as applie pie."

这句话的意思是：“华盛顿开了那末多亚洲饭馆，一家报纸的记者开玩笑地说，广东点心、日本生鱼片加饭团和越南春卷都已经变成像苹果排一样的美国食品了。”

美国人和其他各民族一样具有很多特色。除了爱吃applie pie以外，美国人有一个很突出的特点就是，他们非常喜爱运动，特别是球赛。许多大学都愿意录取好的运动员，给他们奖学金，但是他们得在念书的同时花好多时间练球，参加比赛，为学校争光。美国人喜爱球赛是有历史根源的，因为有些球类运动都是起源于美国。下面这个例子就说明了这一点：

例句-2: "Football and baseball are as American as apple pie as they were invented by Americans and played and watched everywhere in this country. Many people would glue to their TV sets whenever there are major competitions."

他说：“橄榄球和棒球是美国式的运动，因为它们是美国人发明的，全国各地都有人打这种球或看这类球赛。每当有重大比赛时，许多人就坐在电视机前不肯动了。”

美国人也很喜欢吃土豆，特别是刚从烤箱里拿出来的一个个热气腾腾的土豆。下面我们要介绍的一个俗语是: hot potato。大家都知道 hot 的意思是热或烫。 Potato就是土豆。热的土豆固然好吃，但是它会烫你的手，你会想法马上甩掉的。 Hot potato作为俗语，它的意思就是一个争论很激烈的问题，没有一个人愿意为它承担责任。例如：

例句-3: "The question of whether to raise taxes to cut the budget deficit is a real hot potato for a lot of politicians."

这个人说：“是否用增加税收的方法来减少预算赤字的问题对于许多政客来说是一个棘手的问题。”

下面这个例子是一位律师在给另一位律师提供建议：

例句-4: "If I were you, I'd drop that client like a hot potato; he's always suing somebody for something, but he usually loses and he doesn't pay his lawyer's bills."

这个律师说：“要是我是你的话，我就把你那个顾客马上甩掉。他老是为了什么事去告别人，可是他总是输给别人，他还往往不付律师费。”

今天我们讲了两个和美国人的特色有关的俗语。第一个是 as American as apple pie，这个俗语的意思是：和苹果排一样具有美国特色。我们讲的第二个俗语是 hot potato，hot potato是指难解决的问题。

看新闻，学英语： 20060523

China,中国：

China, Germany sign 19 cooperation documents
中德之间签署19项合作协议

China and Germany inked 19 documents of bilateral cooperation in Beijing Monday, with Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel attending the signing ceremony.
星期一，中国与德国在北京签署了19项双边合作协议。国家总理温家宝和来访的德国官员Angela Merkel参加了签署仪式。

These documents mainly cover such fields as railway technology, financial cooperation, high tech dialogue, telecommunications, energy, culture and sports. The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding on the protection of intellectual property in textile industry.

这些文件主要包含了如铁路科技、金融合作、高科技对话、电信业、能源、文化和体育等领域。双方还在纺织业方面签署了一份保护知识产权的谅解备忘录。

Key words,关键词:

Cooperation – 合作项目；bilateral – 双边；

 

One in seven Chinese living on under US$1 daily

每七个中国人中有一个生活在每日收入一美元以下

There are now at least 200 million Chinese living below the United Nations definition of the poverty line. In other words, nearly one in seven Chinese nationals live in extremely reduced circumstances, earning less than US$1 per person daily.

现在至少有两亿中国人生活在联合国定义的贫困线以下。换句话说，每七个中国人中将仅有一人生活在极其简单的环境里，每天每人收入低于一美元。

This figure is ten times worse than the current Chinese official estimate of 20 million people earning subsistence level incomes of below 683 yuan yearly.

这个数据比目前官方估算的约有两亿人每年生活费收入低于683元的补助水平，要糟糕的多。

The current subsistence level income standard is now only 20 per cent of the rural population's average yearly income of 3,255 yuan.

目前的收入补助水平线仅仅是农村人口平均年收入3225元的百分之二十。

Most impoverished people are scattered in regions with largely underdeveloped production capabilities, harsh natural environments, and a low quality labor force. They are economically marginalized and highly vulnerable to any possible misfortune.

多数的贫困人口分散在广大的劳动力低下、自然环境恶劣和劳动人口素质低下的区域。他们被社会经济排挤到了社会的边缘，而对任何灾难都缺乏抵抗力。

Key words,关键词:

Poverty – 贫困；subsistence – 补助；

 

China to set up special fund for poverty reduction
中国将会设立特别基金来降低贫困

China is expected to set up a special industrial fund to boost its poverty reduction efforts, according to sources attending a symposium on the sustained development in the country's poverty-stricken areas.

根据来自在贫困地区进行可持续性发展的研讨会的消息，中国将会建立一个特别的产业基金来大力降低贫困度。

The poverty reduction fund was proposed by the China Association for Poverty Alleviation and Development, but there's no timetable yet as to when it will be launched。

这笔贫困基金是由中国贫困缓解与发展协会提出的，目前还没有明确的启动的时间表。

China has made great achievements in poverty reduction but the biggest obstacle in this endeavor is lack of fund. Between 2001 and 2005, China's central coffer arranged 57.2 billion yuan (7.15 billion U.S. dollars) of poverty relief fund, with an annual increase of 6.45 percent.

中国已在降低贫困方面取得了巨大的进展，但目前该项目的最大的障碍是缺乏资金。2001年至2005年中国央行已经组织了572亿元的扶贫资金，而每年的增长率在百分之6.45。

An industrial fund for poverty reduction purposes would therefore be an effective way to raise funds for the benefits of the poverty-stricken population and the investors alike, as it is expected to yield higher returns.

而一个以降低贫困为目的的产业基金可以成为使贫困人口和投资者都受益的有效方式，因为预计的回报率将会比较高。

Key words,关键词:

Poverty reduction – 减少贫困；industry fund – 产业基金；

 

1 in 136 US residents behind bars

每136个美国人中就有一个在监狱服刑

US prisons and jails added more than 1,000 inmates each week for a year, putting almost 2.2 million people, or one in every 136 US residents, behind bars by last summer.

到去年夏天为止，美国的监狱每周会有超过一千名的入狱者，而每年可以达到将近220万人，或者说，每136人中就有一人。

The total on June 30, 2005, was 56,428 more than at the same time in 2004, the government reported Sunday. That 2.6 percent increase from mid-2004 to mid-2005 translates into a weekly rise of 1,085 inmates.

美国政府星期天发表报告说，2005年六月30日的在狱总数为56428人，比2004年同期来得多。而2005年中期比2004年中期上升百分之2.6的问题，说明美洲的入狱人数上升了1085人。

Beck, the bureau's chief of corrections statistics, said the increase in the number of people in the 3,365 local jails is due partly to their changing role. Jails often hold inmates for state or federal systems, as well as people who have yet to begin serving a sentence.

官方统计主管Beck说，3365所地方监狱的人数增长的部分原因是监狱职能的改变。地方监狱通常为洲及联邦看押犯人，以及关押尚未开始服刑的人。

"The jail population is increasingly unconvicted," Beck said. "Judges are perhaps more reluctant to release people pretrial."

