看新聞，學英語(65)中國雪災(四)
大家好：
中國這次發生的雪災，其嚴重性很可能遠遠超出我們所能想像的。官方在2月2日所公布的死亡數字是60人。但是在湖南省，高速公路上被冰凍的汽車長達數十公里，很多停在中間的汽車已經和地面凍成了一體，僅僅一條公路上，車禍及在長途客車上死亡的人員就已經超過二百人。
今天我們來講解1月30日新唐人電視台報導中國雪災打擊經濟的英語新聞。大家先自行看一下新聞播報稿，看看自己能了解多少。
Market Report – China Snows Hit Economy
Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:04:00
NTDTV
ZHANG:
Snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Chaotic winter weather is reeking havoc on China’s economy. Millions of people are suffering power cuts and water shortages in the winter chill.
Analysts say the current fuel shortages in more than half of China’s provinces are partially due to misplaced government policy. The state-controlled low electricity tariffs have left power generators running at a loss, with little excess funds to tackle the extreme weather. The electricity grid, a relic of earlier times, is collapsing under the pressure while limited market supplies are pushing up inflation.
Transportation is also taking a hit, as China’s roads, supplies and passengers are snowed under by the brutal winter weather.
Zhuang Jian, Senior Economist at the Asia Development Bank predicts that the snow will have a domino effect on other aspects of the economy.
[Zhuang Jian, Senior Economist at Asia Development Bank]:
“I think its comparable to the 1998 flooding or 2003 SARS and the past two crises had a great influence on the Chinese economy, of course it was a short term impact.”
Inflation in China already stands at an 11 year high, but many supplies are unable reach their destinations.
While state controlled fuel prices remain low, prices not under government control are set to rise.
China’s economy is experiencing an inconvenient truth–when disasters such as the extreme winter weather combine with failed government policy, many are left victims at the mercy of the market.
【主播稿講解】
Snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Chaotic winter weather is reeking havoc on China’s economy. Millions of people are suffering power cuts and water shortages in the winter chill.
【中譯】中國大陸正在發生的是雪、冰與零下的溫度。混亂的冬季氣侯正在造成對中國經濟的損害。數百萬人正在寒冷的冬季中遭逢停電、缺水。
【講解】To reek means to send out vapor or fumes, usually with a strong unpleasant odor. “reek”可以當名詞，也可以當動詞。當名詞時就是水氣（vapor）、蒸氣（steam）或臭氣（a disagreeable odor）；當動詞時就是“發散不好的臭氣”之意。
Havoc: Wide and general destruction; devastation. 廣泛與普遍的損害；重創。
所以 to reek havoc 也就是造成損害之意。
【原文】Analysts say the current fuel shortages in more than half of China’s provinces are partially due to misplaced government policy.
【中譯】分析家說，目前在中國一半以上的省份燃料短缺的情況，部份是由於不當的政府政策。
【講解】To misplace means to put in a wrong place. 所以 misplaced 就是錯放的、誤植的。
【原文】The state-controlled low electricity tariffs have left power generators running at a loss, with little excess funds to tackle the extreme weather.
【中譯】國營的低電費已讓發電廠的營運虧損，只有很少的剩餘資金可以應付這樣極端的氣候。
【講解】 Tariff一般作“關稅”解，這裡是當“Any schedule of rates, charges, etc.”因此electricity tariff就是“電費費率”的意思。
To tackle means to solve, to settle, to cope with, to deal with. 因此“tackle”這個動詞就是解決、處理、應付之意。
【原文】The electricity grid, a relic of earlier times, is collapsing under the pressure while limited market supplies are pushing up inflation.
【中譯】在大雪的壓力之下，如同是早期遺物的電力輸送系統正在崩塌，然而同時間有限的市場供給，卻正在推高通膨。
【講解】“ grid ” 一般當“柵欄”解，這裡是指“高壓線輸電系統”。英文解釋為：A grid is a system of high-voltage power lines serving a large area.
“relic” 就是遺跡、遺物、古跡之意。Historic relic就是古蹟。The electricity grid is a relic of earlier times. 就是說“高壓線輸電系統已是如同早期遺物一般非常老舊”。
【原文】Transportation is also taking a hit, as China’s roads, supplies and passengers are snowed under by the brutal winter weather.
【中譯】交通也正受到打擊，因為中國的道路、供給與乘客，在嚴酷的冬季氣侯下被雪所覆蓋。
【原文】Zhuang Jian, Senior Economist at the Asia Development Bank predicts that the snow will have a domino effect on other aspects of the economy.
【中譯】亞洲開發銀行的資深經濟學家Zhuang Jian預測，大雪將會對經濟的其他方面造成骨牌效應。
【講解】The Domino effect：when something, usually something bad, happens and causes other similar events to happen, like each of a set of dominoes knocking the next one over. 骨牌效應。
【原文】“I think its comparable to the 1998 flooding or 2003 SARS and the past two crises had a great influence on the Chinese economy, of course it was a short term impact.”
【中譯】“我認為這場雪災可比擬1998年的大洪水，或是2003年的蕯斯，過去這兩場危機，對中國經濟都造成了很巨大的影響，當然這是短期衝擊。”
【原文】Inflation in China already stands at an 11 year high, but many supplies are unable reach their destinations.
【中譯】在中國，通膨已站上11年來的最高點，但是許多的供給卻無法到達目的地。
【原文】While state controlled fuel prices remain low, prices not under government control are set to rise.
【中譯】同時國營燃料價格仍然很低，不受政府控制的價格預定會提高。
【原文】China’s economy is experiencing an inconvenient truth–when disasters such as the extreme winter weather combine with failed government policy, many are left victims at the mercy of the market.
【中譯】中國經濟正在經歷一場不願面對的真相：當像這樣極端氣侯伴隨無效的政府政策所釀成的災難，許多人將在市場的擺佈下淪為受害者。
【講解】“An inconvenient truth”就是前美國總統高爾所拍的紀錄片的片名：不願面對的真相。Convenient是“方便的”，那麼加上否定字首in-就是“不方便的”，Disadvantageous; giving trouble or annoyance; inopportune.
“An inconvenient truth”就是指不方便說的真相，說了會帶給人麻煩或讓某些人惱怒的真相，因此一般就譯成“不願面對的真相”，也有譯成“難以忽視的真相”。
At the mercy of: in the power of; defenceless against. 任由…擺佈；完全受…左右。
本篇新聞講解至此，讀者諸君可駕臨新唐人網站，觀看原始影像新聞：http://english.ntdtv.com/?c=155&a=1693
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