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曾经领先的德国经济遭遇危机
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曾经领先的德国经济遭遇危机
选民们最关心的一个问题将是在能源价格高企、企业纷纷裁员之际，新政府将如何重振曾经强大的德国经济。 
双语精读
Why Germany's Economy, Once a Leader in Europe, Is Now in Crisis
为什么曾经领先欧洲的德国经济现在遭遇危机
As Germans prepare for a snap election after the collapse of a fragile government coalition, one issue at the top of voters' minds will be how the new government would revive the country's once powerful economy at a time when energy prices are high and companies are cutting jobs.
在脆弱的联盟政府垮台后，德国人正为提前选举做准备，选民们最关心的一个问题将是在能源价格高企、企业纷纷裁员之际，新政府将如何重振曾经强大的德国经济。
Germany, Europe's largest economy, has not seen significant growth in the past two years. On Friday, the economy recorded 0.1 percent growth from July to September, but it is forecast to contract over the entire year.
德国是欧洲最大的经济体，但在过去两年中经济没有出现显著增长。周五的数据显示，7月至9月期间德国经济增长了0.1%，但预计全年将出现收缩。
And economists do not expect to see a return to growth in 2025, unless a new government can make significant changes quickly. Driving that point home, Germany's largest auto supplier, Bosch, said on Friday that it planned to cut 5,500 jobs, beginning in 2027. More than two-thirds will be at German factories.
并且经济学家预计，除非新政府能够迅速做出重大改变，否则2025年不会出现增长。让人彻底明白要做出改变的是，德国最大的汽车供应商博世在周五表示，计划从2027年开始削减5500个工作岗位。超过三分之二的裁员将发生在德国工厂。
German industrial companies have seen production shrink more than 12 percent since 2018. Many point to a lack of clear signals from Berlin on where they should direct investment.
自2018年以来，德国工业企业的产量减少了12%以上。许多人指出这是因为国家没有发出明确的、应该向哪里投资的信号。
An example was an abrupt decision by the government to end subsidies for electric vehicles at the end of last year, in an effort to slim down the budget. Automakers, which had been ramping up production of battery-powered cars, saw demand plunge after spooked customers pulled back.
一个例子是，政府在去年年底突然决定终止对电动汽车的补贴，目的是努力缩减预算。而汽车制造商一直在增加电池动力汽车的产量，受到惊吓的消费者退缩后，电动车的需求暴跌。
The fallout from that decision has led to enormous job cuts in the automotive industry this year. On Wednesday, Ford Motor announced that it was eliminating 4,000 jobs in Europe, most of them in Germany.
该决定的后果导致今年汽车行业大量裁员。周三，福特汽车宣布将在欧洲裁员4000人，其中大部分在德国。
Volkswagen is threatening to close up to three of its 10 German factories as part of the restructuring needed to return the brand to profitability.
大众汽车在德国有10家工厂，也扬言要关闭最多3家，这是大众为恢复盈利而进行的重组工作的一部分。
Analysts point out that such zigzag strategies make it difficult for business leaders to plan investments or predict costs. That frustration has translated into record levels of pessimism among Germany's industrial leaders, according to a survey by the ifo Institute in Munich.
分析人士指出，这种反复不定的策略使得企业领袖很难规划投资或预测成本。根据慕尼黑伊福经济研究所的一项调查，这种挫败感已经转化为德国工业领袖创纪录的悲观水平。
Beyond the industrial giants, the German economy also depends on innovation and expertise. But in an increasingly digital world, Germany is lacking new start-ups that will help drive the next generation of growth.
除了工业巨头之外，德国经济还依赖于创新和专业知识。但在一个日益数字化的世界，德国缺乏能推动下一代经济增长的新型创业公司。
Government financing is available to help entrepreneurs start business, but when it comes time to scale them, many move to the United States, where venture funding is more widely available and taxes are lower.
政府可提供资金帮助创业者开办公司，但当这些公司需要扩大规模时，许多会迁往美国，因为美国的风险投资更容易获得，税收也更低。
"Our main problem is not what is happening to ThyssenKrupp," Danyal Bayaz, the finance minister for the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, told the German American Conference at Harvard last week. "It is why is the last successful German start-up 50 years old?"
