人大芸窗研究生英语阅读教程Lesson 1

1 LessonOne Spillonomics UnderestimatingRisk 2 Catalogue BackgroundInformationWarm upQuestionsMainIdeaLanguagePointsDifficultSentencesKeystotheExercises 3 DavidLeonhardtisaneconomicsjournalistwithTheNewYorkTimes HejoinedTheTimesin1999andwritesboththe EconomicsScene columnandfortheTimesSundayMagazine BeforecomingtoTheTimes hewroteforBusinessWeekandTheWashingtonPost InApril BackgroundInformation 4 2011hewasawardedaPulitzerPrizeinthe Commentary categoryfor hisgracefulpenetrationofAmerica scomplicatedeconomicquestions fromthefederalbudgetdeficittohealthcarereform BackgroundInformation 5 DeepwaterHorizonisthenamegiventoanultra deepocean drillingoperationthatwaslocatedabout250milessouthwestofHouston Texas inGulfofMexico Thedrillingextendedfromaplatformontheoceansurface downabout4 000feet about1 2Km totheoceanfloor andthenanother31 000feet BackgroundInformation 6 about9 3Km belowtheoceanfloorintothecrudeoildeposit Itwasthedeepestwellofitstypeeverdrilled In2010 worldwide DeepwaterHorizonwasthelargestofabout200suchplatformscapableofdrillinginwatersamiledeep 1 6Km ormore BackgroundInformation 7 BPOilSpillintheGulfofMexico Tuesday April20 Newsbrokethatanexplosionoccurredat11p m ESTonBP sDeepwaterHorizonoilrigintheGulfofMexico 52milessoutheastoftheLouisianaportofVenice BackgroundInformation 8 Explosion BackgroundInformation AccordingtotheCoastGuard 11to15crewmemberswerereportedmissing ofthetotal126workersaboardtherigatthetimeoftheblast Therigwasdrilling butnotinproduction DeepwaterHorizonoilrig 9 BackgroundInformation PresstheiconontherightandwatchObama BPagreestopay 10 TheOilPollutionAct 石油污染法 waspassedbythe101stUnitedStatesCongress andsignedbyPresidentGeorgeH W Bush tomitigateandpreventcivilliabilityfromthefutureoilspillsoffthecoastoftheUnitedStates BackgroundInformation 11 Thelawstatedthatcompaniesmusthavea plantopreventspillsthatmayoccur andhavea detailedcontainmentandcleanupplan foroilspills BackgroundInformation 12 WallStreet acollectivenameforthemajorU S financialinterests banks insurancecompanies investmentcompanies etc mostlybasedinNewYorkCity Background Intheearly1600sManhattanIsland themainportionoftoday sNewYorkCity hada BackgroundInformation 13 BackgroundInformation smallpopulation Forprotection alargewallwasbuiltneartheshore aroadwayranalongsidethewall AstheareadevelopedintoatowntheroadwaywasnamedWallStreet Todayitisaneight blockareawithsky crapers verytallbuildings containingtheheadquatersandofficesofmanyofthemajorbankingandinvest mentcompaniesofAmericaandtheworld 14 Warm upQuestions 1 DoyouthinkBritishPetroleumisthevictimofanunfortunateaccident ordidthecompanyfailinthemanagementofpotentialrisks 2 Atthetimeofmaximizingprofits whatshouldaresponsiblecompanydo 3 Whatarethechallengesindevelopingeconomywithoutharmingtheenvironment 15 MainIdea Humansoftenparticipateinveryriskybehavior particularlyifeventsareextremelyrare therewardsarelargeandtheconsequencesseemtobesmall Theauthorbeginswithtwoexamplesofriskybehaviorsthatresultedinseriousunexpectedconsequences 1 Amajorunderseaoilspillin2010 2 ThecollapseoftheU S financialmarketsin2009 Inthefirst 16 MainIdea exampleasmallgroupofcorporateexecutivestookunduerisks InthesecondexamplealargesegmentoftheAmericanpublic andmany manyfinancialde cisionmakersweresurprised Thearticlegoesontodiscusstwotypesofrisks 1 Whereabadeventisdifficulttoimagineandriskisunderestimated fallingpropertyvaluesistheexample 2 Abadeventistoo 17 MainIdea easytoimagineandriskisoverestimated commercialairtravelvs travelbypersonalcaristheexample Thelastpartofthearticlediscussesthepossibleroleofgovernmentinhelpingallpartiesavoidtakinginappropriaterisks eitherbypassinglawsandregula tions