非洲国家的致富秘诀(上)

非洲的土地上到处都是埋藏的宝藏。世界上一半的钻石都是在那里开采的。钴、锰和铀的最大生产国都是非洲国家。

双语精读

Diamond geyser: Lessons from Botswana on how to make the most of commodities

钻石喷泉：博茨瓦纳充分利用资源的经验

Africa's soil is studded with buried treasure. Half the world's diamonds are mined there. The largest producers of cobalt, manganese and uranium are all African countries.

非洲的土地上到处都是埋藏的宝藏。世界上一半的钻石都是在那里开采的。钴、锰和铀的最大生产国都是非洲国家。

Since 2000 more big petroleum discoveries have been made in sub-Saharan Africa than in any other region. Yet Africans are not wrong when they talk of a "resource curse".

自2000年以来，在撒哈拉以南的非洲地区发现的大型石油比其他任何地区都多。然而，当非洲人谈到"资源诅咒"时，他们也没有错。

The continent's political elite have squandered or stolen much of the bounty, often aided by unscrupulous private firms.

非洲大陆的政治精英们挥霍或窃取了大部分的赏金，而这些行为背后往往有无良私营公司的帮助。

The World Bank predicts that by 2030, 62% of the world's very poor people will live in resource-rich sub-Saharan countries, up from 12% in 2000. Resource-rich states are more likely to suffer dictatorship or civil war.

世界银行预测，到2030年，世界上62%的极度贫困人口将生活在资源丰富的撒哈拉以南国家，而2000年这一比例为12%。资源丰富的国家更有可能遭受独裁统治或内战。

Managing resources better is crucial to the future of Africa. The world is hungry for its hydrocarbons. Its minerals are needed for cleaner energy. Sadly African politicians risk wasting the moment. Few pursue the right policies. One African country, however, has been a glittering exception, at least until recently-Botswana.

更好地管理资源对非洲的未来至关重要。世界对碳氢化合物如饥似渴。它的矿产品是清洁能源所必需的。遗憾的是，非洲的政客们正冒着浪费时机的风险。很少有人会采取正确的政策。然而，至少到最近为止，有个非洲国家是最耀眼的例外——博茨瓦纳。

At independence in 1966 Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world. It sold beef but little else. It was home to just 22 university graduates.

1966年独立时，博茨瓦纳是世界上最贫穷的国家之一。它只卖牛肉。这里只有22名大学毕业生。

Over the next four decades its economic-growth rate rivalled that of China, Singapore and South Korea; today it is one of the richest countries in Africa.

在接下来的40年里，它的经济增长率与中国、新加坡和韩国不相上下；今天，它是非洲最富有的国家之一。

A necessary condition for its rise was the discovery in 1967 of diamonds by De Beers, a mining giant. But that was not sufficient: the transformation of Botswana also required the right policies.

1967年，矿业巨头戴比尔斯发现了钻石，这是其崛起的必要条件。但这还不够：博茨瓦纳的改革还需要正确的政策。

Several stand out. Botswana has long offered secure property rights and a stable, clear tax regime. Today De Beers reckons that Botswana keeps four-fifths of the revenues from Debswana, their joint mining venture, through taxes, royalties and dividends.

有几个政策很突出。博茨瓦纳长期以来一直提供有保障的产权和稳定、明确的税收制度。如今，戴比尔斯估计博茨瓦纳通过税收、土地使用费和股息，从他们的合资矿业企业德比斯瓦纳获得了五分之四的收入。

Elsewhere in Africa firms are reluctant to invest huge sums when mines can be seized or tax rates are volatile. Neighbouring South Africa is among the world's ten least attractive countries for investors in mines, according to the Fraser Institute, a think-tank.