“我们的主要问题不在于蒂森克虏伯怎么了，”德国西南部巴登-符腾堡州财政部长达尼亚尔·巴亚兹上周在哈佛大学德美会议上表示，“问题在于为什么上一个成功的德国初创企业已经50岁了？”
词汇预习
issue [高考]
美[ˈɪʃuː] | 英[ˈɪʃuː]
n. 问题，议题，争论点；（报纸、杂志等的）期刊号；发放，分配；（新股票或邮票等的）发行；子女，后嗣；流出，发出 v. 发表，颁布；分发，分配；正式发行；流出，发出；由……产生，由…得出
increasingly [高考]
美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]
adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地
economy [高考]
美[ɪˈkɑːnəmi] | 英[ɪˈkɒnəmi]
n. 经济；节约 adj. 经济的；廉价的
significant [高考]
美[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt] | 英[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt]
adj. 重要的；有意义的；意味深长的；显著的
industrial [高考]
美[ɪnˈdʌstriəl] | 英[ɪnˈdʌstriəl]
adj. 工业的；产业的 n. 工业公司
investment [高考]
美[ɪnˈvestmənt] | 英[ɪnˈvestmənt]
n. 投资；投资额；投入
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
innovation [高考]
美[ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn] | 英[ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn]
n. 创新；革新
coalition [高考]
美[ˌkoʊəˈlɪʃn] | 英[ˌkəʊəˈlɪʃn]
n. 结合；联合；联盟
enormous [高考]
美[ɪˈnɔːrməs] | 英[ɪˈnɔːməs]
adj. 巨大的；庞大的
frustration [高考]
美[frʌˈstreɪʃn] | 英[frʌˈstreɪʃn]
n. 挫折；失败；令人沮丧的东西
collapse [高考]
美[kəˈlæps] | 英[kəˈlæps]
v. （使）倒塌；（使）崩溃；（使）瓦解；折叠 n. 倒塌；崩溃；暴跌
election [高考]
美[ɪˈlekʃn] | 英[ɪˈlekʃn]
n. 选举；当选；选举权
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
pessimism [高考]
美[ˈpesɪmɪzəm] | 英[ˈpesɪmɪzəm]
n. 悲观；悲观主义
supplier [高考]
美[səˈplaɪər] | 英[səˈplaɪə(r)]
n. 供应者；供应商
revive [高考]
美[rɪˈvaɪv] | 英[rɪˈvaɪv]
vt. 使重生；恢复精神；唤醒 vi. 复生
demand [高考]
美[dɪˈmænd] | 英[dɪˈmɑːnd]
n. 要求；需求 v. 要求；查问；需要
lack [高考]
美[læk] | 英[læk]
n. 缺乏；无 v. 缺乏；不足
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
generation [高考]
美[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn] | 英[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn]
n. 一代（人）；一代人的时间；（产品发展的）代；产生
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
brand [高考]
美[brænd] | 英[brænd]
n. 烙印；商标；牌子；标记 vt. 加污名于；铭记；打烙印
budget [高考]
美[ˈbʌdʒɪt] | 英[ˈbʌdʒɪt]
n. 预算 vt. 编预算；为 ... 做预算 vi. 节省开支 adj. 廉价的；不贵的
shrink [高考]
美[ʃrɪŋk] | 英[ʃrɪŋk]
v. 收缩；减少；退缩；畏缩 n. 精神病学家；心理学家
minister [高考]
美[ˈmɪnɪstər] | 英[ˈmɪnɪstə(r)]
n. 外交使节；部长；大臣；牧师 v. 照顾；给予帮助
finance [高考]
美[ˈfaɪnæns] | 英[ˈfaɪnæns]
n. 金融；财政；资金 vt. 给 ... 提供资金；负担经费
fragile [高考]
美[ˈfrædʒl] | 英[ˈfrædʒaɪl]
adj. 易碎的；脆的；精细的；虚弱的
abrupt [高考]
美[əˈbrʌpt] | 英[əˈbrʌpt]
