国际货币基金组织负起责任了吗(中)

巴基斯坦和斯里兰卡只是目前面临严重债务困境的众多国家之二。

双语精读

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are only two of the many countries currently facing conditions of severe debt distress.

巴基斯坦和斯里兰卡只是目前面临严重债务困境的众多国家之二。

Covid-19 delivered a major blow to many low- and middle-income countries that had borrowed heavily during the era of low interest rates beginning with the 2008 financial crisis.

新冠肺炎疫情对许多中低收入国家造成了沉重打击，这些国家曾在2008年金融危机开启的低利率时期大量举债。

As the costs of public health and welfare rocketed, economies were locked down and tourism collapsed, which meant that tax revenues plummeted.

随着公共卫生和福利费用飙升，各国进行封控，旅游业崩溃，这意味着税收收入大幅下降。

The pandemic also disrupted global supply chains, leading to shortages of many goods and higher prices. These inflationary pressures were then exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

疫情还扰乱了全球供应链，导致许多商品短缺和价格上涨。随后，俄罗斯入侵乌克兰又加剧了这些通胀压力。

Meanwhile, the decision of the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to reduce US inflation has pushed the value of the dollar to its highest level in 20 years.

与此同时，美联储为降低通胀而加息，这将美元汇率推至20年来的最高水平。

This has made the debt of countries that borrowed in dollars--many do--more expensive since their currencies are worth less, while further increasing the cost of their imports.

这使得以美元借款的国家(很多国家都是如此)的债务变得更加沉重，因为这些国家的货币贬值了，同时进一步增加了他们的进口成本。

Rising US interest rates have also encouraged investors to pull capital out of riskier emerging markets at a historic rate, since safer dollar investments now produce higher returns.

美国利率上升也鼓励投资者以历史性的速度将资本撤出风险较高的新兴市场，因为更安全的美元投资现在能产生更高的回报。

The result is that the world economy faces the possibility of one of the worst debt crises in decades, threatening deep recessions, political instability, and years of lost growth.

其结果是，世界经济可能面临几十年来最严重的债务危机之一，可能导致严重经济衰退、政治不稳定和数年的增长停滞。

At the same time, the increase in extreme weather events--stronger hurricanes, recurring droughts--makes life even harder for states that already dedicate a large portion of their revenues to servicing foreign debt.

与此同时，极端天气事件的增加----飓风越来越强、干旱频发----让那些已经将很大一部分收入用于偿还外债利息的国家更加感到难以度日。

In the midst of this turmoil, the IMF has become more involved in bailing out countries than it has in years.

在这场动荡中，国际货币基金组织比过去许多年来更多地参与了对国家的救助。

Over the last few months, the value of its emergency loans reached a record level, as a growing number of states turned to it for help, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia.

在过去几个月里，随着越来越多的国家(包括孟加拉国、埃及、加纳和突尼斯)向该组织求助，其紧急贷款金额达到了创纪录的水平。

Broadly speaking, the way the IMF works is by collecting financial resources from members and then offering them short-term assistance in the case of financial hardship.

一般来说，国际货币基金组织的运作方式是从成员国那里筹集财务资源，然后在他们遇到财政困难时提供短期援助。

Based in Washington DC, the institution is staffed by representatives of ministers of finance and central bank governors from around the world.

国际货币基金组织总部设在华盛顿特区，该机构人员由来自世界各地的财政部长代表和央行行长代表组成。

Because voting power is weighted by each state's financial contribution, the US, as the IMF's largest shareholder, exercises outsized influence over its major decisions and can veto proposed reforms to its governance.

因为投票权按每个国家的财务贡献来加权，所以美国作为国际货币基金组织最大的股东，对该组织的重大决策具有特别大的影响力，可以否决对其治理改革的提议。

But as an international body that counts nearly every sovereign state as member, the IMF plays a unique role in the world economy.

但作为一个成员几乎包括了所有主权国家的国际机构，国际货币基金组织在世界经济中发挥着独特作用。

It's the only institution with the resources, mandate and global reach to help almost any country facing severe economic distress.

