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非洲国家的致富秘诀(下)
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2009年至2018年间,非洲仅吸引了该行业勘探总支出的14%,尽管非洲的矿产财富可能占全球的30%。
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双语精读
Between 2009 and 2018 Africa attracted just 14% of the industry's total spending on exploration, despite containing perhaps 30% of the planet's mineral wealth.
2009年至2018年间,非洲仅吸引了该行业勘探总支出的14%,尽管非洲的矿产财富可能占全球的30%。
Botswana has minimised "Dutch disease", whereby resource exports cause the local currency to rise, making other exports less competitive.
博茨瓦纳已将"荷兰病"(即资源出口导致本币升值,降低其他出口产品竞争力的现象)降至最低。
It has managed the value of the pula and set up a sovereign-wealth fund. Too many African countries have spent the proceeds of resource booms before they arrive. In Botswana a stabilisation fund helps smooth boom-and-bust cycles.
它管理着普拉货币的价值,并建立了一个主权财富基金。太多的非洲国家在资源繁荣到来之前就败光了它们的收益。在博茨瓦纳,一个金融稳定保障基金可以帮助平稳繁荣与萧条的周期。
Like many African countries, Botswana has struggled to diversify its exports and foster manufacturing. Both unemployment (25%) and income inequality (among the worst in the world) are high. Diamonds still make up more than 80% of export revenues.
像许多非洲国家一样,博茨瓦纳一直在努力实现出口多样化和促进制造业发展。失业率(25%)和收入不平等(世界最严重)都很高。钻石仍然占出口收入的80%以上。
Yet whereas petrostates such as Nigeria and Angola have ploughed money into industrial white elephants, Botswana has invested in future sources of wealth, including education and infrastructure.
然而,当尼日利亚和安哥拉等石油国家将资金投入到无用的工业项目时,博茨瓦纳却投资于未来的财富来源,包括教育和基础设施建设。
As new technology makes it possible to do more cutting and polishing in Botswana, rather than in India, the traditional hub, past investments in a skilled workforce will give it a chance to reap the rewards.
排除传统的中心枢纽印度后,新技术使得更多钻石切割和抛光工作在博茨瓦纳也能进行,过去对熟练劳动力的投资将使其有机会获得回报。
Copying Botswana is not straightforward. Diamonds are not a typical commodity and it is not a typical African country. Thanks to a trio of astute chiefs who petitioned Britain more than a century ago, the then Bechuanaland became a protectorate, not a colony.
复制博茨瓦纳案例并非易事。钻石不是一种典型的商品,博茨瓦纳也不是一个典型的非洲国家。多亏了三个精明的酋长在一个多世纪前向英国请愿,使得当时的贝古纳兰成为了一个受保护国,而不是殖民地。
It thus avoided some of the traumas of imperialism. ("I do object to being beaten by three canting natives," harrumphed Cecil Rhodes at the time.) Its modern government was built on relatively pluralistic traditional institutions.
因此,它避免了一些帝国主义带来的创伤。(当时塞西尔·罗兹愤愤不平地说:"我确实反对被三个伪善的当地人殴打。")它的现代政府是建立在相对多元化的传统制度之上的。
Worryingly, under Ian Khama, the previous president, and Mokgweetsi Masisi, the current one, Botswana has shown signs of forgetting the secrets of its own success. Economic populism, protectionism and abuses of power are creeping in.
令人担忧的是,在前任总统伊恩·卡马和现任总统莫科维特斯·马西西的领导下,博茨瓦纳已经开始忘记自己成功的秘诀了。经济民粹主义、保护主义和滥用权力正在悄然蔓延。
Yet its history shows that getting the basics right goes a long way. Diamonds may not be for ever, but the benefits of sound policy can be.