orthroughprovidingfactualinformationandexplainingtherisks 18 LanguagePoints 1 spillonomicsTheauthorhascreatedthiswordtosu ggestthetopicofhisarticle Spill suggestsoilspills whichwillbeamajorexample onomics isintendedtosuggesteconomics thefinancialconsequencesofoilspills Thisarticlewaspublishedabouttwomonthsfollowingthebiggest mostcostly andmostenviron mentallydamagingoilspill 19 LanguagePoints 2 inretrospect line1 para 1 thinkingbacktoatimeinthepast especiallywiththeadvantageofknowingmorenowthanyoudidthen 回想起来 我们本应该为学校多节约些钱 Inretrospect weshouldhavesavedmoremoneyforcollege 回想起来 我们是如何出的错就很明显了 Inretrospect it sobvioushowwewentwrong 20 LanguagePoints 3 rign c line1 para 1 1 alargestructurethatisusedforgettingoilfromthegroundunderthesea Oilrig 21 LanguagePoints 2 todishonestlyarrangetheresultofanelectionorcompetitionbeforeithappens tofix 她谴责对手操纵投票 Sheaccusedheropponentsofriggingthevote 他们操纵国内市场以使当地企业受益 Theyrigtheirdomesticmarketsinfavouroflocalbusinesses 22 LanguagePoints rigblew meansthestructureexploded Hereitreferstotheextremelylargeopen waterdrillingplatform designedtodrillforoilinverydeepoceanwaters Inthiscontext toblow meanstoexplode ortorupture isin toblowup Inthiseventboththesurfacedrillingplatformexploded andtheoilwellopeningontheoceanfloorruptured brokeopen 23 LanguagePoints 4 BP line1 para 1 ShortforBritishPetroleum 英国石油公司 theprimaryinternationalcompany basedinGreatBritain thatwasinchargeofthedrillingoperation Severalothermajorcompanieshadrolestoplayalso 24 LanguagePoints 5 reputationn c line2 para 1 theopinionthatpeoplehaveaboutsomeoneorsthbecauseofwhathashappenedinthepast 该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉 Thisstorehasanexcellentreputationforfairdealing 这所大学有良好的学术声誉 Thiscollegehasagoodacademicreputation 25 LanguagePoints toearn gain establishareputationassthagood badreputation 26 LanguagePoints 6 refineryn c line3 para 1 afactorywheresthsuchasoilorsugarismadepurer Oil petroleumrefinery 27 LanguagePoints 7 regulatorn line3 para 1 apersonororganizationappointedbyagovernmenttoregulateanareaofactivitysuchasbankingorindustry 将指定一个独立的管理机构来保证公平竞 Anindependentregulatorwillbeappointedtoensurefaircompetition 政府会继续起到监察者和调控者的作用吗 Willgovernmentmaintainitsroleofwatchdogandregulator 28 LanguagePoints 8 paneln line3 para 1 asmallgroupofpeoplewhoarechosentodosth forexampletodiscusssthinpublicortomakeadecision 他组织了一个学者小组为他出谋划策 Heassembledapanelofscholarstoadvisehim 顾问小组不同意该决定 Theadvisorypaneldisagreedwiththedecision Apanel 29 LanguagePoints 9 corrodevt line5 para 1 ifametalcorrodes orifsthcorrodesit itisslowlydestroyedbytheeffectofwater chemicalsetc 酸雨毁坏树木 腐蚀建筑物 Acidraindestroystreesandcorrodesbuildings 调查人员发现地下管道严重腐蚀 Theinvestigatorsfoundthattheundergroundpipeswerebadlycorroded 30 LanguagePoints 2 writtentograduallymakesthweakerordestroyitcompletely 他警告说腐败正在侵蚀警察队伍 Hewarnsthatcorruptioniscorrodingpolice 和正在侵蚀他灵魂的痛苦相比较 这种折磨倒更容易承受 Sufferingwaseasiertobearthanthebitternesscorrodinghisspirit 31 LanguagePoints 10 PrudhoeBay line5 para 1 PrudhoeBay 普拉德霍湾 isonthefarnorthshoreofAlaska abovetheArcticCircle 北极圈 ItisashippingpointforoilfromthelargestoilfieldsinNorthAmerica Itisarcticwatersthatarefrozenoverformostoftheyear andtheregionisconsideredveryenvironmentallysensi tive 32 LanguagePoints 11 upbraidvtfml line6 para 1 tocriticizeinaharshandseveremanner 他妻子开始指责他不把孩子放在心上 Hiswifesetaboutupbraidinghimforneglectingthechildren 他本想因为我偷偷溜出去训我一顿的 可是他没有这样做 He dmeanttoupbraidmeforsneakingoff buthedidn t 33 LanguagePoints Synonyms blame reprimand censure criticize 34 LanguagePoints 12 stemfromvprep line1 para 2 1 todevelopasaresultofsthelse 她的头疼是视力问题造成的 Herheadachesstemmedfromvisionproblems 价格与租金的跌落是由20世纪80年代建设过热造成的 Thecollapseinpricesandrentsstemsfromover buildinginthe1980s 35 