Beck说：“狱中未判刑的人口越来越多了，法官们可能越来越不愿意在审讯前假释犯人了。”

The report by the Justice Department agency found that 62 percent of people in jails have not been convicted, meaning many of them are awaiting trial.

来自法律部门的报告说，百分之六十二的在押人口还未被判决，说明还有很多人在等待审讯。

Overall, 738 people were locked up for every 100,000 residents, compared with a rate of 725 at mid-2004. The states with the highest rates were Louisiana and Georgia, with more than 1 percent of their populations in prison or jail. Rounding out the top five were Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

总的来说，每十万个居民中就有738人在狱中，相比之下，2004年中期的比率为725。比率最高的洲是路易斯安娜洲和佐治亚洲，有超过百分之一的人口在狱中。其他入围前五名的还有德克萨斯、密西西比和奥克拉哈马洲。

Men were 10 times to 11 times more likely than women to be in prison or jail, but the number of women behind bars was growing at a faster rate.

比起女人，男人有十倍至十一倍的更高的可能性入狱，但女性入狱的增长率比较高。

The racial makeup of inmates changed little in recent years, Beck said. In the 25-29 age group, an estimated 11.9 percent of black men were in prison or jails, compared with 3.9 percent of Hispanic males and 1.7 percent of white males.

近年来，种族方面的入狱人口构成并没有大的改变。在25岁至29岁的黑人中，约有百分之11.9的人口在狱，相比之下，西班牙裔为百分之三点九，白人为百分之一点七。

 

注：英文原文来源于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。

看新闻，学英语： 20060512

China,中国：

Yangtze River Delta uses nearly half of China's foreign capital

长三角地区使用了近半数的中国海外资本投资

Urban centers along the Yangtze River Delta, one of China's three major city clusters, has absorbed nearly half of the country's total foreign capital

中国最大的三个城市聚集区之一，滨邻长江三角洲的城市已经吸引了本国近半数的海外资本。

The region has used 47.8 percent of the total foreign capital in China, according to officials and experts at an ongoing forum on economic development along Yangtze River in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. Statistics show that more than 400 of the world's top 500 companies have established a foothold in the delta.

根据正在中国江苏省省会南京进行的长三角经济发展论坛的官员和专家说，该地区已经使用了中国百分之47.8的海外资本投资。统计数据显示，世界500强的公司中已有超过400家在该三角洲地区建立了立足点。

Experts say the Yangtze River economic belt has become a high-tech base in China, and expect to play a crucial role in the country's development.

专家们说长三角经济带已经成为中国的高科技基地，预计会在中国的发展中扮演至关重要的角色。

Key words,关键词:

Foreign capital – 海外资本；Yangtze River delta – 长江三角洲；high-tech base – 高科技基地

 

China to restrict college enrollments

中国将会限制大学登记入学

 

The Chinese government has agreed proposals to restrict the growth of college enrollments so as to improve teaching conditions and ease graduate employment pressures.

中国政府已经同意限制大学登记入学的增长以改善教学条件，并缓解毕业生就业压力。

Last year, colleges and universities enrolled 5.04 million students, 4.7 times more than in 1998.

去年，专科院校和综合大学的登记入学人数达到504万，是1998年的4.7倍。

However, they still faced problems of out-dated teaching methods, insufficient funding and a surplus number of graduates looking for jobs.

然而，他们仍然面临教学手段落后，资金不足，以及毕业生过剩，难以找到工作的问题。

State councilors agreed it was necessary to control the increase of enrollment so that adequate funds could be allocated, teaching conditions improved, subjects and majors adjusted, and skills training reformed among other measures.

国务院成员同意应该控制入学注册增长的说法，这样资金才能被合理分配，教学条件才能得到改善，科目和专业才能得到调整，技能培训才能参照其他的标准进行改革。

The scale of enrollment should be fixed in accordance with local conditions and controlled at a stable level, while education of high school graduates and occupational training should be strengthened.

登记注册的规模应当根据地方的条件来决定，并控制在稳定的水平。而高中毕业生的教育和职业培训应当得到加强。

In addition, occupational and adult education needed to be boosted to ensure more access to higher education.

另外，需要推进职业教育和成人教育来保障更多的达到高等教育的途径。

China will face serious difficulties during the next two quarters with 60 percent of new graduates facing unemployment, according to a report published by the National Development and Reform Commission.

根据国家发改委发布的一份报告，在未来的两个季度里，中国将会面临百分之六十的毕业生得不到就业的严重困难。

The number of graduates will increase by 22 percent over the previous year to 4.13 million while the job market can only soak up 1.66 million, down 22 percent on the previous year.

毕业生数量将会比去年增加百分之二十二，达到四百一十三万，而就业市场仅能吸纳最多一百六十六万，比去年下降了百分之二十二。

 

Key words,关键词:

Enrollment – 注册、登记入学；employment pressure – 就业压力；higher education – 高等教育；

 

Telecom regulators must do more

电信的规范者应当做得更多
 

China Mobile began formally implementing its new pricing initiative in Beijing yesterday, providing lower-price charging packages for local users.

中国移动于昨天开始正式实施它在北京的新价格措施，为该地区的用户提供更低价格的整体销售计划。

Many people are not satisfied, however, because they can choose only one of the two pricing packages for making and receiving calls. Many also maintain that the reduction is a promotional gimmick rather than a real price cut; if the carrier is sincere to cut the expensive communications fees, they argue, it is better to adopt a one-way charging regime, instead of the current two-way one.

然而，很多人却并不满意，因为他们只能在两个拨打与接受电话的价格销售计划中选择其一。很多人还认为这与其说是一次真正意义上的降价，不如说是一个销售陷阱。他们争辩说，如果执行者真的想降低昂贵的通信费用的话，还不如采取一个单向收费的政策来取代现今的双向政策。

An online survey by Sina.com.cn, one of the nation's top portals, shows nearly 80 per cent of more than 60,000 respondents were not satisfied with the move, and 96 per cent believe there is still room for further adjustment, as of yesterday morning.

昨天上午，来自中国最大的网站之一的新浪网的一份问卷显示，在超过六万名的回应者中，近百分之八十的人表示对这样的举动不满意，百分之九十六的人相信还有进一步调整的空间。

Business,商业：

Exporters face curbs on dumping

出口商在倾销问题上将受到限制

The government plans to use stronger regulation to prevent enterprises from exporting at "unreasonably low prices," in a bid to ensure the growth of export.
China's Ministry of Commerce released yesterday a draft provisional regulation on investigation and penalties of unreasonably low-priced export.

为了保证出口的增长，政府计划采用更有力的政策来防止企业在出口时使用“不合理的低价格”。中国商业部昨天颁布了一份关于调查和处罚不合理低价出口的临时政策草案。

The ministry said the move aimed to "safeguard the normal order of foreign trade, protect the rights of enterprises and avoid the bad practices of unreasonably low-priced export."

商业部说，其目的是为了“维护正常的对外贸易秩序，保护企业的权利和避免不利的不合理低价出口。”

The regulation stipulates that any person, enterprise and association in China could file complaints with the Ministry of Commerce against others for low-priced exports.

该政策规定中国的任何个人、企业和行会都可以通过商业部对他人的低价出口提出备案投诉。

Products will be regarded as "unreasonably low-priced export" if they are sold at prices 2 per cent lower than their average costs during the investigation. The costs refer to the total payout for production, management and sales.