在非洲其他地方，当矿山有可能被查封或税率不稳定时，企业就不愿投入巨额资金。据智库弗雷泽研究所称，其邻国南非是世界上对矿业投资者最不具吸引力的十个国家之一。

词汇预习

economic [高考]
美[ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪk] | 英[ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk]
adj. 经济的，经济学的；有利可图的；节约的
invest [高考]
美[ɪnˈvest] | 英[ɪnˈvest]
v. 投资；投入
giant [高考]
美[ˈdʒaɪənt] | 英[ˈdʒaɪənt]
n. 巨人；巨物；大公司 adj. 巨大的
region [高考]
美[ˈriːdʒən] | 英[ˈriːdʒən]
n. 地区；范围；领域；地带；地域
property [高考]
美[ˈprɑːpərti] | 英[ˈprɒpəti]
n. 财产；所有物；地产，房地产；性质；道具
joint [高考]
美[dʒɔɪnt] | 英[dʒɔɪnt]
adj. 联合的；共同的；连带的；合资的 n. 关节；接头；接合处；接缝；夜总会 v. 贴合；连接
transformation [高考]
美[ˌtrænsfərˈmeɪʃn] | 英[ˌtrænsfəˈmeɪʃn]
n. 转型；转化；改造
reluctant [高考]
美[rɪˈlʌktənt] | 英[rɪˈlʌktənt]
adj. 不情愿的；勉强的
sufficient [高考]
美[səˈfɪʃnt] | 英[səˈfɪʃnt]
adj. 足够的；充分的
venture [高考]
美[ˈventʃər] | 英[ˈventʃə(r)]
n. 冒险(事业)；风险；投机；企业 v. 冒险；敢于；冒昧地说
curse [高考]
美[kɜːrs] | 英[kɜːs]
n. 诅咒；咒骂；祸端 vt. 诅咒；咒骂；使受罪 vi. 诅咒；咒骂
growth [高考]
美[ɡroʊθ] | 英[ɡrəʊθ]
n. 【U】增长；生长；发展；种植 n. 【C】生长物；【医】瘤;赘生物
rate [高考]
美[reɪt] | 英[reɪt]
n. 比率；速度；价格；费用；等级 v. 认为；估价；定等级；值得；怒斥；责骂
stable [高考]
美[ˈsteɪbl] | 英[ˈsteɪbl]
adj. 稳定的；安定的；可靠的 n. 马棚；马厩；一批人 v. 使（马）入厩；入马棚
political [高考]
美[pəˈlɪtɪkl] | 英[pəˈlɪtɪkl]
adj. 政治的；政治上的；政党的；人事的；争权夺利的
secure [高考]
美[sɪˈkjʊr] | 英[sɪˈkjʊə(r)]
adj. 安全的；牢靠的；稳妥的 vt. 使安全；获得；固定
civil [高考]
美[ˈsɪvl] | 英[ˈsɪvl]
adj. 公民的；文明的；国内的；民用的；民事的；【建】土木的
tax [高考]
美[tæks] | 英[tæks]
n. 税；负担 v. 斥责；课税；使 ... 负重荷
continent [高考]
美[ˈkɑːntɪnənt] | 英[ˈkɒntɪnənt]
n. 大陆；洲；(the Continent)欧洲大陆
tank [高考]
美[tæŋk] | 英[tæŋk]
n. 箱；罐；槽；贮水池；坦克 vt. 把 ... 储于槽中
stand out [高考]
美[stænd aʊt] | 英[stænd aʊt]
vi. 突出；脱颖而出 vi. 离岸;坚持
crucial [高考]
美[ˈkruːʃl] | 英[ˈkruːʃl]
adj. 决定性的；关键的
petroleum [四级]
美[pəˈtroʊliəm] | 英[pəˈtrəʊliəm]
n. 石油
uranium [四级]
美[juˈreɪniəm] | 英[juˈreɪniəm]
n. 铀
live in [四级]
美[liv ɪn] | 英[liv in]
v. 住进
make the most of [四级]
美[meɪk ðə moʊst əv] | 英[meɪk ðə məʊst əv]
充分利用
hungry for [四级]
美 | 英
渴望; 渴求
elite [四级]
美[eɪˈliːt , ɪˈliːt] | 英[eɪˈliːt , ɪˈliːt]
n. 精英 adj. 精英的；优秀的
unscrupulous [六级]
美[ʌnˈskrupjələs] | 英[ʌnˈskru:pjələs]
adj. 肆无忌惮的；不道德的
regime [六级]
美[reɪˈʒiːm] | 英[reɪˈʒiːm]
n. 政体；政权；制度 n. 养生法(=regimen)
according [专四]
美[ə'kɔrdɪŋ] | 英[ə'kɔːdɪŋ]
adj. 相符的；相应的；一致的 v. 给予；符合，一致；正式协议（accord的现在分词）
volatile [专八]
美[ˈvɑːlətl] | 英[ˈvɒlətaɪl]
adj. 不稳定的；反复无常的；易挥发的 n. 挥发物
talk of [考研]
美[tɔk ʌv] | 英[tɔ:k ɔv]
谈到；说到

重点讲解

Diamond geyser: Lessons from Botswana on how to make the most of commodities

钻石喷泉：博茨瓦纳充分利用资源的经验

make the most of 充分利用；尽情享受

（英文释义：to gain the greatest possible advantage from something）

【例】It's my first trip abroad so I'm going to make the most of it.

这是我第一次出国，我要充分利用这个机会。

commodity n.

