国际货币基金组织负起责任了吗(上)

8月下旬，随着这场灾难的严重程度变得清晰，巴基斯坦政府正试图避免另一场灾难。

双语精读

Last summer, after months of unusually heavy monsoon rains, and temperatures that approached the limits of human survivability, Pakistan--home to thousands of melting Himalayan glaciers--experienced some of the worst floods in its history.

去年夏天，在经历了持续数月的罕见强季风性降雨以及逼近人类生存极限的高温之后，巴基斯坦----这里有数千座正在融化的喜马拉雅冰川----遭遇了该国历史上最严重的洪水。

The most extensive destruction was in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, but some estimated that up to a third of the country was submerged.

信德省和俾路支省受灾最严重，但据估计，该国多达三分之一的地区已被洪水淹没。

The floods killed more than 1,700 people and displaced a further 32 million--more than the entire population of Australia.

洪水造成1700多人遇难，另有3200万人流离失所----比澳大利亚的总人口还多。

Some of the country's most fertile agricultural areas became giant lakes, drowning livestock and destroying crops and infrastructure. The cost of the disaster now runs to tens of billions of dollars.

一些最为富饶的农业地区变成了巨大的湖泊，湖水淹没了牲畜，摧毁了农作物和基础设施。这场灾难造成的损失目前已达数百亿美元。

In late August, as the scale of this catastrophe was becoming clear, the Pakistani government was trying to avert a second disaster.

8月下旬，随着这场灾难的严重程度变得清晰，巴基斯坦政府正试图避免另一场灾难。

It was finally reaching a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avoid missing payment on its foreign debt.

为避免拖欠外债，该国最终与国际货币基金组织达成协议。

Without this agreement, Pakistan would likely have been declared in default--an event that can spark a recession, weaken a country's long-term growth, and make it more difficult to borrow at affordable rates in the future.

如果没有这项协议，巴基斯坦可能已经被宣布违约----这一事件可能引发经济衰退、削弱一个国家经济的长期增长、未来更难以负担得起的利率借款。

The terms of the deal were painful: the government was offered a $1.17 bn IMF bailout only after it demonstrated a real commitment to undertaking unpopular austerity policies, such as slashing energy subsidies.

协议的条款让巴基斯坦很不好受: 该国政府只有在真正承诺实施不受欢迎的紧缩政策(如削减能源补贴)之后，才能获得国际货币基金组织提供的11.7亿美元的财政援助。

But the recent fate of another south Asian country appeared to show what happens if you put off the IMF for too long.

但另一个南亚国家最近的命运似乎例证了如果使国际货币基金组织等待太久会发生什么。

Only weeks before, the Sri Lankan government, shortly after its own default--and after months of refusing to implement IMF-demanded reforms--was overthrown in a popular uprising.

就在几周前，斯里兰卡政府拖欠债务----数月来斯里兰卡一直拒绝实施国际货币基金组织要求的改革----之后不久在一场平民起义中被推翻。

The correlation of Pakistan's crises--exceptionally devastating floods and the threat of economic meltdown--was partly bad luck.

巴基斯坦的祸不单行----极具破坏性的洪水和经济崩溃的威胁----在一定程度上是因为运气不好。

But it was also emblematic of a challenge faced by many countries at the forefront of the climate crisis: how can they afford to deal with extreme weather events and prepare themselves for the coming disasters, while suffering under crippling debt loads and facing demands for austerity as the price of relief?

但这也代表了在气候危机中首当其冲的许多国家所面临的挑战：在背负沉重的债务负担、为换取救援而被要求实行紧缩政策时，他们如何才能应对得起极端天气事件，并为即将到来的灾难做好准备?

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

• affordable [高考]

  美[əˈfɔːrdəbl] | 英[əˈfɔːdəbl]

  adj. 支付得起的；不太昂贵的

• giant [高考]

  美[ˈdʒaɪənt] | 英[ˈdʒaɪənt]

  n. 巨人；巨物；大公司 adj. 巨大的

• threat [高考]

  美[θret] | 英[θret]

  n. 威胁；恐吓；凶兆

• payment [高考]

  美[ˈpeɪmənt] | 英[ˈpeɪmənt]

  n. 支付；支付的款项；报偿；报应

• weaken [高考]

  美[ˈwiːkən] | 英[ˈwiːkən]

  v. 使 ... 弱，削弱； 变弱； 弄淡

• scale [高考]

  美[skeɪl] | 英[skeɪl]

  n. 等级，规模；刻度；音阶；量程；天枰 v. 攀登；到达…顶点；去鳞

• destruction [高考]

  美[dɪˈstrʌkʃn] | 英[dɪˈstrʌkʃn]

  n. 破坏；毁灭

• extensive [高考]