在调查中如发现产品低于其平均成本百分之二销售的将会被认定为“不合理的低价格出口”。该成本指生产、管理和销售的总支出。

An enterprise charged with exporting such goods could be fined up to 30,000 yuan (US$3,750), or prohibited from exporting anything for up to 12 months.

被指控出口类似的产品的企业将被罚最多三万元人民币，或12个月内禁止从事任何出口贸易。

Key words,关键词:

Dumping – 倾销；export—出口；payout – 支出；prohibit—禁止；

 

Police crack down on pyramid selling

警方捣毁传销

Chinese authorities have uncovered more than 1 billion yuan (US$127 million) of illegal pyramid sales in the last 12 months, it was revealed yesterday.

根据昨天的报道，中国官方在过去12个月内，共揭露了超过十亿元的非法传销买卖。

Figures disclosed by the Ministry of Public Security showed that 516 cases have been uncovered involving 1147 direct selling organizations. A total of 3,408 suspects were arrested.

公安部披露的数据显示，有516宗案件涉及到了1147个直销机构，共有3408人被捕。

Gao Feng, deputy director of the Economic Crime Investigation Bureau of the ministry, said that pyramid selling had become "a serious economic crime in China."

经济犯罪调查局副主任高峰说，传销在中国已经成为一种严重的经济犯罪。

He warned that special attention would be paid to pyramid selling on university campuses,

他警告说，对于校园内的传销将特别得到重视。

China issued a blanket ban on all varieties of direct and pyramid selling in 1998 due to widespread pyramid schemes. During the ban, door-to-door sellers were restricted to selling in retail stores.

由于广泛的传销问题，中国于1998年对各式各样的直销与传销实行了统一的禁令。在此期间，上门销售者被限制在了零售店里。

However, the State Council issued a regulation late last year to distinguish direct selling from pyramid selling, which opened the door to legitimate direct selling companies.

然而，去年国务院颁布了一项区分直销与传销的规则，对合法的直销公司开放了大门。

The only company to have acquired a license was Avon China in February.

唯一获得（直销）许可的公司是二月份的雅芳中国。

A pyramid sales organization requires every member to fork out a non-refundable registration fee, and then they have to coax other people to join the multi-level network and earn commission based on the number of new members they entice.

传销公司会要求所有成员缴纳一笔不可退还的登记费用，然后他们就得哄骗其他人加入这样的多层组织，并根据他们诱骗到的新成员数量提成。

Gao reiterated that the public should not believe organizers' deceptive stories about getting rich overnight, and advised that anyone could dial 010-65204333 to report pyramid selling activities.

‘高’一再说，公众不应当相信那些组织者的一夜致富的谎言，并称任何人都可以拨打010-65204333反映传销活动。

Key words,关键词:

Crack down – 捣毁；pyramid selling – 传销；legitimate direct selling – 合法直销；commission – 提成；佣金；

注：英文原文来源于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。

看新闻，学英语： 20060509

China,中国：

China vows to close unsafe coal mines

中国誓言关闭不安全的煤矿
 

The Chinese government has vowed to close all small coal mines operating without proper safety standards in the next three years.

中国政府誓言在三年内关闭所有不具备适当的安全标准的小型煤矿。

More than 7,000 small coal mines were to close imminently, Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, announced at a conference on work safety on Monday.

国家工作安全管理部门主任李益中，在星期一的一次工作安全会议商说，有超过七千家的小型煤矿亟待关闭。

Under the 11th five-year plan, the government plans to cut the number of small mines from around 23,000 to 10,000 by 2010.

在第十一个五年规划中，政府计划到2010年时将小型煤矿的数量从约23000家减少到10000家。

The government is committed to restructuring its coal mining sector, which has been plagued by accidents.

政府决心要重组事故灾难不断的煤矿业。

Local governments have been instructed to close all mines with a production capacity of less than 30,000 tons by the end of 2007.

地方政府被要求于2007年年底前关闭所有的产量低于3万吨的煤矿。

The reform also encourages large mining firms to merge with smaller ones as the government regards larger companies as more safety conscious.

该项改革还将鼓励大煤矿合并小煤矿，因为政府认为大公司的安全意思比较强。

Key words,关键词:

Coal mine – 煤矿；safety standard – 安全标准；restructure – 重建、调整；merge – 合并；

 

Business,商业：

Chinese shares up 36 percent in five months

中国股票在五个月里上升了百分之三十六
 

Chinese share prices have jumped by 36 percent in the past five months, helped by efforts to revitalize its capital market and improved investor confidence at home and abroad.

得益于资金市场的重组，以及国内外上升的投资者信心，在过去的五个月里中国股票的价格跳跃了百分之36。

Stock markets closed about four percent up on Monday with major indices boosted by strong performance of the Hong Kong stock market and foreign bourses over the past week, during which Hong Kong's Hang Seng index reached a five-year high.

星期一，因过去几周香港股市和国外交易所的强势表现，（在此期间香港恒生指数达到了五年来的最高），几大交易指数得到大幅提高，国内股市在结束前上升了百分之四。

The composite stock index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, which comprises yuan-denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares, closed at 1,497.1 points, up by 56.8 points, or 3.95 percent, with a total turnover of 29.6 billion yuan (3.7 billion U.S. dollars).

上海证交所的复合股指数，包括人民币业务的A股和外国货币的B股，在结束时达到1497.1点，上升了56.8点，或者说3.95%。总成交量达到296亿元。

 

Telecom operators to slash fees

电信业者将大幅降价

Chinese regulators yesterday made a surprise move by giving the greenlight to telecom operators who want to slash mobile phone charges in Beijing.

中国的政府调节员昨天做出了令人震惊的举动，给想对北京地区的手机费用大幅降价的电信业者开放了绿灯。

This will particularly affect the current system of charging users high fees for both making and receiving calls.

这将尤其影响到向用户呼出和接听都收取高额费用的现有体系。

The move marks a milestone in China's reform of the charging schemes for telecom voice services.

这样的举措成为中国电信声讯服务收费方案改革的里程碑。

Wang Lijian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), said the department had approved applications from Beijing Mobile and Beijing Unicom to cut mobile telecom fees in the capital.

信息部发言人王利坚说，该部已经批准了北京移动和北京联通在首都降低手机电信收费的申请。

"The price cuts, which are very significant, will be implemented this month," Wang said yesterday.

‘王’说，这次很大幅度的降价将于本月开始实施。

Pang Wei, a senior official with China Unicom, parent of Beijing Unicom, said the price cuts are a response to consumers' increasing complaints about high fees.

中国联通，北京联通的母公司高级职员庞伟说，这次降价是对不断上升的顾客高费用投诉的回应。

A government-set two-way charging scheme has long been practised in China's telecom sector.

在中国的电信产业，政府制定的双向收费计划已实施了很长时间。

This charges users for both making and receiving calls.

该计划对使用者呼出和接听电话都是收费的。

Over recent years operators have been offering various packages that have lowered fees in most parts of the country.

在近几年的时间里，供应商在全国的多数地区提供了各式各样的包含了较低费用的整套促销服务。

But in Beijing subscribers pay more than anywhere else in the country.