然而,它的历史表明,建立起的正确基本政策能够维持很长时间。钻石可能不会永远存在,但合理政策的好处可以永存。
词汇预习
current [高考]
美[ˈkɜːrənt] | 英[ˈkʌrənt]
n. 趋势;(水、气、电)流 adj. 现在的;流通的
despite [高考]
美[dɪˈspaɪt] | 英[dɪˈspaɪt]
prep. 尽管;不管 n. 憎恨;轻视
relatively [高考]
美[ˈrelətɪvli] | 英[ˈrelətɪvli]
adv. 相对地;比较地
industrial [高考]
美[ɪnˈdʌstriəl] | 英[ɪnˈdʌstriəl]
adj. 工业的;产业的 n. 工业公司
competitive [高考]
美[kəmˈpetətɪv] | 英[kəmˈpetətɪv]
adj. 竞争的;有竞争力的;胜过或超过他人的
exploration [高考]
美[ˌekspləˈreɪʃn] | 英[ˌekspləˈreɪʃn]
n. 探险;探索;勘探;探测
colony [高考]
美[ˈkɑːləni] | 英[ˈkɒləni]
n. 殖民地;侨居地;侨民;聚居(地);群体;菌落
skilled [高考]
美[skɪld] | 英[skɪld]
adj. 有技能的;熟练的
whereas [高考]
美[ˌwerˈæz] | 英[ˌweərˈæz]
conj. 然而;鉴于
infrastructure [高考]
美[ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər] | 英[ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)]
n. 基础;基础设施
workforce [高考]
美[ˈwɜːrkfɔːrs] | 英[ˈwɜːkfɔːs]
n. 劳动力;工人总数;职工总数
diversify [高考]
美[daɪˈvɜːrsɪfaɪ] | 英[daɪˈvɜːsɪfaɪ]
vt. 使多样化;使变化;使不同 vi. 多样化
thus [高考]
美[ðʌs] | 英[ðʌs]
adv. 这样;如此;因此;从而
previous [高考]
美[ˈpriːviəs] | 英[ˈpriːviəs]
adj. 以前的;先于;在 ... 之前
boom [高考]
美[buːm] | 英[buːm]
n. 繁荣;兴旺;激增;低沉声 n. 帆杠;吊杆;支臂;尾桁;水栅 vi. 急速增长;发出低沉声 vt. 使兴旺;促进
export [高考]
美[ɪkˈspɔːrt , ˈekspɔːrt] | 英[ɪkˈspɔːt , ˈekspɔːt]
n. 输出,出口;出口商品 v. 输出物资,输出,出口 adj.输出的
foster [高考]
美[ˈfɑːstər] | 英[ˈfɒstə(r)]
vt. 领养;培养;促进;鼓励;抱有(希望等) adj. 收养的
mineral [高考]
美[ˈmɪnərəl] | 英[ˈmɪnərəl]
n. 矿物(石);矿物质
unemployment [高考]
美[ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt] | 英[ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt]
n. 失业;失业人数
currency [高考]
美[ˈkɜːrənsi] | 英[ˈkʌrənsi]
n. 货币;流通
straightforward [高考]
美[ˌstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd] | 英[ˌstreɪtˈfɔːwəd]
adj. 易懂的;笔直的;坦率的
reap [四级]
美[riːp] | 英[riːp]
v. 取得(成果);收获;收割(庄稼)
commodity [四级]
美[kəˈmɑːdəti] | 英[kəˈmɒdəti]
n. 商品;日用品;有价值之物
inequality [四级]
美[ˌɪnɪˈkwɑːləti] | 英[ˌɪnɪˈkwɒləti]
n. 不平等;不平均;不平坦;[数]不等式
bust [四级]
美[bʌst] | 英[bʌst]
n. 半身像;胸部;搜查;失败 v. 打碎;搜捕;降级;终止 adj. 破产的;打碎的
imperialism [四级]
美[ɪmˈpɪriəlɪzəm] | 英[ɪmˈpɪəriəlɪzəm]
n. 帝国主义
hub [四级]
美[hʌb] | 英[hʌb]
n. 中心;轮毂;轮轴
in future [四级]
美[ɪn ˈfjutʃɚ] | 英[in ˈfju:tʃə]
今后; 从今以后
object to [四级]
美['ɑːbdʒɪkt tu] | 英['ɒbdʒɪkt tu]
反对, 对…反感;非;不以为然
whereby [六级]
美[werˈbaɪ] | 英[weəˈbaɪ]
adv. 凭借
sovereign [六级]
美[ˈsɑːvrɪn] | 英[ˈsɒvrɪn]
n. 元首;君主;最高统治者;金镑 adj. 具有主权的;至高无上的;极好的
for ever [六级]
美[fɔːr 'evər] | 英[fɔː 'evə]
adv.永远,总是
manufacturing [专四]
美[ˌmænjəˈfæktʃərɪŋ] | 英[ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ]
n. 制造业 adj. 制造业的
重点讲解
Between 2009 and 2018 Africa attracted just 14% of the industry's total spending on exploration, despite containing perhaps 30% of the planet's mineral wealth.
2009年至2018年间,非洲仅吸引了该行业勘探总支出的14%,尽管非洲的矿产财富可能占全球的30%。
minimizev.
1. 使减少到最低限度
【例】Every effort is being made to minimize civilian casualties.
正在尽最大努力减少平民伤亡。
2. 轻视,使显得不重要
【例】We must not minimize the problem of racial discrimination.
我们不可小看种族歧视问题。
3. (尤指在计算机屏幕上)使最小化
【例】Minimize any windows you have open.
把你打开的所有窗口最小化。
【拓展】maximizev.
1. 使增加到最大限度
【例】The company’s main function is to maximize profit.
该公司的主要目的是要把利润最大化。
2. 最大限度地利用,充分利用
【例】We need to maximize the space.