adj. 突然的；唐突的；意外的；陡峭的
lack of [高考]
美[læk ʌv] | 英[læk ɔv]
缺乏
point out [高考]
美[pɔɪnt aʊt] | 英[pɔɪnt aʊt]
指出；指明，说明；使注意到
lower [高考]
美[ˈloʊər] | 英[ˈləʊə(r)]
adj. 低的；下级的；下层的 v. 降低；减弱；跌落
slim [高考]
美[slɪm] | 英[slɪm]
adj. 苗条的；微小的；细长的 v. 减肥；缩减
expertise [高考]
美[ˌekspɜːrˈtiːz] | 英[ˌekspɜːˈtiːz]
n. 专门知识；专门技术；专家的意见
snap [高考]
美[snæp] | 英[snæp]
v. 猛咬，谩骂，砰然关上，拍摄，崩塌，劈啪作响 n. 啪嗒声；快照 adj. 突然的，仓促的 int.（在“对儿”牌游戏中出现同样的牌时喊的）对儿；（对于两件相同事物表示惊讶）真巧
where [高考]
美[wer] | 英[weə(r)]
adv. 在哪里；在那个地方 conj. 在 ... 地方
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
auto [四级]
美[ˈɔːtoʊ] | 英[ˈɔːtəʊ]
n. 汽车 pref. 自动的 v. 乘汽车
plunge [四级]
美[plʌndʒ] | 英[plʌndʒ]
v.暴跌；使突然前冲（或下落）；骤降；突降 n.跳水；突然跌落；突然分离；骤减
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
funding [四级]
美[ˈfʌndɪŋ] | 英[ˈfʌndɪŋ]
n. 资金
profitability [六级]
美[ˌprɑfɪtəˈbɪlətɪ] | 英[ˌprɒfɪtə'bɪlətɪ]
n. 收益性；盈利能力
Ford [专四]
美[fɔrd, ford] | 英[fɔ:d, fəʊrd]
n. 福特汽车；福特[姓氏]；浅滩 v. 涉(水)；渡河；津渡
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）
saw [专八]
美[sɔː] | 英[sɔː]
n. 锯；谚语，格言 v. 锯，用锯割开；看见，明白（see的过去式）
fallout [考研]
美[ˈfɔlˌaʊt] | 英[ˈfɔ:laʊt]
n. 原子尘的降下；辐射尘；余波；附带结果
Volkswagen [考研]
美['fɔ:lksvɑ:gən] | 英[ˈvɔ:lksˌvɑ:ɡən]
n. 大众(总部在德国；主要经营汽车的公司)
重点讲解
Why Germany’s Economy, Once a Leader in Europe, Is Now in Crisis
为什么曾经领先欧洲的德国经济现在遭遇危机
at the top of one’s mind 某人心头最重要的事
【例】The deadline of the task is at the top of my mind.
任务的最后期限是我最关心的事。
【拓展】at the top of your voice/lungs 放声大叫
As Germans prepare for a snap election after the collapse of a fragile government coalition, one issue at the top of voters’ minds will be how the new government would revive the country’s once powerful economy at a time when energy prices are high and companies are cutting jobs.
在脆弱的联盟政府垮台后，德国人正为提前选举做准备，选民们最关心的一个问题将是在能源价格高企、企业纷纷裁员之际，新政府将如何重振曾经强大的德国经济。
at the top of one’s mind 某人心头最重要的事
【例】The deadline of the task is at the top of my mind.
任务的最后期限是我最关心的事。
【拓展】at the top of your voice/lungs 放声大叫
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has not seen significant growth in the past two years. On Friday, the economy recorded 0.1 percent growth from July to September, but it is forecast to contract over the entire year.
德国是欧洲最大的经济体，但在过去两年中经济没有出现显著增长。周五的数据显示，7月至9月期间德国经济增长了0.1%，但预计全年将出现收缩。
contract n. & v.