  美[ɪkˈstensɪv] | 英[ɪkˈstensɪv]

  adj. 广泛的；广阔的；广大的；大量的

• fate [高考]

  美[feɪt] | 英[feɪt]

  n. 命运，宿命 vt. 注定

• suffering [高考]

  美[ˈsʌfərɪŋ] | 英[ˈsʌfərɪŋ]

  n. 痛苦；受难

• infrastructure [高考]

  美[ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər] | 英[ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)]

  n. 基础；基础设施

• 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

• entire [高考]

  美[ɪnˈtaɪər] | 英[ɪnˈtaɪə(r)]

  adj. 全部的；整个的；完全的 n. 全部；整体；〈英〉一种黑啤酒；种马

• relief [高考]

  美[rɪˈliːf] | 英[rɪˈliːf]

  n. 减轻；解除；轻松；浮雕；救济(品)；安慰；替代 adj. 提供救济的；文本的

• agricultural [高考]

  美[ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl] | 英[ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl]

  adj. 农业的

• extreme [高考]

  美[ɪkˈstriːm] | 英[ɪkˈstriːm]

  adj. 极度的；极端的 n. 极端；极限

• commitment [高考]

  美[kəˈmɪtmənt] | 英[kəˈmɪtmənt]

  n. 承诺；保证；信奉；献身；委任；交押

• debt [高考]

  美[det] | 英[det]

  n. 债务；恩情；负债状态；义务；罪

• shortly [高考]

  美[ˈʃɔːrtli] | 英[ˈʃɔːtli]

  adv. 立刻；马上

• catastrophe [高考]

  美[kəˈtæstrəfi] | 英[kəˈtæstrəfi]

  n. 大灾难；大祸；彻底失败

• 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

• fertile [高考]

  美[ˈfɜːrtl] | 英[ˈfɜːtaɪl]

  adj. 肥沃的；富饶的；能繁殖的；多产的；（创造力）丰富的

• implement [高考]

  美[ˈɪmplɪment , ˈɪmplɪmənt] | 英[ˈɪmplɪment , ˈɪmplɪmənt]

  n. 工具；器具；当工具的物品 vt. 实施；执行；向 ... 提供工具(或手段)

• would [高考]

  美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]

  aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式

• unusually [四级]

  美[ʌnˈjuʒʊəlɪ] | 英[ʌnˈju:ʒuəli]

  adv. 异乎寻常地；显著地；非常

• spark [四级]

  美[spɑːrk] | 英[spɑːk]

  vi. 闪烁；冒火花；热情回应 vt. 激发；引起；向...求爱 n. 火星；朝气；情人；俗丽的年轻人

• recession [四级]

  美[rɪˈseʃn] | 英[rɪˈseʃn]

  n. 后退；（经济）不景气

• long-term [四级]

  美[ˌlɔːŋ ˈtɜːrm] | 英[ˌlɒŋ ˈtɜːm]

  adj. 长期的

• unpopular [四级]

  美[ʌnˈpɑpjələ(r)] | 英[ʌnˈpɒpjələ(r)]

  adj. 不流行的；不受欢迎的

• meltdown [四级]

  美[ˈmeltdaʊn] | 英[ˈmeltdaʊn]

  n. 熔毁；灾难；崩溃

• make it [四级]

  美[mek ɪt] | 英[meik it]

  成功 达到预定目标,性交易,幸存

• up to [四级]

  美[ʌp tu] | 英[ʌp tu]

  胜任；直到；多达；该由 ... 决定

• experienced [四级]

  美[ɪkˈspɪriənst] | 英[ɪkˈspɪəriənst]

  adj. 有经验的

• default [六级]

  美[dɪˈfɔːlt] | 英[dɪˈfɔːlt]

  n. 默认(值)，系统设定值；不履行，违约；；缺席，弃权 v. 违约，不履行义务，拖欠；默认，预设；弃权，未到场 adj. 默认的

• correlation [六级]

  美[ˌkɔːrəˈleɪʃn] | 英[ˌkɒrəˈleɪʃn]

  n. 相互关系；相关；关联

• livestock [六级]

  美[ˈlaɪvstɑːk] | 英[ˈlaɪvstɒk]

  n. 家畜；牲畜

• avert [专四]

  美[əˈvɜːrt] | 英[əˈvɜːt]

  vt. 转开；避免；防止

• austerity [专八]

  美[ɔːˈsterəti] | 英[ɒˈsterəti]

  n. 节俭；苦行；(经济的)紧缩；严厉

• monsoon [专八]

  美[ˌmɑːnˈsuːn] | 英[ˌmɒnˈsuːn]

  n. 季风；雨季

• trying [专八]

  美[ˈtraɪɪŋ] | 英[ˈtraɪɪŋ]

  adj. 难受的；令人厌烦的

• exceptionally [考研]