我们要充分利用空间。
Botswana has minimised "Dutch disease", whereby resource exports cause the local currency to rise, making other exports less competitive.
博茨瓦纳已将"荷兰病"(即资源出口导致本币升值,降低其他出口产品竞争力的现象)降至最低。
minimizev.
1. 使减少到最低限度
【例】Every effort is being made to minimize civilian casualties.
正在尽最大努力减少平民伤亡。
2. 轻视,使显得不重要
【例】We must not minimize the problem of racial discrimination.
我们不可小看种族歧视问题。
3. (尤指在计算机屏幕上)使最小化
【例】Minimize any windows you have open.
把你打开的所有窗口最小化。
【拓展】maximizev.
1. 使增加到最大限度
【例】The company’s main function is to maximize profit.
该公司的主要目的是要把利润最大化。
2. 最大限度地利用,充分利用
【例】We need to maximize the space.
我们要充分利用空间。
It has managed the value of the pula and set up a sovereign-wealth fund. Too many African countries have spent the proceeds of resource booms before they arrive. In Botswana a stabilisation fund helps smooth boom-and-bust cycles.
它管理着普拉货币的价值,并建立了一个主权财富基金。太多的非洲国家在资源繁荣到来之前就败光了它们的收益。在博茨瓦纳,一个金融稳定保障基金可以帮助平稳繁荣与萧条的周期。
proceeds n. 收入,收益
【例】The proceeds of the concert will go to charity.
音乐会的收入将捐献给慈善机构。
【拓展】proceed v.
1. 继续做(或从事、进行)
【例】The government was determined to proceed with the election.
政府决心继续进行选举。
2. 行进;前往
【例】The marchers proceeded slowly along the street.
游行者沿着街道缓缓行进。
Like many African countries, Botswana has struggled to diversify its exports and foster manufacturing. Both unemployment (25%) and income inequality (among the worst in the world) are high. Diamonds still make up more than 80% of export revenues.
像许多非洲国家一样,博茨瓦纳一直在努力实现出口多样化和促进制造业发展。失业率(25%)和收入不平等(世界最严重)都很高。钻石仍然占出口收入的80%以上。
foster v.
1. 培养,促进
【例】The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.
俱乐部的宗旨是促进团体内部的关系。
2. 抚育,照料(他人子女)
【例】We couldn't adopt a child, so we decided to foster.
我们不能领养孩子,所以决定代养一个。
plough sth. into sth. 把(大批资金)投入;大量投资于
(英文释义:to invest a large amount of money in a company or project)
【例】The government has ploughed more than $20 billion into building new schools.
政府已投放 200 多亿美元兴建新学校。
white elephant 昂贵而无用的东西
(英文释义:something that is completely useless, although it may have cost a lot of money)
【例】 When the theatre first opened it was widely regarded as a white elephant.
那家剧院刚开张时,大家都认为它是个奢侈的摆设。
Yet whereas petrostates such as Nigeria and Angola have ploughed money into industrial white elephants, Botswana has invested in future sources of wealth, including education and infrastructure.
然而,当尼日利亚和安哥拉等石油国家将资金投入到无用的工业项目时,博茨瓦纳却投资于未来的财富来源,包括教育和基础设施建设。
foster v.
1. 培养,促进
【例】The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.
俱乐部的宗旨是促进团体内部的关系。
2. 抚育,照料(他人子女)
【例】We couldn't adopt a child, so we decided to foster.
我们不能领养孩子,所以决定代养一个。
plough sth. into sth. 把(大批资金)投入;大量投资于
(英文释义:to invest a large amount of money in a company or project)
【例】The government has ploughed more than $20 billion into building new schools.
政府已投放 200 多亿美元兴建新学校。
white elephant 昂贵而无用的东西
(英文释义:something that is completely useless, although it may have cost a lot of money)
【例】 When the theatre first opened it was widely regarded as a white elephant.
那家剧院刚开张时,大家都认为它是个奢侈的摆设。
As new technology makes it possible to do more cutting and polishing in Botswana, rather than in India, the traditional hub, past investments in a skilled workforce will give it a chance to reap the rewards.
排除传统的中心枢纽印度后,新技术使得更多钻石切割和抛光工作在博茨瓦纳也能进行,过去对熟练劳动力的投资将使其有机会获得回报。
reap v.
1. 取得(成果);收获
【例】They are now reaping the rewards of all their hard work.
现在,他们的全部辛劳都得到了回报。
2. 收割(庄稼)
【例】You reap what you sow.
种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆。/自食其果。
Copying Botswana is not straightforward. Diamonds are not a typical commodity and it is not a typical African country. Thanks to a trio of astute chiefs who petitioned Britain more than a century ago, the then Bechuanaland became a protectorate, not a colony.