但北京的用户的付费比其他任何地区的都高。

There were a lot of complaints about high fees in the capital from delegates at the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), both held in March, according to Pang.

据‘庞’说，三月份召开的全国人民代表大会和全国人民政治协商会议期间，有很多的代表对首都的高费用进行了抱怨。

In response, the MII then held talks with China Mobile and China Unicom about cutting prices, he said.

作为回应，他说，信息部与中国移动和中国联通进行了会谈。

Subscribers to China Mobile's GoTone service in Beijing typically pay 50 yuan (US$6.25) per month in subscription fees and 0.4 yuan (US$0.05) per minute for both receiving and making calls.

中国移动GoTone的北京用户需要特别支付每月50元的佣金和呼出接听各0.4元每分钟的话费。

This charging scheme has remained largely unchanged for years.

这样的收费几年来都没有什么改变。

According to China Mobile's proposed packages approved by the MII yesterday, the cuts will be very significant.

根据信息部昨天批准的中国移动提出的整套促销服务的内容，这次降价将会很显著。

This is good news for people living in Beijing, who usually express frustration with expensive communications services.

这对于住在北京的那些常对昂贵的通信服务表示苦不堪言的人来说，将是一个好消息。

Key words,关键词:

Charging scheme – 收费方案；significant – 显著的；package – 整套促销服务；subscription fee – 佣金；签约费；

注：英文原文来自于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。

美语习语讲座第031期

Words & Idioms Lesson 31

Green thumb

Green light

今天美国两个很有名的年轻电影明星，一个叫Paul Newman，另一个叫Tom Cruise。不久前他们一起拍了一部电影，叫「绿钞票」。这是因为美国钞票的背面都是绿颜色的。绿颜色也是草和树等自然界生物的颜色。除此之外，绿颜色还可以包含其他各种意思。有的时候，它意味着年轻、新鲜、有力、成长。另外一些时候，绿颜色是指不成熟,就像没有熟的苹果那样。我们今天要讲的两个俗语就是跟绿颜色，在英文里就是 green 这个字有关的。第一个是green thumb。大家都知道green 的意思是绿颜色。Thumb 就是大母指。可是green thumb 并不是说某人的大拇指变绿了或染上了绿颜色。Green thumb指的是某人在种花或种菜方面很有才能，或在这方面很有知识和技术。比如说，一位太太在谈到她邻居李太太的时候说：

例句-1: "I wish I had a green thumb like Mrs. Lee -- look at the beautiful roses in her yard."

这位太太说：“我真希望我能像李太太那样会种花,瞧她院子里的玫瑰花多好看呐！”

可是，不会种花和种菜的人看来还不少，下面讲话的这个人看来更糟糕：

例句-2: "I guess I don't have much of a green thumb: every year I plant cabbage, beans and sweet corn in my backyard but all I ever get is a lot of weeds."

这个人说：“我猜想我在种菜方面是没有什么才能。每年，我在后院种菜、种豆和种玉米，可是长出来的大都是草。”

在全世界各地，绿颜色的交通灯就是可以通行的意思。可是，除了交通灯以外，人们也经常在日常生活中用「开绿灯」这个说法来表示某个计划获得批准，可以进行。在中文里，我们也经常这么说的。下面我们要介绍的一个俗语就是 green light。我们已经知道，green就是绿颜色，light就是指灯。Green light就是绿灯。在美国，一个在某公司工作的管理人员可能会对他的秘书说：

例句-3: "My boss liked my idea to open a branch office in Los Angeles and gave me the green light to go ahead."

这位经理说：“我的老板非常支持我在洛杉矶开一个分公司的建议。他让我按计划去办。”

下面我们再来举个例子：

例句-4: "The astronauts were in the space shuttle ready to go, but somebody saw one of their computers had a problem. It's fixed now, but Houston Control is checking it again before they give the green light to launch."

这句话翻成中文就是：“宇航员都已经进入航天飞机，准备出发。但是，有一个人发现他们的一个电脑有问题。现在虽然已经修好，可是休斯顿控制中心正在再一次进行检查，然后再让他们正式发射。”

我们现在来复习一下今天讲的两个和绿颜色，也就是 green 有关的习惯用语。第一个是：green thumb。Green thumb是指在种花、种菜方面很有才能的人。我们今天讲的第二个习惯用语是：green light。Green light 的意思就是说某个计划，或某件事没有遇到障碍，可以按计划进行。

看新闻，学英语： 20060504

International,国际：

China, US space partnership welcomed
中美有意建立太空合作伙伴关系

China looks forward to co-operating with the United States in the space field, and expects personnel exchanges between the two sides will become "normal", a senior aerospace executive said yesterday in Beijing.

中国航天一名高级行政人员昨天在北京说，中国希望与美国在太空领域合作，认为未来双边的人员往来会“正常”化。

Asked to comment on the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) chief Michael Griffin's upcoming trip to China, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp President Zhang Qingwei said China had always welcomed such visits.

再问到关于美国航空航天局首脑Michael Griffin即将来中国的访问时，中国太空科学科技中心主席张清为说，中国一向都是欢迎这样的来访的。

"We welcome them (US visitors) to take a look over here," Zhang told China Daily.

‘张’对中国日报说，“我们欢迎他们（美国访客）到这里看看。”

"But personally, I hope the exchanges will become more reciprocal."

“但我个人而言，我希望这样的人员往来将会变得更互利。”

Zhang was referring to the fact that while China's door has been open to US visitors, Chinese aerospace staff have frequently been denied visas in recent years.

‘张’指的是中国的大门已对美国访客打开了，而近年来中国航空人员却屡遭美国拒签。

NASA chief Griffin was quoted by AFP as saying of his upcoming China visit: "I think the United States has always benefited from discussions, I do not see how it can hurt us."

法新社引用美国航空航天局首脑Griffin对即将到来的中国之行发表的话说，“我认为美国总能从谈话中获益，我不认为它会对我们有什么损害。”

Griffin said that the United States needs both good partners and competitors in space exploration, and sometimes they can be both a competitor and a partner.

Griffin说，美国在太空探索方面既需要好的搭档，也需要竞争者，有时可以同时是竞争者和合作者。

Zhang said as with other countries, China and the United States can co-operate in areas including deep space exploration, commercial satellite launches and manned space flights.

‘张’说，与其他国家一起，中国和美国可以在深太空探索、商业卫星投放和载人航天飞船方面进行合作。

Key words,关键词:

Aeronautic – 太空的；reciprocal – 互惠互利的；space exploration – 太空探索；

 

Life,生活：

Cool ideas to beat the heat
避暑好主意

Summer is just around the corner, and while Beijing is dry and dusty, the reservoirs on the outskirts of the city that make possible your daily showers, offer a cool respite. Below are three reservoirs that are worth a day visit during the holidays:

夏天将至，北京干燥多尘，那些每天为你提供洗澡水的北京郊外的水库成为了凉爽的好去处。下面是假日期间值得花一天旅行的3个水库。

Longqing Ravine

龙清谷

Since it opened in 1984, Longqing Ravine has become a popular scenic spot and is often called a mini Three Gorges.