该组织是唯一一个拥有足够的资源、授权和全球影响力，来帮助任何面临严重经济困境的国家的机构。

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

• financial [高考]

  美[faɪˈnænʃl] | 英[faɪˈnænʃl]

  adj. 金融的；财政的；[非正式]有钱的

• economy [高考]

  美[ɪˈkɑːnəmi] | 英[ɪˈkɒnəmi]

  n. 经济；节约 adj. 经济的；廉价的

• currently [高考]

  美[ˈkɜːrəntli] | 英[ˈkʌrəntli]

  adv. 现在；通常；当前

• historic [高考]

  美[hɪˈstɔːrɪk] | 英[hɪˈstɒrɪk]

  adj. 有历史意义的；历史的

• portion [高考]

  美[ˈpɔːrʃn] | 英[ˈpɔːʃn]

  n. 部分；命运；分担的责任；份 v. 分配；命运注定

• invasion [高考]

  美[ɪnˈveɪʒn] | 英[ɪnˈveɪʒn]

  n. 侵略；侵入

• unique [高考]

  美[juˈniːk] | 英[juˈniːk]

  adj. 独特的；独一无二的；稀罕的

• 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

• possibility [高考]

  美[ˌpɑːsəˈbɪləti] | 英[ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti]

  n. 可能；可能性；可能的事情；潜在的价值

• 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

• emergency [高考]

  美[iˈmɜːrdʒənsi] | 英[iˈmɜːdʒənsi]

  n. 突发事件；紧急状态 adj. 应急的；紧急的；备用的

• extreme [高考]

  美[ɪkˈstriːm] | 英[ɪkˈstriːm]

  adj. 极度的；极端的 n. 极端；极限

• debt [高考]

  美[det] | 英[det]

  n. 债务；恩情；负债状态；义务；罪

• hardship [高考]

  美[ˈhɑːrdʃɪp] | 英[ˈhɑːdʃɪp]

  n. 艰难；困苦

• assistance [高考]

  美[əˈsɪstəns] | 英[əˈsɪstəns]

  n. 援助；帮助

• severe [高考]

  美[sɪˈvɪr] | 英[sɪˈvɪə(r)]

  adj. 严厉的；严重的；剧烈的；严格的；严峻的

• welfare [高考]

  美[ˈwelfer] | 英[ˈwelfeə(r)]

  n. 福利；福利事业；幸福 adj. 福利的；接受社会救济的

• institution [高考]

  美[ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃn] | 英[ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃn]

  n. 制定；制度；机构；名流

• tax [高考]

  美[tæks] | 英[tæks]

  n. 税；负担 v. 斥责；课税；使 ... 负重荷

• finance [高考]

  美[ˈfaɪnæns] | 英[ˈfaɪnæns]

  n. 金融；财政；资金 vt. 给 ... 提供资金；负担经费

• increase in [高考]

  美[ɪnˈkris ɪn] | 英[inˈkri:s in]

  增加； 增大

• further [高考]

  美[ˈfɜːrðər] | 英[ˈfɜːðə(r)]

  adv. 更远地，再往前地；进一步；此外，而且 adj. 更多的，进一步的；（距离上）更远的，较远的 v. 促进，推进

• era [高考]

  美[ˈɪrə] | 英[ˈɪərə]

  n. 纪元；时代；年代

• distress [四级]

  美[dɪˈstres] | 英[dɪˈstres]

  n. 不幸；危难；苦恼；痛苦 vt. 使苦恼；使痛苦

• midst [四级]

  美[mɪdst] | 英[mɪdst]

  n. 中间；当中 prep. 在 ... 当中(=amidst)

• inflation [四级]

  美[ɪnˈfleɪʃn] | 英[ɪnˈfleɪʃn]

  n. 通货膨胀；膨胀

• short-term [四级]

  美[ˌʃɔːrt ˈtɜːrm] | 英[ˌʃɔːt ˈtɜːm]

  adj. 短期的

• dedicate [四级]

  美[ˈdedɪkeɪt] | 英[ˈdedɪkeɪt]

  vt. 致力于；献出；提献辞

• involved in [四级]

  美 | 英

  涉及； 包含在 ... 中

• in the case of [四级]

  美[ɪn ði kes ʌv] | 英[in ðə keis ɔv]