1. 作名词：合同
【例】a contract of employment 雇佣合同
2. 作动词：收缩；减小
【例】a contracting market 萎缩的市场
【近义词】shrink v. 收缩
【反义词】expand v. 扩张；增长
drive sth home 把某事彻底说清楚
【例】She drove the message home that we need to economize.
她明明白白地告诉我们，必须要节约用度。
【拓展】strike home 说中要害
【例】Her face went pale as his words hit home.
他的话切中要害，她变得脸色惨白。
And economists do not expect to see a return to growth in 2025, unless a new government can make significant changes quickly. Driving that point home, Germany’s largest auto supplier, Bosch, said on Friday that it planned to cut 5,500 jobs, beginning in 2027. More than two-thirds will be at German factories.
并且经济学家预计，除非新政府能够迅速做出重大改变，否则2025年不会出现增长。让人彻底明白要做出改变的是，德国最大的汽车供应商博世在周五表示，计划从2027年开始削减5500个工作岗位。超过三分之二的裁员将发生在德国工厂。
contract n. & v.
1. 作名词：合同
【例】a contract of employment 雇佣合同
2. 作动词：收缩；减小
【例】a contracting market 萎缩的市场
【近义词】shrink v. 收缩
【反义词】expand v. 扩张；增长
drive sth home 把某事彻底说清楚
【例】She drove the message home that we need to economize.
她明明白白地告诉我们，必须要节约用度。
【拓展】strike home 说中要害
【例】Her face went pale as his words hit home.
他的话切中要害，她变得脸色惨白。
German industrial companies have seen production shrink more than 12 percent since 2018. Many point to a lack of clear signals from Berlin on where they should direct investment.
自2018年以来，德国工业企业的产量减少了12%以上。许多人指出这是因为国家没有发出明确的、应该向哪里投资的信号。
direct v. 对准方向
【例】We need to direct our attention to that issue.
我们需要把注意力转向这个问题。
【拓展】direction n. 方向
in an effort to do sth 努力做某事；目的是
【例】The company has released a new product line in an effort to expand its market shares.
公司发布了新的产品线，目的是扩大其市场份额。
【近义词】in a bid/an attempt to do sth 目的是
pull back 撤退；后退
【例】Their sponsors pulled back at the last minute.
他们的赞助人临时打了退堂鼓。
【近义词】withdraw v. 撤退
An example was an abrupt decision by the government to end subsidies for electric vehicles at the end of last year, in an effort to slim down the budget. Automakers, which had been ramping up production of battery-powered cars, saw demand plunge after spooked customers pulled back.
一个例子是，政府在去年年底突然决定终止对电动汽车的补贴，目的是努力缩减预算。而汽车制造商一直在增加电池动力汽车的产量，受到惊吓的消费者退缩后，电动车的需求暴跌。
direct v. 对准方向
【例】We need to direct our attention to that issue.
我们需要把注意力转向这个问题。
【拓展】direction n. 方向
in an effort to do sth 努力做某事；目的是
【例】The company has released a new product line in an effort to expand its market shares.
公司发布了新的产品线，目的是扩大其市场份额。
【近义词】in a bid/an attempt to do sth 目的是
pull back 撤退；后退
【例】Their sponsors pulled back at the last minute.
他们的赞助人临时打了退堂鼓。
【近义词】withdraw v. 撤退
The fallout from that decision has led to enormous job cuts in the automotive industry this year. On Wednesday, Ford Motor announced that it was eliminating 4,000 jobs in Europe, most of them in Germany.
该决定的后果导致今年汽车行业大量裁员。周三，福特汽车宣布将在欧洲裁员4000人，其中大部分在德国。
fallout n. 余波；负面后果
【例】The political fallout from the scandal is spreading.
这件丑闻的政治影响正在扩散。
【辨析】fall out with sb 与某人闹翻
zigzag adj. & v.
1. 作形容词：弯弯曲曲的
【例】a zigzag path 弯弯曲曲的小路
2. 作动词：曲折前进
【例】The path zigzags to the cottage.
小路蜿蜒通向小屋。
Volkswagen is threatening to close up to three of its 10 German factories as part of the restructuring needed to return the brand to profitability.