始于1984年，已成为一个热门的旅游景点，常被称为小三峡。

The big attraction of the ravine is sailing over the emerald waters of the Gucheng Reservoir. The placid waters run 40 metres deep on average and 60 metres deep in some places. Acrobatic stunts atop steel wires high above the water is another attraction. For an adrenaline rush, there is rock climbing and bungee jumping.

该景点的最大的引人之处是在碧绿的古城水库上泛舟。其水一般有40米深，有些最深处有60米深。在水面上的高空杂技表演是另一个引人之处。对于寻找刺激的来说，那里有攀岩和蹦极跳。

The low hills offer a good way to work up a sweat. Visitors should take some warm clothing along as temperatures can be a lot lower than in Beijing.

那里的小山是健身的好地方。访客最好带些厚一点的衣服，因为那里的气温可能比北京低不少。

 

Qinglong Gorge

青龙峡

Located close to a pass of the Great Wall in Huairou District, the Dashuiyu Reservoir opened in 1996.

位于离长城的某个出入口很近的怀柔区，大水域水库始于1996年。

The hills here are less steep than at Longqing Ravine but unique views of the Great Wall add much appeal to the gorge. Water activities are the focus here too. Visitors can either paddle on bamboo rafts and boats in the southern part of the reservoir where the average depth is one metre, or cruise on a boat in the northern part where the waters run 40 to 50 metres deep.

比起龙清谷，这里的山并不深，但由于可以看到长城的景观，使该峡景致倍增。水项目也是这里的焦点。游客可以在水库南部平均水深仅一米的区域以竹筏或小舟戏水，也可在水深达40到50米的北部泛舟。

The apex of the gorge is called Platform of Emperor Jade and offers a bird's eye view of the surrounding areas.

峡谷的最高处称为玉帝坛，能对周围区域进行鸟瞰。

 

Shuanglongxia

双龙峡

This is a newly developed scenic spot to the west of Beijing and is often compared to Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province.

这是位于北京西部的新兴景点，常被人们与四川的九寨沟相比。

Shuanglongxia's main attractions are its waterfalls and plantations. There are two big waterfalls, with the waters plunging down 29 metres, and numerous smaller ones. Winding paths lead into a lush forest whose thick canopy reminds one of rainforests. The well-kept villages nearby are also worth a visit. There is even a small train that runs through the forest.

双龙峡的主要景观是它的瀑布和森林，有两处落差达二十九米的瀑布和无数的小瀑布。另有曲径通幽的热带雨林，一个保存完好的村落，甚至还有穿过雨林的小火车。

Besides opportunities for boating and fishing, a special harvest at the end of June makes possible the picking of ripe apricots in nearby Huocun Village.

除了泛舟和垂钓的机会，六月底去，还有可能成为在附近的霍村采摘成熟的杏子的特别收获之旅。

注：英文原文来自于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。 

美语习语讲座第030期

Words & Idioms Lesson 30

To stick to one's guns

Shooting the breeze

今天我们要讲的两个俗语是和枪，也就是英语里的 gun 这个字有联系的。我们要讲的第一个俗语是 to stick to one's guns。对于士兵来说，在被很多敌人包围的情况下还要能持续装炮弹发射的话，他们肯定需要很多勇气。这种精神在英文里就是 to stick to one's guns。To stick to one's guns 从字面上来解释是指枪。但是这个俗语现在几乎和枪没有什么关系，它的意思就是：在日常生活中坚持原则，稳步前进，不屈服外界的压力。比如说，一个爸爸对他在大学念书的女儿讲话：

例句-1: "Pumpkin, I hear that some of the students at your school are fooling around with drugs. But I hope, young woman, that you stick to your guns and keep saying no!"

这位爸爸说：“小鬼，我听说你们学校的学生里有吸毒的现象。我希望你坚持正道，坚决抵制这种恶习！”

事实上，世界上有许多事都是靠坚忍不拔的精神才能办成的。下面我们再来举个例子：

例句-2: "I have to admire the ladies who fifty years ago worked so hard to get women the right to vote. People laughed at them at first but they stuck to their guns and got the congress to pass the 19th Amendment back in 1920."

这个人说：“我很钦佩以前那些女士们，她们五十年前努力为妇女争取选举权。开始，许多人都笑话她们。但是，她们坚定不移，最后在1920年终于促使国会通过了美国宪法的第十九项修正案。”
 

今天我们要讲的第二个俗语虽然没有 gun 这个字，但是和开枪也是有关的，这就是 shooting the breeze。Shoot 就是开枪的意思。Shooting the breeze 就是在很轻松、很愉快的气氛下和朋友聊天。例如，一个教室里的学生在等教授来上课。其中有两个学生是同乡。这两人中的一个说：

例句-3: "Say, Bill, how about coming back to my room after class? I'll get a couple of cold sodas and we'll shoot the breeze for a while."

这个学生说：“喂，比尔，上完课你到我宿舍去吧。我去买两瓶汽水，咱们聊回儿天，你看怎么样？”

学生上完课聊一会儿天当然是无可非议的。可是，在某种情况下聊天可能会出问题的。你听下面这个人说的话就明白了：

例句-4: "At the staff meeting this morning the boss told us she wanted to see us at our desks busy working instead of spending so much time standing around shooting the breeze with each other."

这个人说：“今天早上我们办公室开会的时候，我们的头儿说，她要看到我们都坐在自己桌子那里忙着干自己的活，而不是花好多时间站在那儿闲聊天。”

以上我们讲了两个和枪，也就是英语里的 gun 这个字有联系的俗语。我们今天讲的第一个习惯用语是 to stick to one's guns。To stick to one's guns 就是坚持自己正在进行的工作，不管外来的压力有多大。我们今天讲的第二个习惯用语是 shooting the breeze。Shooting the breeze的意思就是闲聊天。

美语习语讲座第028期

Words & Idioms Lesson 28

A black sheep

A white lie

黑颜色和白颜色往往是对立的。黑代表黑夜和邪恶，而白象征着日光、善良或美德。在美国好莱坞早期那些无声电影里，导演往往给英雄人物戴上白帽子，而给坏蛋戴黑帽子。这样，连十岁的孩子一看就马上知道谁是好人，谁是坏人。白帽和黑帽就这样逐渐成了一个习惯的说法，也就是 white hats and black hats。White hats and black hats 就代表好人和坏人。黑和白这两个字 black and white 经常在美国的成语和俗语中出现。可是，它们并不一定像好人、坏人那样黑白分明。有时候，黑还具有肯定和积极的意思。例如，对一个做生意的人来说 in the black 就意味着赚钱，而不是亏本。今天，我们要讲两个和 black and white 这两个字有关的成语。首先我们来讲一个和black有关的常用语 a black sheep。Black 当然是指黑颜色，而 sheep 是一头羊的意思。一头黑颜色的羊 a black sheep 指的是一个给他周围的人带来耻辱的人。请听下面这个例子：

例句-1: "Uncle Joe is the black sheep in the family. Instead of getting a job, all he does is drink too much, gamble away any money he gets and chase after women."

这句话翻成中文就是：“乔叔叔是他们家的败家子。他不是去找个工作，而是成天喝酒，有了一点钱就去赌，还老是玩女人。”

我们再来举一个例子：

例句-2: "We all thought my youngest brother was the black sheep in our family. In fact he was in so much trouble he ran away to Australia. But he started a new life there, married a wonderful girl, and now he's a millionaire."