1. 商品

【例】Commodity prices fell sharply.

商品价格急剧下跌。

2. 有用的东西；有使用价值的事物

【例】Water is a precious commodity.

水很宝贵。

studded a.

1. 用饰钉装饰的

【例】a diamond-studded watch 镶钻手表

2. 布满（或有很多）…的

【例】The sky was clear and studded with stars.

夜空晴朗，繁星点点。

Africa's soil is studded with buried treasure. Half the world's diamonds are mined there. The largest producers of cobalt, manganese and uranium are all African countries.

非洲的土地上到处都是埋藏的宝藏。世界上一半的钻石都是在那里开采的。钴、锰和铀的最大生产国都是非洲国家。

make the most of 充分利用；尽情享受

（英文释义：to gain the greatest possible advantage from something）

【例】It's my first trip abroad so I'm going to make the most of it.

这是我第一次出国，我要充分利用这个机会。

commodity n.

1. 商品

【例】Commodity prices fell sharply.

商品价格急剧下跌。

2. 有用的东西；有使用价值的事物

【例】Water is a precious commodity.

水很宝贵。

studded a.

1. 用饰钉装饰的

【例】a diamond-studded watch 镶钻手表

2. 布满（或有很多）…的

【例】The sky was clear and studded with stars.

夜空晴朗，繁星点点。

Since 2000 more big petroleum discoveries have been made in sub-Saharan Africa than in any other region. Yet Africans are not wrong when they talk of a "resource curse".

自2000年以来，在撒哈拉以南的非洲地区发现的大型石油比其他任何地区都多。然而，当非洲人谈到"资源诅咒"时，他们也没有错。

elite n. & a.

1. 作名词：社会精英，上层人士

【例】In these countries, only the elite can afford an education for their children.

在这些国家，只有上层人士才供得起子女上学。

2. 作形容词：出类拔萃的，精锐的

【例】an elite group of artists 一批出类拔萃的艺术家

The continent's political elite have squandered or stolen much of the bounty, often aided by unscrupulous private firms.

非洲大陆的政治精英们挥霍或窃取了大部分的赏金，而这些行为背后往往有无良私营公司的帮助。

elite n. & a.

1. 作名词：社会精英，上层人士

【例】In these countries, only the elite can afford an education for their children.

在这些国家，只有上层人士才供得起子女上学。

2. 作形容词：出类拔萃的，精锐的

【例】an elite group of artists 一批出类拔萃的艺术家

世界银行预测，到2030年，世界上62%的极度贫困人口将生活在资源丰富的撒哈拉以南国家，而2000年这一比例为12%。资源丰富的国家更有可能遭受独裁统治或内战。

elite n. & a.

1. 作名词：社会精英，上层人士

【例】In these countries, only the elite can afford an education for their children.

在这些国家，只有上层人士才供得起子女上学。

2. 作形容词：出类拔萃的，精锐的

【例】an elite group of artists 一批出类拔萃的艺术家

Managing resources better is crucial to the future of Africa. The world is hungry for its hydrocarbons. Its minerals are needed for cleaner energy. Sadly African politicians risk wasting the moment. Few pursue the right policies. One African country, however, has been a glittering exception, at least until recently—Botswana.

更好地管理资源对非洲的未来至关重要。世界对碳氢化合物如饥似渴。它的矿产品是清洁能源所必需的。遗憾的是，非洲的政客们正冒着浪费时机的风险。很少有人会采取正确的政策。然而，至少到最近为止，有个非洲国家是最耀眼的例外——博茨瓦纳。

cruciala. 至关重要的；关键性的

【例】Winning this contract is crucial to the success of the company.

赢得这份合同对这家公司的成败至关重要。

【拓展】play a crucial role/part in something起至关重要的作用

【例】Parents play a crucial role in preparing their child for school.

父母对孩子做好上学的准备起着至关重要的作用。

glittering a.

1. 灿烂夺目的；闪闪发光的

【例】glittering jewels 璀璨的宝石

2. 辉煌的；成功的

【例】He has a glittering career ahead of him.

他前程似锦。

3. 盛大的；众星云集的

【例】a glittering Hollywood premiere 一场众星云集的好莱坞影片首映式

At independence in 1966 Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world. It sold beef but little else. It was home to just 22 university graduates.

1966年独立时，博茨瓦纳是世界上最贫穷的国家之一。它只卖牛肉。这里只有22名大学毕业生。

rival v. & n. & a.

1. 作动词：与…相匹敌；比得上

【例】The college’s facilities rival those of Harvard and Yale.