大众汽车在德国有10家工厂，也扬言要关闭最多3家，这是大众为恢复盈利而进行的重组工作的一部分。
fallout n. 余波；负面后果
【例】The political fallout from the scandal is spreading.
这件丑闻的政治影响正在扩散。
【辨析】fall out with sb 与某人闹翻
zigzag adj. & v.
1. 作形容词：弯弯曲曲的
【例】a zigzag path 弯弯曲曲的小路
2. 作动词：曲折前进
【例】The path zigzags to the cottage.
小路蜿蜒通向小屋。
Analysts point out that such zigzag strategies make it difficult for business leaders to plan investments or predict costs. That frustration has translated into record levels of pessimism among Germany’s industrial leaders, according to a survey by the ifo Institute in Munich.
分析人士指出，这种反复不定的策略使得企业领袖很难规划投资或预测成本。根据慕尼黑伊福经济研究所的一项调查，这种挫败感已经转化为德国工业领袖创纪录的悲观水平。
fallout n. 余波；负面后果
【例】The political fallout from the scandal is spreading.
这件丑闻的政治影响正在扩散。
【辨析】fall out with sb 与某人闹翻
zigzag adj. & v.
1. 作形容词：弯弯曲曲的
【例】a zigzag path 弯弯曲曲的小路
2. 作动词：曲折前进
【例】The path zigzags to the cottage.
小路蜿蜒通向小屋。
Beyond the industrial giants, the German economy also depends on innovation and expertise. But in an increasingly digital world, Germany is lacking new start-ups that will help drive the next generation of growth.
除了工业巨头之外，德国经济还依赖于创新和专业知识。但在一个日益数字化的世界，德国缺乏能推动下一代经济增长的新型创业公司。
venture n. & v.
1. 作名词：（有风险的）企业，商业项目
【例】venture capital 风险投资
2. 作动词：做（有风险的事）
【例】to venture a bold idea 冒险提出一个大胆的想法
to venture into a new field 冒险进入新的领域
【拓展】adventure n. 冒险
Government financing is available to help entrepreneurs start business, but when it comes time to scale them, many move to the United States, where venture funding is more widely available and taxes are lower.
政府可提供资金帮助创业者开办公司，但当这些公司需要扩大规模时，许多会迁往美国，因为美国的风险投资更容易获得，税收也更低。
venture n. & v.
1. 作名词：（有风险的）企业，商业项目
【例】venture capital 风险投资
2. 作动词：做（有风险的事）
【例】to venture a bold idea 冒险提出一个大胆的想法
to venture into a new field 冒险进入新的领域
【拓展】adventure n. 冒险
“Our main problem is not what is happening to ThyssenKrupp,” Danyal Bayaz, the finance minister for the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, told the German American Conference at Harvard last week. “It is why is the last successful German start-up 50 years old?”
“我们的主要问题不在于蒂森克虏伯怎么了，”德国西南部巴登-符腾堡州财政部长达尼亚尔·巴亚兹上周在哈佛大学德美会议上表示，“问题在于为什么上一个成功的德国初创企业已经50岁了？”
课后练习
What is the voters' primary concern as Germans prepare for a snap election?
A. How to form a more stable government.
B. How to revive the economy.
C. How to reduce energy prices.
D. How to stop companies from cutting jobs.
What is to blame for the job cuts in the automotive industry?
A. The inconsistent policy of the German government.
B. The unwise investment decisions of entrepreneurs.
C. The poor management of the automotive companies.
D. The weak consumer spending and the declining demand.
Why is Germany lacking new start-ups?
A. Because the German government provides little financing to help new businesses.
B. Because Germans put more emphasis on industrial expertise than on innovation.
C. Because many start-ups choose to move to the United States for venture funding.
D. Because the German start-ups face fierce competition from American ones.
What does Danyal Bayaz's words mean?
A. The problem of the industrial giants is more serious than the lack of start-ups.
B. The key issue for the German economy is the absence of new businesses.
C. German businesses should draw lessons from past experience and successes.
D. ThyssenKrupp has been the most successful German start-up in the past 50 years.