这句话的意思是：“我们都认为我最小的弟弟是我们家的败家子。实际上，他闯了好多祸，最后只好逃到澳大利亚去。可是，他在那里重起炉灶，和一个非常好的女孩结了婚，现在都成了百万富翁了。”

下面我们要讲的一个习惯用语是和 white 这个字有关系的，这就是 A white lie。Lie 就是谎话的意思。那末，难道骗人还分黑白吗？是的。A white lie 的意思就是那种为了避免使对方感到难受而说的谎话。比如说，一个女孩子新交的男朋友很难看，但是为了不要使她感到难受，你说了个谎，说你认为他很英俊。回到家，你就对丈夫说：

例句-3: "I told a white lie when I told Jennie her boyfriend was goodlooking. The truth is he's just about the ugliest man I've ever seen."

她说：“我骗珍妮说，她的男朋友很英俊。其实，他大概是我看到的所有男人当中最难看的了。”

我们再来举一个例子：

例句-4: "My mother and dad taught me never to tell a lie. So I feel guilty every time I tell even a little white lie, although I do it just to make somebody feel better."

这个人说：“我爸爸妈妈总是教我绝对不能说谎话。因此，每当我说一点谎，即便是为了让某人感到好受一点而说谎的时候，我都好像做错了事一样。”

今天我们讲了两个和黑和白，也就是 black and white 有关的俗语。它们是 a black sheep 和 a white lie。

看新闻，学英语： 20060418

International,国际：

Expert: US must stay out of Beijing-Taipei spat

专家：美国必须回避海峡两岸的争端
 

The United States should renounce military commitments to Taipei to avoid a potentially costly conflict if the island declares independence from China, said the author of book which warns of a possible US-China war within the next decade.

写下了一本警告未来十年美中之间有可能发生战争的书的作者说，美国应该终止对台湾的军事承诺，以避免一旦该岛宣布独立时，所产生的潜在的代价高昂的军事冲突。

Defending Taiwan from the assault, that Beijing threatens to unleash in the event of an independence declaration, is "a bridge too far" for the United States, said Ted Galen Carpenter, vice-president for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, a libertarian Washington think tank.

Washington think tank的自由言论者，Cato学院的国家防卫与国外政策研究副主任，Ted Galen Carpenter说，北京威胁在出现独立申明时将采取武力解决，而在那时要防御台湾于军事攻击，对美国来说，是“鞭长莫及”的。

His book, "America's Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan," says the United States stands between two inexorably opposed forces and unfinished Chinese civil war.

在他的“美中即将来临的战争：因台湾而起”一书中，说道，美国正站在两个翻脸的势力之间、卷入了一个未完成的中国内战中。

"There may not be a way to avoid a collision between the two, unless one side or another blinks," Carpenter told Reuters in an interview. "What the United States needs to do is to get out of the middle of that quarrel."

Carpenter在对路透社的采访时说，“除非其中一边先动摇，可能无法避免那两者间的冲突，而美国该做的就是从争论的两方中间走出来。”

A war between the United States and China could erupt by about 2013, the estimated date Beijing would be militarily capable of taking back Taiwan, Carpenter says in the book. An attack on Taiwan could draw in the United States because it has given defense assurances to the island.

Carpenter在书中说道，美中之间的战争可能在2013年爆发，预计在那时中国将会有足够的能力收回台湾，而对台湾的进攻将会因为美国对该岛的防御担保而把美国也卷进战争中去。

"At some point either Taiwan provokes Beijing beyond endurance or Beijing decides the time is right to settle this issue on Chinese terms. Given the trends on Taiwan and the mainland, I think a collision is very likely at some point within the next decade," he said.

他说，“某个程度上讲，要么是台湾激怒北京，并超出其忍受程度，要么就是北京认为以中国的方式解决问题的时候到了。从台湾和北京的趋势来看，我认为未来十年很可能产生军事冲突”。

China says it will use military force if Taiwan declares independence. The United States admits Beijing's "one China" policy -- that Beijing is the sole legitimate government of China, and Taiwan is an integral territorial part of China, but the Taiwan Relations Act approved by the Congress says Washington would provide arms to help defend Taiwan.

中国说如果台湾宣布独立的话，她将会动用军事力量。美国承认北京的“一个中国”的政策 — 也就是说，北京是唯一合法的中国政府，台湾是中国完整领土的一部分，但也在国会通过的“台湾关系法案”中说，华盛顿将为帮助防御台湾提供军火。

Withdrawing the U.S. defense commitment "will be a very hard sell politically," Carpenter acknowledges. But he argues that more arms sales to Taiwan might provide cover for Washington to back away from a pledge of direct involvement.

Carpenter指出，收回美国的防御承诺“在政治上将会很不叫座”，但他同时说，多销售一些军火给台湾将为华盛顿撤出直接介入的承诺提供掩护。

 

China,中国：

China unfairly featured as only polluters: US official

美国官员：中国被不公平的指为唯一制造污染的国家
 

All countries should take their due responsibility for pollution without unfairly characterizing China and India as the only polluters, a senior U.S. official said Thursday.

星期四，美国一名高级官员说，所有国家都应该对污染负起他们应有的责任，而不是不公平的指责仅仅中国和印度为制造污染的国家。

Steven Johnson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), made the remarks at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, in order to correct a report which misquoted him as blaming China for causing mercury depositions in the United States and exerting a "direct impact on the United States."

美国环境保护局管理人Steven Johnson是在上海的美国总领馆说上述的话的。其目的是为了纠正一份报告中对他的语句的错误引用。该报告称中国导致了美国的汞沉积并‘对美国产生直接影响’。

A report in the Financial Times on April 11 entitled "Toxic Chinese mercury pollution traveling to U.S." quoted Johnson as saying "the EPA had traced high levels of 'mercury deposition' in the U.S. to China and India"and "that is the most direct impact [of China's pollution] on the United States".

以“有毒的中国汞污染物抵达美国”为标题的，发表于4月11日的Financial Times上的一份报告中曾引用Johnson的话说“美国环境保护局侦测到了来自中国和印度的高等级的‘汞沉积物’，而这些[来自中国的污染]是最直接的影响。”

"Unfortunately, I was misquoted and taken out of context, and it's unfair to characterize the pollution coming just from China and India," said Johnson, adding that other countries including the Republic of Korea and the United States all contributed to global air pollution.

“不幸的是，我的话被误用并断章取义了，而说这些污染仅仅来源于中国和印度也是不公平的” Johnson说。他还说其他国家包括韩国和美国也都对全球空气污染负有责任。

Approximately 2,000 tons of mercury were released into the environment globally each year, and the emissions of coal fired power plants in the United States alone amounted to 48 tons, he acknowledged.

他说，每年约有2000吨的汞被释放到世界各地，而仅仅是美国的火力发电设施就向其释放了48吨。

"That's why it's critical that we all work together to address the air pollution issues," he said.

“这就是为什么我们聚在一起讨论空气污染问题是如此的至关重要了”，他说。

Johnson was satisfied with his "productive" China tour, during which a series of agreements and cooperation projects were reached between the environmental protection departments of both countries.