复制博茨瓦纳案例并非易事。钻石不是一种典型的商品,博茨瓦纳也不是一个典型的非洲国家。多亏了三个精明的酋长在一个多世纪前向英国请愿,使得当时的贝古纳兰成为了一个受保护国,而不是殖民地。
straightforward a.
1. 简单的;易懂的
【例】It's quite straightforward to get here.
来这儿相当容易。
2. 坦诚的;坦率的
【例】Jack is tough, but always straightforward and fair.
虽然杰克很严厉,但一向坦诚公正。
trauma n.
1. 痛苦,精神创伤
【例】traumas such as death or divorce 死亡、离婚等的巨大痛苦
2. 损伤;外伤
【例】The patient suffered severe brain trauma.
患者的大脑受到严重损伤。
It thus avoided some of the traumas of imperialism. ("I do object to being beaten by three canting natives," harrumphed Cecil Rhodes at the time.) Its modern government was built on relatively pluralistic traditional institutions.
因此,它避免了一些帝国主义带来的创伤。(当时塞西尔·罗兹愤愤不平地说:"我确实反对被三个伪善的当地人殴打。")它的现代政府是建立在相对多元化的传统制度之上的。
straightforward a.
1. 简单的;易懂的
【例】It's quite straightforward to get here.
来这儿相当容易。
2. 坦诚的;坦率的
【例】Jack is tough, but always straightforward and fair.
虽然杰克很严厉,但一向坦诚公正。
trauma n.
1. 痛苦,精神创伤
【例】traumas such as death or divorce 死亡、离婚等的巨大痛苦
2. 损伤;外伤
【例】The patient suffered severe brain trauma.
患者的大脑受到严重损伤。
Worryingly, under Ian Khama, the previous president, and Mokgweetsi Masisi, the current one, Botswana has shown signs of forgetting the secrets of its own success. Economic populism, protectionism and abuses of power are creeping in.
令人担忧的是,在前任总统伊恩·卡马和现任总统莫科维特斯·马西西的领导下,博茨瓦纳已经开始忘记自己成功的秘诀了。经济民粹主义、保护主义和滥用权力正在悄然蔓延。
creep in/into sth. 开始发生(或影响)
【例】As she became more tired, errors began to creep into her work.
由于越来越疲劳,她的工作开始出现差错。
sound n. & v. & a.
1. 作名词:声音;响声
【例】the different sounds and smells of the forest 森林里的各种声音、各种气息
2. 作动词
(1)听起来好像
【例】His voice sounded strange on the phone.
他的声音在电话里听着挺怪的。
(2)鸣警报;拉响警报
【例】When I saw the smoke, I tried to sound the alarm.
看到烟后,我就设法发出警报。
3. 作形容词
(1)明智的,合理的;全面的
【例】He gave me some very sound advice.
他给了我一些非常合理的忠告。
(2)完好的;健康的
【例】We arrived home safe and sound.
我们安然无恙地到了家。
Yet its history shows that getting the basics right goes a long way. Diamonds may not be for ever, but the benefits of sound policy can be.
然而,它的历史表明,建立起的正确基本政策能够维持很长时间。钻石可能不会永远存在,但合理政策的好处可以永存。
creep in/into sth. 开始发生(或影响)
【例】As she became more tired, errors began to creep into her work.
由于越来越疲劳,她的工作开始出现差错。
sound n. & v. & a.
1. 作名词:声音;响声
【例】the different sounds and smells of the forest 森林里的各种声音、各种气息
2. 作动词
(1)听起来好像
【例】His voice sounded strange on the phone.
他的声音在电话里听着挺怪的。
(2)鸣警报;拉响警报
【例】When I saw the smoke, I tried to sound the alarm.
看到烟后,我就设法发出警报。
3. 作形容词
(1)明智的,合理的;全面的
【例】He gave me some very sound advice.
他给了我一些非常合理的忠告。
(2)完好的;健康的
【例】We arrived home safe and sound.
我们安然无恙地到了家。
课后练习
Botswana set up a sovereign-wealth fund to ____.
A. attract foreign investment in exploration
B. lower the prices of exports with subsidies
C. stabilise the value of its currency
D. to save money to pay foreign debts
It can be rewarding for Botswana to ____.
A. increase the share of diamonds in exports
B. invest in education and infrastructure
C. build new industries to create more jobs
D. learn from the experience of India
One of the contributors to Botswana’s success is ____.
A. its cultural heritage
B. its relations with Britain
C. its modern government
D. its stable leadership
What is the author’s attitude towards Botswana’s future?
A. It may fall into decline due to abuses of power.
B. Its prospects remain unclear and unpredictable.
C. It may enjoy growth thanks to sound policies.
D. It needs to reform its current policies.