  美[ɪkˈsepʃənəli] | 英[ɪkˈsepʃənəli]

  adv. 格外地；特别地

• forefront [托福]

  美[ˈfɔrfrʌnt] | 英[ˈfɔ:frʌnt]

  n. 最前列；最前线

• crippling [托福]

  美[ˈkrɪplɪŋ] | 英['krɪplɪŋ]

  adj. 严重损害身体的；造成严重后果的

• melting [雅思]

  美[ ˈmeltɪŋ] | 英[ˈmeltɪŋ]

  adj. 融化的

• devastating [雅思]

  美[ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ] | 英[ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ]

  adj. 毁灭性的；破坏性的；惊人的；压倒性的；有魅力的

• terms [雅思]

  美[tɜːrmz] | 英[tɜːmz]

  n. 条件；条款；关系；措辞

重点讲解

Last summer, after months of unusually heavy monsoon rains, and temperatures that approached the limits of human survivability, Pakistan--home to thousands of melting Himalayan glaciers--experienced some of the worst floods in its history.

去年夏天，在经历了持续数月的罕见强季风性降雨以及逼近人类生存极限的高温之后，巴基斯坦----这里有数千座正在融化的喜马拉雅冰川----遭遇了该国历史上最严重的洪水。

submerge   v. 

1. 潜入水中；没入水中

【例】The stream overflowed and submerged the farmland. 

河水泛滥, 淹没了农田。

2. 湮没，湮灭（思想、感情等）

【例】Doubts that had been submerged in her mind suddenly resurfaced. 

她心里早已湮灭的疑团突然又浮现出来。

【反义词】emerge  v. 浮现；露出

The most extensive destruction was in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, but some estimated that up to a third of the country was submerged.

信德省和俾路支省受灾最严重，但据估计，该国多达三分之一的地区已被洪水淹没。

submerge   v. 

1. 潜入水中；没入水中

【例】The stream overflowed and submerged the farmland. 

河水泛滥, 淹没了农田。

2. 湮没，湮灭（思想、感情等）

【例】Doubts that had been submerged in her mind suddenly resurfaced. 

她心里早已湮灭的疑团突然又浮现出来。

【反义词】emerge  v. 浮现；露出

The floods killed more than 1,700 people and displaced a further 32 million--more than the entire population of Australia.

洪水造成1700多人遇难，另有3200万人流离失所----比澳大利亚的总人口还多。

displace   v. 

1. 取代；替代

【例】Gradually factory workers have been displaced by machines. 

工厂的工人已逐渐被机器取代。

【同义词】replace 

2. 迫使（某人）离开家园

【例】Around 10 000 people have been displaced by the fighting. 

大约1万人因战争而背井离乡。

3. 撤职；免职

【例】displaced workers 下岗工人

Some of the country's most fertile agricultural areas became giant lakes, drowning livestock and destroying crops and infrastructure. The cost of the disaster now runs to tens of billions of dollars.

一些最为富饶的农业地区变成了巨大的湖泊，湖水淹没了牲畜，摧毁了农作物和基础设施。这场灾难造成的损失目前已达数百亿美元。

fertile   adj.

1. （人或动植物）能生育的；可繁殖的

【例】Rabbits are fertile all year round.

兔子全年都可以繁殖。

【拓展】fertility rate  人口出生率

2. （土地）肥沃的；富饶的

【例】a fertile fruit region/land of fish and rice 水果丰产区/鱼米之乡

3. 能产生好结果的

【例】a fertile area for research/ground for revolutionary movements可供研究的广阔领域/革命运动的沃土

4. 点子多的；想像力丰富的

【例】fertile imagination  丰富的想象力

In late August, as the scale of this catastrophe was becoming clear, the Pakistani government was trying to avert a second disaster.

8月下旬，随着这场灾难的严重程度变得清晰，巴基斯坦政府正试图避免另一场灾难。

avert   v. 

1. 防止，避免（危险、坏事）

【例】Many traffic accidents can be averted by courtesy. 

礼让可以使许多交通事故得以避免。

Preparedness averts peril. 

有备无患。

【同义词】prevent/avoid  v. 防止；避免

2. 转移 (目光、注意力等)

【例】avert one's eyes/face from an ugly sight 转移目光/背过脸不去看丑恶的景象

【拓展】aversion   n. 厌恶；憎恨

【例】have an aversion to getting up early 讨厌早起

It was finally reaching a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avoid missing payment on its foreign debt.

为避免拖欠外债，该国最终与国际货币基金组织达成协议。

avert   v. 

1. 防止，避免（危险、坏事）

【例】Many traffic accidents can be averted by courtesy. 

礼让可以使许多交通事故得以避免。

Preparedness averts peril. 