  就 ... 来说 在 ... 的情况下

• leading [四级]

  美[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ] | 英[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ]

  adj. 领导的；指导的；主要的；在前的

• involved [四级]

  美[ɪnˈvɑlvd] | 英[ɪnˈvɒlvd]

  adj. 涉及的；牵连的；复杂的；感情投入的；有密切关系的

• offering [四级]

  美[ˈɔːfərɪŋ] | 英[ˈɒfərɪŋ]

  n. 供品；作品；出售物

• instability [六级]

  美[ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪti] | 英[ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti]

  n. 不稳定；不安定

• veto [六级]

  美[ˈviːtoʊ] | 英[ˈviːtəʊ]

  n. 否决；否决权 v. 否决

• 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

• out of [六级]

  美[aʊt ʌv] | 英[aut ɔv]

  prep. 离…一段距离；从…里；离开 ...；出于

• mandate [六级]

  美[ˈmændeɪt] | 英[ˈmændeɪt]

  n. 命令；指令；要求；授权 v. 把(某一地区)置于委任管理下

• turmoil [专四]

  美[ˈtɜːrmɔɪl] | 英[ˈtɜːmɔɪl]

  n. 混乱；骚动

• economies [专四]

  美[ɪ'kɒnəmɪz] | 英[iˈkɔnəmiz]

  节约；经济（名词economy的复数形式）

• works [专八]

  美[wəks] | 英[wə:ks]

  n. 工厂；修建；机器部件；全套物品

• governance [考研]

  美[ˈɡʌvərnəns] | 英[ˈɡʌvənəns]

  n. 统治；支配；管理

• Federal [考研]

  美[ˈfedərəl] | 英[ˈfedərəl]

  adj. 联邦制的；联邦政府的；同盟的 n. 联邦主义者；同盟盟友

• recurring [托福]

  美[rɪ'kɜɪŋ] | 英[rɪ'kɜ:rɪŋ]

  adj. 再发的；循环的

重点讲解

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are only two of the many countries currently facing conditions of severe debt distress.

巴基斯坦和斯里兰卡只是目前面临严重债务困境的众多国家之二。

distress    n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）忧虑；痛苦

【例】The newspaper article caused the actor considerable distress. 

报纸上的文章给这位演员带来极大的痛苦。

（2）贫困；窘迫

【例】economic/financial distress 经济拮据/财政困难

【近义词】hardship  n. 艰难；困苦

（3）（船、飞机等）遇难，遇险

【例】a distress signal 求救信号

2. 作动词：使忧虑；使悲伤

【例】The letter had deeply distressed her. 

这封信使她极为悲伤。

Covid-19 delivered a major blow to many low- and middle-income countries that had borrowed heavily during the era of low interest rates beginning with the 2008 financial crisis.

新冠肺炎疫情对许多中低收入国家造成了沉重打击，这些国家曾在2008年金融危机开启的低利率时期大量举债。

deliver   v.

1. 递送；传送；交付

【例】We can deliver goods to your door. 

我们可送货上门。

【拓展】deliverable  n. 应交付的产品

2. 发表；发布

【例】deliver a speech   发表演讲

3. 履行诺言

【例】deliver on a promise  履行诺言

4. 给予（打击）

【例】They have delivered a heavy blow to the terrorists. 

他们已给恐怖分子有力的痛击。

As the costs of public health and welfare rocketed, economies were locked down and tourism collapsed, which meant that tax revenues plummeted.

随着公共卫生和福利费用飙升，各国进行封控，旅游业崩溃，这意味着税收收入大幅下降。

plummet   v. 垂直下降；暴跌

【例】Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 

股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。

【近义词】plunge/dive/crash/tumble  v. 暴跌；骤降

The pandemic also disrupted global supply chains, leading to shortages of many goods and higher prices. These inflationary pressures were then exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

疫情还扰乱了全球供应链，导致许多商品短缺和价格上涨。随后，俄罗斯入侵乌克兰又加剧了这些通胀压力。

exacerbate   v. 使恶化；使加剧

【例】The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs. 