Johnson很满意他的这次“收获颇丰”的中国之行，在此期间，两国的环境保护部门达成了一系列的协议和合作项目。

Key words,关键词:

Global air pollution – 全球空气污染；misquote – 错误引用；cooperation project – 合作项目

注：英文原文来自于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。 

看新闻，学英语： 20060412

Business, 商业：

China won't cap small bank stake buying

中国不会对购买小型银行股份封顶
China will allow investors to purchase controlling stakes in its smaller banks and will only maintain state control in the country's five biggest lenders, a top banking regulator was quoted as saying by Xinhua on Monday.

新华日报星期一引用一位高级银行业管理者的话说，中国将会允许投资者购买小型银行的控制股额，只会对我国的五个最大银行维持国家控制。

Beijing's policy of state control would only apply to Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp. and Bank of Communications.

北京的国家控制政策将仅会适用于中国银行、农业银行、工商银行、建设银行和交通银行。

Premier Wen Jiabao said on March 14 the Chinese government must keep control over its state-owned banks to minimise the risk of losses while the financial system was being reformed.

温家宝总理三月14日说，中国政府为了最大限度的降低在金融系统改革时出现的危机的损失，必须保持对国有银行的控制。

The official comments have come after criticism that China is selling stakes in the country's banks too cheaply and ceding too much influence to foreign investors, and so loosening state grip on the levers of power.

以上的官方发言是在出现了相关的批评后产生的，这些批评认为，中国的地方银行的股份出售的太便宜、在国外投资者面前放弃了太多的影响力，以及因此而放松了在该层级的控制权。

In addition to the five major state-owned banks, China now has about a dozen stockholding lenders and more than 100 city commercial banks.

除了五个国有的大银行外，中国现在有约12个上市的银行和超过100个城市商业性银行。

Key words,关键词:

Controlling stakes – 控制股额的股份；state-owned – 国有的；minimize – 最小化；commercial banks – 商业性银行；

China,中国：

State to manage Great Wall

国家将会管理长城

The Beijing authorities' decision to put the Badaling section of the Great Wall back under State management is a distinct possibility.

北京政府关于将八达岭长城收归国家管理的决定将很有可能实现。

Furthermore, all the revenue from entrance tickets at the section will go towards relics protection. This move comes as the municipal government shows an eagerness to protect the pride of Beijing and China.

此外，所有来自此区段的门票收入都将成为古迹保护金。该行动显示出市政府对保护北京和国家的骄傲的热切。

The grand structure, built in stages over 10 dynasties starting from 221 BC, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Among its several sections in Beijing, the Badaling Great Wall, which lies 50 miles northwest of the capital, is the best preserved and most popular choice for tourists.

这一巨型建筑，自公元前221年开始，历经十个朝代，逐渐修缮完成，在1987年被列为联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产。在北京的几个区段中，处于该首都西北50英里的八达岭长城是保存最完好的，也是最吸引游人的。

To preserve China's heritage, Beijing has enacted local legislation that prohibits visits to the "wild Great Wall," and has closed sections to the public.

为了保护中国的遗产，北京已经制定了地方法规禁止访问“野长城”，并对公众关闭了部分区段。

By returning the management of the Badaling section back to the State, Beijing is ensuring the Wall for future generations.

将八达岭区段的管理权交还国家，北京意在将长城留给子孙后代。

Key words,关键词:

UNESCO – 联合国教科文组织；World Heritage Site – 世界文化遗产；

注：英文原文来自于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。 

美语习语讲座第027期

Words & Idioms Lesson 27

A red letter day

Red tape

红颜色这个字，就是英文里的 red，也经常出现在美国的成语和俗语里，有时是正面的，有时是反面的。例如，我们在中文里说，铺上红地毯来欢迎外国贵宾。在英文里也就是 to roll out the red carpet to honor a visiting head of state，或者也可以说 to give someone the Red carpet treatment。我们来举个例子吧：

例句-1:"When Ann came back from her long vacation, we gave her the red carpet treatment."

这是说：“当安度了一个很长的假期后，我们像贵宾一样欢迎她回来。

可是 red 这个字有时也包含着一种贬意，比如说 in the red。做生意的人最怕 in the red，因为那是指亏本。今天我们要讲两个由 red 这个字组成的习惯用语，一个具有正面的含义，另一个包含着反面的意思。我们先来讲一个表示高兴、快乐的习惯用语 a red letter day。A red letter day 的中文意思就是：大喜日子。对于某个人来说，那是指发生好事的一天。例如，一个母亲说：

例句-2:"It was a real red letter day for me when my son came home from three years in the navy. We rolled out the red carpet to welcome him home."

这位母亲说：“我儿子在海军里服役了三年。他回家的那天对我来说真是一个大喜日子。我们真是把他当贵宾一样来欢迎他。”

我们从这句话里也可以看出，to rolled out the red carpet 并不一定要用在高官显贵的身上，对普通人也能这么说。我们再来举个例子说明 a red letter day：

例句-3:"I'm lucky--my birthday is a real red letter day. It's on December 31, New Year's eve and all over the world people are out celebrating it."

这个人说：“我运气真好，我的生日是十二月三十一号，刚好是新年前夕，全世界的人都庆祝那一天。”

下面我们要讲的一个俗语，它的含义我敢肯定人人都讨厌。这就是 red tape。Tape 是带子的意思。Red tape 是指官僚主义，或文牍主义。换句话说，red tape 就是人们在和政府或官方机构打交道时往往会遇到的拖延、混乱等令人烦恼的障碍。那末，这和红带子又有什么关系呢？这是因为在古时候官方的文件一般都用红带子捆起来的，这样红带子就和官僚主义连在一起了。现在我们来举个例子：

例句-4: "With all the red tape I ran into at city hall, it took me three months to get my business license."

这个人说：“我在市政厅遇到了各种官僚主义的麻烦。我化了整整三个月才拿到营业执照。”

下面我们再来举一个有关 red tape 的例子：

例句-5:"You can't believe how much red tape there is in getting a visa. You have to get a birth certificate and other personal papers and fill out a bunch of complicated forms and have an interview. After that you wait and wait."

她说：“你简直不会相信，要拿到一个签证会遇到多少官僚主义的麻烦。你先要拿到你的出生证和其他有关你个人的证件，然后填一大堆复杂的表格，接着还要去面谈。办完这些事以后，你还得一等再等。”
 

今天我们讲了两个以 red 这个字为主的习惯用语。第一个是 a red letter day，另一个是 red tape。

 

美语习语讲座第026期

Words & Idioms Lesson 26

A horse laugh

The last laugh

笑是最好的药品。不管这句话对不对，美国大众读物「读者文摘」的一个笑话拦就是用这句话来做标题的。但是，笑并不一定总是显示高兴或快乐。笑这个字，也就是英文里的laugh，在一般情况下都含有褒意，可有的时候却包含一种贬意，类似耻笑、讥笑、冷笑等，这些当然不会是好的药品。今天我们要讲两个由laugh这个字组成的习惯用语，一个是 a horse laugh，另一个是 the last laugh。从这两个词汇中，我们就可以看到laugh这个字在英文里和中文一样具有正反两面的含义。现在，我们先来讲 a horse laugh。Horse就是一头马。A horse laugh在英文里并不是指马在笑。作为一个俗语，a horse laugh是一种表示不信任的嘲笑。下面这个例子是说一些人对某个竞选议员的候选人表示不信任：

例句-1: "When this guy running for Congres told us how much money he'd save us taxpayers, we all gave him the horse laugh. We knew when he was in the state legislature he always voted for higher taxes."