有备无患。

【同义词】prevent/avoid  v. 防止；避免

2. 转移 (目光、注意力等)

【例】avert one's eyes/face from an ugly sight 转移目光/背过脸不去看丑恶的景象

【拓展】aversion   n. 厌恶；憎恨

【例】have an aversion to getting up early 讨厌早起

Without this agreement, Pakistan would likely have been declared in default--an event that can spark a recession, weaken a country's long-term growth, and make it more difficult to borrow at affordable rates in the future.

如果没有这项协议，巴基斯坦可能已经被宣布违约----这一事件可能引发经济衰退、削弱一个国家经济的长期增长、未来更难以负担得起的利率借款。

default   n. & v.

1. 作名词：违约（尤指未偿付债务）

【例】be in default on a loan  拖欠借款

2. 作动词：违约，不履行义务（尤指不偿还债务）

【例】to default on a loan/debt/commitment 拖欠借款/拖欠债务/违反承诺

【拓展】debt n. 债务 pay off 偿清  balance  n. 结欠款

spark  v. 引发；触发

【例】The question sparked a lively discussion.

这个问题引发了热烈讨论。

【近义词】cause/prompt/trigger/set off  v. 触发；使突然发生

The terms of the deal were painful: the government was offered a $1.17 bn IMF bailout only after it demonstrated a real commitment to undertaking unpopular austerity policies, such as slashing energy subsidies.

协议的条款让巴基斯坦很不好受: 该国政府只有在真正承诺实施不受欢迎的紧缩政策(如削减能源补贴)之后，才能获得国际货币基金组织提供的11.7亿美元的财政援助。

bailout   n. 财政援助

【例】a bailout loan of $ 300 million 一笔3亿美元的应急贷款

【拓展】bail sb out  帮助（某人）脱离困境

【例】The government had to bail the company out of financial difficulty. 

政府只得帮助该公司渡过财政难关。

But the recent**** fate**** of**** another south Asian country appeared**** to**** show**** what**** happens if**** you put off the IMF for too long****.****

但另一个南亚国家最近的命运似乎例证了如果使国际货币基金组织等待太久会发生什么。

Only**** weeks before****,**** the Sri Lankan**** government****,**** shortly after its own default--and**** after months**** of**** refusing**** to**** implement IMF-demanded**** reforms--was**** overthrown**** in**** a popular uprising****.****

就在几周前，斯里兰卡政府拖欠债务----数月来斯里兰卡一直拒绝实施国际货币基金组织要求的改革----之后不久在一场平民起义中被推翻。

The correlation of Pakistan's crises--exceptionally devastating floods and the threat of economic meltdown--was partly bad luck.

巴基斯坦的祸不单行----极具破坏性的洪水和经济崩溃的威胁----在一定程度上是因为运气不好。

devastating   adj. 破坏性极大的；毁灭性的

【例】It will be a devastating blow to the local community if the factory closes. 

如果这家工厂倒闭，将给当地居民以毁灭性的打击。

【拓展】devastate  v. 彻底破坏；摧毁  devastation  n. 毁灭；破坏

But it was also emblematic of a challenge faced by many countries at the forefront of the climate crisis: how can they afford to deal with extreme weather events and prepare themselves for the coming disasters, while suffering under crippling debt loads and facing demands for austerity as the price of relief?

但这也代表了在气候危机中首当其冲的许多国家所面临的挑战：在背负沉重的债务负担、为换取救援而被要求实行紧缩政策时，他们如何才能应对得起极端天气事件，并为即将到来的灾难做好准备?

emblematic   adj. 标志的；有代表性的；典型的

【例】The violence is emblematic of what is happening in inner cities. 

这种暴力行为正代表了市中心贫民区的状况。

【拓展】emblem   n. 徽章；象征

at the forefront of   处于最前列；位于重要地位

（英文释义：at an important or leading position in a particular group or activity）

【例】She has always been at the forefront of the Green movement. 

她总是在环境保护运动的最前列。

课后练习

• What can be learned about Pakistan?

  A. The unusually high temperatures killed many people.

  B. The provinces near the glaciers were submerged.

  C. Many flood victims were immigrating to Australia.

  D. The flood disasters caused heavy losses and casualties.

• Which of the following is true about the deal between Pakistan and IMF?

  A. It extended the deadline for repaying IMF loans.

  B. It exempted Pakistan from the punishment of default.

  C. It provided loans for Pakistan to pay foreign debts.

  D. It agreed to lower the interest rate of future loans.

• According to the text, the terms of the deal ____.

  A. aimed to boost the long-term growth of Pakistan

  B. were not easy for Pakistan to implement

  C. urged Pakistan to be committed to clean energy

  D. were likely to worsen Pakistan’s financial problems

• One of the challenges faced by countries like Pakistan is ____.

  A. to reform their economic systems

  B. to reduce their fiscal deficits

  C. to cope with climate disasters

  D. to pursue the austerity policy