这些症状可能会因为某些药物而加重。

【同义词】worsen/aggravate 

【辨析】exasperate   v. 激怒；使恼怒

Meanwhile, the decision of the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to reduce US inflation has pushed the value of the dollar to its highest level in 20 years.

与此同时，美联储为降低通胀而加息，这将美元汇率推至20年来的最高水平。

value   n. 价值

【例】to hold the value  保值

【拓展】devaluation/revaluation  n. （政府）使货币贬值/升值

depreciation/appreciation   n. 贬值/升值

This has made the debt of countries that borrowed in dollars--many do--more expensive since their currencies are worth less, while further increasing the cost of their imports.

这使得以美元借款的国家(很多国家都是如此)的债务变得更加沉重，因为这些国家的货币贬值了，同时进一步增加了他们的进口成本。

value   n. 价值

【例】to hold the value  保值

【拓展】devaluation/revaluation  n. （政府）使货币贬值/升值

depreciation/appreciation   n. 贬值/升值

Rising US interest rates have also encouraged investors to pull capital out of riskier emerging markets at a historic rate, since safer dollar investments now produce higher returns.

美国利率上升也鼓励投资者以历史性的速度将资本撤出风险较高的新兴市场，因为更安全的美元投资现在能产生更高的回报。

threaten   v.

1. 威胁

【例】The hijackers threatened to kill one passenger every hour if their demands were not met. 

劫机者威胁说，如果他们的要求得不到满足，他们每过一小时就杀死一名乘客。

2. 预示（坏事）发生；有……危险

【例】The clouds threatened rain. 

乌云密布预示大雨将至。

3. 危及；构成威胁

【例】Pollution is threatening marine life. 

污染正危及海洋生物。

【同义词】endanger

The result is that the world economy faces the possibility of one of the worst debt crises in decades, threatening deep recessions, political instability, and years of lost growth.

其结果是，世界经济可能面临几十年来最严重的债务危机之一，可能导致严重经济衰退、政治不稳定和数年的增长停滞。

threaten   v.

1. 威胁

【例】The hijackers threatened to kill one passenger every hour if their demands were not met. 

劫机者威胁说，如果他们的要求得不到满足，他们每过一小时就杀死一名乘客。

2. 预示（坏事）发生；有……危险

【例】The clouds threatened rain. 

乌云密布预示大雨将至。

3. 危及；构成威胁

【例】Pollution is threatening marine life. 

污染正危及海洋生物。

【同义词】endanger

At the same time, the increase in extreme weather events--stronger hurricanes, recurring droughts--makes life even harder for states that already dedicate a large portion of their revenues to servicing foreign debt.

与此同时，极端天气事件的增加----飓风越来越强、干旱频发----让那些已经将很大一部分收入用于偿还外债利息的国家更加感到难以度日。

dedicate sth to    把某物用于；把某物奉献给

【例】He dedicates his Saturdays to playing football. 

他总把星期六用来打橄榄球。

to dedicate his life to scientific research 把他的一生奉献给科学研究

service    n. & v.

1. 作名词：服务；效劳

【例】at the service of sb  随时为某人提供服务

2. 作动词：

（1）提供服务

【例】This department services the international sales force. 

这个部门向国际销售人员提供服务。

（2）检修；维护

【例】to have the car serviced regularly 定期把汽车送去维修

（3）支付（债务）利息

【例】The company can no longer service its debts. 

那家公司已无力支付债务利息。

In the midst of this turmoil, the IMF has become more involved in bailing out countries than it has in years.

在这场动荡中，国际货币基金组织比过去许多年来更多地参与了对国家的救助。

turmoil    n. 动乱；骚动；混乱

【例】His statement threw the court into turmoil. 

他的陈述使得法庭陷入一片混乱。

【拓展】tumult  n. 喧哗；骚乱；心烦意乱  turbulence  n. 动乱；动荡；湍流

Over the last few months, the value of its emergency loans reached a record level, as a growing number of states turned to it for help, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana and Tunisia.

在过去几个月里，随着越来越多的国家(包括孟加拉国、埃及、加纳和突尼斯)向该组织求助，其紧急贷款金额达到了创纪录的水平。

turmoil    n. 动乱；骚动；混乱

【例】His statement threw the court into turmoil. 