这句话翻成中文就是说：“当这个竞选国会议员席位的人对我们说，他会为我们这些缴税的人省多少钱的时候，我们大家都哄堂大笑。我们知道，在他担任州议员的期间，他老是投票赞成提高税收的。”

我们再来举个例子，看看 a horse laugh 在句子里是怎么用的：

例句-2: "Harry thinks he's God's gift to women: that none of them can resist his charm. So we all gave him the horse laugh when he asked the new girl in class to go to a movie and she told him to get lost."

这句话是说：“哈里总是以为自己具有莫大的魅力，女人们都被他倾倒，他就像上帝恩赐给女人的礼物一样。所以，当他请班里新来的那个女孩去看电影，而被那女孩毫不客气地拒绝了以后，我们都禁不住地嘲笑他。
 

下面我们要讲的一个和 laugh 这个字有关的俗语是 the last laugh。The last laugh的意思就是，在某人开始做一件事情的时候，许多人都说他不会成功。但是最后他还是成功了。这时候，他的心里很高兴，也许还很得意，这就是the last laugh。发明飞行的赖特兄弟两人就是一个例子。当他们在1903年十二月宣布他们将实现人类飞行的梦想的时候，有的报纸写文章讥笑他们。可正是那一天，他们开创了人类进入飞行的新时代。The last laugh可以说是最令人满意的笑了。我们来举个例子吧：

例句-3: "I used to laugh at my roommate in college -- he'd stay in and study on weekends while I went out for a good time. But I guess he has the last laugh on me. He's a famous brain surgeon and me, I'm selling used cars and barely make enough to live on."

这个人说：“我过去在大学的时候总是笑话我同宿舍的同学，因为他周末老是呆在学校念书，而我总是出去玩。现在，我猜想他一定很得意地在笑我。他已经成为一个脑外科专家，而我则以卖旧汽车为生，只能勉强糊口。”

以上我们向大家介绍了两个和laugh这个字有关的词汇。它们是a horse laugh和the last laugh。

看新闻，学英语： 20060406

International,国际：

Japan rejects President Hu's remarks on ties
日本反对胡主席对僵局的说法

Japan's top government spokesman said on Monday that Tokyo disagrees with Chinese President Hu Jintao's comment that visits to a Tokyo war shrine by Japan's prime minister were solely to blame for chilly ties between the two Asian nations.

星期一，日本的首席政府发言人说，东京不同意中国国家主席胡锦涛的，日本首相参拜某个东京的战争纪念神社的行为是唯一该对这两个亚洲国家的僵局负责的说法。

"We cannot accept his assertion that Japan's leader is totally to blame for the current difficult phase of the Sino-Japanese relations," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told reporters on Monday.

内阁大臣Shinzo Abe对记者说，“我们无法接受他的日本领导人该对现今的中日关系困难期负全部责任的主张。”

Sino-Japanese relations are at their lowest ebb in decades, chilled by disputes including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's pilgrimages to Yasukuni Shrine, which Beijing sees as a symbol of Japan's past militarism because it honours convicted war criminals along with the country's war dead.

中日关系步入了几十年来的最低潮。这样的低潮来源于包括日本首相小泉纯一郎参拜靖国神社在内的争论。在中国看来这是日本过去的军国主义的象征，因为在这里，已被判刑的战争犯与其他战争死者一样受到尊敬。

Key words,关键词:

Blame – 指责；assertion – 断言、主张；dispute – 争论；militarism – 军国主义；

China,中国：

EU backs China's gradual yuan moves
欧盟支持中国逐步的进行人民币汇率改革

The European Commission backed China's policy of switching to a more flexible exchange-rate system at its own pace, rebuffing U.S. calls for faster steps to boost the yuan, according to a confidential document.

根据一份机密文件，欧洲委员会支持中国以她自己的步伐来转换到更宽松的汇兑机制。回绝了美国加快步伐来使人民币增值的要求。

The commission, the European Union's Brussels-based economic watchdog, warned that sudden moves to strengthen the Chinese yuan as demanded by some U.S. officials could further weaken the dollar against the euro.

这个委员会是欧盟设在布鲁塞尔的一个经济观察机构，它警告说，如果像一些美国官员所要求的那样立即强化人民币将会进一步削弱美元对欧元的比值。

"China should introduce greater exchange-rate flexibility in a gradual manner," according to a document obtained by Bloomberg News. A gradual move would lessen the risk of the dollar, euro and Japanese yen "overshooting" on the markets.

根据Bloomberg 新闻获得的一份资料说，“中国应该逐渐的推进更宽松的汇兑机制，” 逐步前进将可以降低美元、欧元和日元在市场上“表现过火”的危险。

The U.S. is pushing for a more flexible exchange-rate system to boost American exports and erode the U.S. trade gap with China. U.S. officials complain that China keeps the yuan, a denomination of the renminbi, artificially depressed so Chinese products are cheap in the marketplace.

美国正在推动（中国执行）一个更宽松的汇兑机制，来增强美国的出口，以弥补与中国之间的贸易差距。美国官员抱怨说，中国，人为的贬低人民币的价值，使中国货在市场上便宜。

Key words,关键词:

Flexible exchange rate system – 宽松的汇兑机制；strengthen – 强化；

 

Business, 商业：

GM to sell majority stake in GMAC for $14B
通用公司出售通用信托的多数股份以换取140亿美元

General Motors Corp., which is struggling to turn around its North American automaking operations, announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to sell a 51 percent stake in its profitable finance arm.

正在为了扭转北美汽车市场的运作而挣扎的通用汽车公司，星期一，宣布说它已经达成了一份销售其利润颇丰的金融分支机构的百分之五十一的股份的协议。

The world's biggest automaker expects to receive about $14 billion from the sale of General Motors Acceptance Corp. over the next three years.

这个世界上最大的汽车生产商因出售通用信托，而将在未来三年里得到140亿美元的资金。

The stake is being purchased by a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management L.P., a private investment firm. The group also includes Citigroup Inc. and Aozora Bank Ltd.

这些股份被Cerberus资产管理集团下属的一家私人投资公司买走。该集团还包括了花旗银行和Aozora银行公司。

GM, which lost $10.6 billion in 2005 and has been rapidly losing U.S. market share to Asian competitors, has been trying to cut its own labor, pension and health care costs. Its problems could multiply if workers at its main supplier, Delphi Corp., go on strike.

通用公司在2005年损失了106亿美元后，面对亚洲竞争者，正急速的失去其美国市场份额。 它已尝试了裁员、减少养老金和医疗费用等办法。如果它的主要供应商Delphi 公司的工人罢工的话，它的问题就会更严重。

Key words,关键词:

Profitable – 有利可图的；stake – 股份；investment firm – 投资公司；market share – 市场份额；strike – 罢工；

注：英文原文来自于China Daily，Starglancier翻译，用以教学辅助以及与同好探讨。有不同意见,欢迎评论。