这所学院的设施比得上哈佛和耶鲁。

2. 作名词：竞争对手

【例】This gives the company a competitive advantage over its rivals.

这使该公司与其对手相比具有一项竞争优势。

3. 作形容词：相互竞争的；对抗的

【例】fighting between rival groups 对立团体间的争斗

Over the next four decades its economic-growth rate rivalled that of China, Singapore and South Korea; today it is one of the richest countries in Africa.

在接下来的40年里，它的经济增长率与中国、新加坡和韩国不相上下；今天，它是非洲最富有的国家之一。

rival v. & n. & a.

1. 作动词：与…相匹敌；比得上

【例】The college’s facilities rival those of Harvard and Yale.

这所学院的设施比得上哈佛和耶鲁。

2. 作名词：竞争对手

【例】This gives the company a competitive advantage over its rivals.

这使该公司与其对手相比具有一项竞争优势。

3. 作形容词：相互竞争的；对抗的

【例】fighting between rival groups 对立团体间的争斗

A necessary condition for its rise was the discovery in 1967 of diamonds by De Beers, a mining giant. But that was not sufficient: the transformation of Botswana also required the right policies.

1967年，矿业巨头戴比尔斯发现了钻石，这是其崛起的必要条件。但这还不够：博茨瓦纳的改革还需要正确的政策。

transformation n. （彻底的）改变，改革

【例】The way in which we work has undergone a complete transformation in the past decade.

在过去的十年里，我们的工作方式经历了彻底的变革。

【拓展】transform v. 使变形，使转化

【例】Increased population has transformed the landscape.

人口的增加使景观发生了变化。

Several stand out. Botswana has long offered secure property rights and a stable, clear tax regime. Today De Beers reckons that Botswana keeps four-fifths of the revenues from Debswana, their joint mining venture, through taxes, royalties and dividends.

有几个政策很突出。博茨瓦纳长期以来一直提供有保障的产权和稳定、明确的税收制度。如今，戴比尔斯估计博茨瓦纳通过税收、土地使用费和股息，从他们的合资矿业企业德比斯瓦纳获得了五分之四的收入。

stand out

1. 显眼；突出

【例】She always stood out in a crowd.

她在人群中总是显得很突出。

2. （比其他类似的人或物）出色

【例】Three of the cars we tested stood out among the rest.

我们测试的汽车中有三辆明显好于其他汽车。

regime n.

1. （尤指未经公平选举而掌权的）政权，政府

【例】an oppressive regime 压迫民众的政权

2. 制度，管理体制

【例】Our tax regime is one of the most favourable in Europe.

我们的税收管理体制是欧洲最受欢迎的税收体制之一。

reckon v.

1. 想；认为

【例】I reckon that I'm going to get that job.

我认为我会得到那份工作。

2. 估算；估计

【例】The journey was reckoned to take about two hours.

路上估计要花大约两个小时。

【拓展】reckon on 指望；依赖

【例】We'd reckoned on having good weather.

我们原指望会有好天气。

Elsewhere in Africa firms are reluctant to invest huge sums when mines can be seized or tax rates are volatile. Neighbouring South Africa is among the world's ten least attractive countries for investors in mines, according to the Fraser Institute, a think-tank.

在非洲其他地方，当矿山有可能被查封或税率不稳定时，企业就不愿投入巨额资金。据智库弗雷泽研究所称，其邻国南非是世界上对矿业投资者最不具吸引力的十个国家之一。

volatile a.

1. 易变的，反复无常的

【例】a highly volatile personality反复无常的个性

2. （情况）不稳定的，易恶化的

【例】This is a highly volatile situation from which riots might develop.

现在局势极不稳定，有可能发展成动乱。

3. 易挥发的

【例】Petrol is a volatile substance.

汽油是挥发性物质。

课后练习

The “resource curse” means that ____.
A. Africa suffers from a lack of essential natural resources
B. the mining industry has destroyed Africa’s environment
C. Africa’s natural resources were robbed by other countries
D. the profit of Africa’s resources is stolen by politicians
The author holds that it is critical for Africa to ____.
A. raise people’s living standards
B. establish democratic systems
C. manage resources properly
D. switch to clean energy
Botswana stands out among African countries because ____.
A. it is the largest producer of hydrocarbons
B. it has shifted from poverty to prosperity
C. it has achieved success in higher education
D. it has established a huge mining company
One of the reasons for Botswana’s rise is that ____.
A. an increased demand for diamonds has brought huge profits
B. the secure policies have attracted foreign investment
C. the tax revenue has enabled it to develop its infrastructure
D. its geographic location gives it an advantage over other countries