他的陈述使得法庭陷入一片混乱。

【拓展】tumult  n. 喧哗；骚乱；心烦意乱  turbulence  n. 动乱；动荡；湍流

Broadly speaking, the way the IMF works is by collecting financial resources from members and then offering them short-term assistance in the case of financial hardship.

一般来说，国际货币基金组织的运作方式是从成员国那里筹集财务资源，然后在他们遇到财政困难时提供短期援助。

turmoil    n. 动乱；骚动；混乱

【例】His statement threw the court into turmoil. 

他的陈述使得法庭陷入一片混乱。

【拓展】tumult  n. 喧哗；骚乱；心烦意乱  turbulence  n. 动乱；动荡；湍流

Based in Washington DC, the institution is staffed by representatives of ministers of finance and central bank governors from around the world.

国际货币基金组织总部设在华盛顿特区，该机构人员由来自世界各地的财政部长代表和央行行长代表组成。

staff   n. & v.

1. 作名词：全体职工

【例】staff training/skeleton staff  员工培训/基干人员

2. 作动词：在……工作；为……配备职员

【例】The advice centre is staffed entirely by volunteers. 

在咨询中心工作的全部是志愿者。

【拓展】overstaffed  adj.人员冗余的 short-staffed/ understaffed  adj.人手不足的  

Because voting power is weighted by each state's financial contribution, the US, as the IMF's largest shareholder, exercises outsized influence over its major decisions and can veto proposed reforms to its governance.

因为投票权按每个国家的财务贡献来加权，所以美国作为国际货币基金组织最大的股东，对该组织的重大决策具有特别大的影响力，可以否决对其治理改革的提议。

outsized   adj. 比一般尺寸大的；较大的

【例】an outsized desk 一张特大号桌子

【拓展】outnumber  v. 数量超过  outsmart  v. 智高一筹 outlive  v. 活得更长

But as an international body that counts nearly every sovereign state as member, the IMF plays a unique role in the world economy.

但作为一个成员几乎包括了所有主权国家的国际机构，国际货币基金组织在世界经济中发挥着独特作用。

count...as/(adj.)  把……算作/看作

【例】For tax purposes that money counts as income. 

那笔钱算作收入，需要纳税。

I count myself lucky to have known him. 

和他相识，我觉得自己很幸运。

【拓展】count sb out  不把某人算作；不包括

【例】If you're going out tonight you'll have to count me out. 

假如你们今晚要出去，就别把我算在内。

It's the only institution with the resources, mandate and global reach to help almost any country facing severe economic distress.

该组织是唯一一个拥有足够的资源、授权和全球影响力，来帮助任何面临严重经济困境的国家的机构。

mandate   n. & v.

1. 作名词：

（1）授权

【例】a mandate for an end to the civil war 停止内战的权力

（2）政府的任期

【例】The presidential mandate is limited to two terms of four years each. 

总统的任期不得超过两届，每届四年。

2. 作动词：

（1）强制执行

【例】In Ohio, every bridge is mandated to be inspected annually.

在俄亥俄州，所有桥梁都必须每年接受检查。

【拓展】mandatory   adj. 强制的；必须履行的

【例】In 1991, the British government made it mandatory to wear rear seat belts in cars.

1991年，英国政府规定后排乘车时必须系上安全带。

（2）授权

【例】The assembly was mandated to draft a constitution. 

大会获得授权起草一份章程。

课后练习

• One of the contributors to the debt distress of many countries is ____.

  A. the negative impacts of the 2008 financial crisis

  B. the erection of trade barriers among countries

  C. the declining government revenues due to Covid-19

  D. the increasing trade deficit and rising costs

• The impact of rising US interest rates for many countries is that ____.

  A. the dollar is worth less

  B. their debts are heavier

  C. their exports are more expensive

  D. investments are riskier

• One of the functions of IMF is ____.

  A. to assess the development potential of countries

  B. to offer financial aid to countries in need

  C. to redistribute financial resources in the world

  D. to level the playing field of global trade

• Which of the following is true about IMF?

  A. Its members have equal voting power.

  B. It is exclusively funded by the US.

  C. It is designed to reform the world economy.

  D. It is capable of reaching out to every country.