LanguagePoints 2 vttostopsthfromhappening spreading ordeveloping 采取措施旨在制止非法移民倾向 Themeasuresaremeanttostemthetideofillegalimmigration 你必须止住伤口流血 Youmuststemtheflowofbloodfromthewound tostemthetide flow floodofsth 36 LanguagePoints Synonyms arrest bar block bridle control curb delay foil govern halt hamper hinder holdback impede inhibit keepincheck obstruct regulate rein repress restrain retard slow slowdown stop stunt thwart 37 LanguagePoints 13 obsessionn line1 para 2 anextremeunhealthyinterestinsthorworryaboutsth whichstopsyoufromthinkingaboutanythingelse 她会努力忘记对我的迷恋 Shewouldtrytoforgetherobsessionwithme 对于他来说 赌博是无法摆脱的 Forhim gamblingisanobsession 38 LanguagePoints Usefulexpressions tobecomeanobsessionunhealthy dangerousobsessionnational American Britishetcobsessiontothepointofobsessiontoborderon uponobsession bealmostasbadasanobsession 39 LanguagePoints ewhatmay line1 para 2 whateverhappens nomatterwhathappens underanycircumstances 不管怎样 我要使问题水落石出 Comewhatmay I mgoingtofightthecaseout 不管怎么样 反正我们今天必须完成这项工作 Comewhatmay wemustfinishthisworktoday 40 LanguagePoints 15 costn lastlineofpara 2 1 theamountofmoneythatyouhavetopayinordertobuy do orproducesth 这项工程需要巨大的费用 Thisprojectentailsenomouscost 该药昂贵 影响广泛应用 Thehighcostprohibitsthewidespreaduseofthedrug 41 LanguagePoints 2 pluralthemoneythatyoumustregularlyspendinordertorunabusiness ahome acaretc 为保持竞争力 我们必须降低成本 Wehavetoreducecostsinordertoremaincompetitive 成本降低了30 到50 Costshavebeencutby30to50percent 42 LanguagePoints Usefulexpressions topaythecostofsthtomeet bearthecost ofsth topayforsthtocoverthecost ofsth topayforallofsththecostofdoingsthatacostof 10 100etchigh lowcost 43 LanguagePoints full totalcostextra additionalcostrising escalatingcostatnoextracost tosomebody labour transport legaletccostsrunning operatingcosts whatitcoststoorganizeaneventorrunabusiness 44 LanguagePoints Synonyms amount charge expenditure expense fare figure payment price rate value 45 LanguagePoints 16 executiven line1 para 3 amanagerinanorganizationorcompanywhohelpsmakeimportantdecisions 一位优秀的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好 Agoodexecutiveusuallygetsonwellwithpeople 公司前行政主管形容乔丹是耐克形象的化身 AformercompanyexecutivedescribeshimastheembodimentofNike simage asenior topexecutive 46 LanguagePoints 17 hitn line2 para 3 1 ifsthhitsaperson place orthing itaffectsthemverybadly 他在我头上轻轻敲了一下 Hegavemeagentlehitonthehead 他在射击中中了50发 Hescored50hitsintheshooting 47 LanguagePoints 2 verypopularandsuccessful 这本书立刻获得成功 Thebookwasanimmediatehit 他为人热情 富有同情心 深得女士的欢心 Hewaswarm sympatheticandaterrifichit 48 LanguagePoints 18 getourhandsaround line3 para 4 tounderstand togetthemainidea Sometimesstatedas getourheadsaround 49 LanguagePoints 19 likelihoodn line6 para 4 thedegreetowhichsthcanreasonablybeexpectedtohappen probability 感染的可能性极小 Thelikelihoodofinfectionisminimal 制裁完全可能发挥作用 Thereiseverylikelihoodthatsanctionswillwork 50 LanguagePoints inalllikelihood almostcertainly 如果我拒绝了 十有八九我就要失业 IfIrefused itwouldinalllikelihoodmeanI dlosemyjob 51 LanguagePoints Synonyms chance hope possibility probability prospect 52 LanguagePoints 20 proverbialadj line6 para 4 well known famous 他们的慷慨大度是出名的 Theirgenerosityisproverbial 美国孩子的独立是众所周知的 TheindependenceofAmericanchildrenisproverbial 53 LanguagePoints theproverbialblackswan line6 para 4 Arareandunexpectedeventthatwasthoughtveryunlikelytooccur butwhenitdoes ithasextremelylargeconsequences Swansarewhite itwasoncethoughtthatanycolorotherthanwhitewasimpo ssible particularlyablackswan Whennaturally 54 LanguagePoints occurringblackswanswerediscoveredinAustralia theirexistenceshatteredalong heldbelief There fore a blackswanevent isaneventthoughttohavebeenimpossible andwhenitoccursprofundlyshakesconventionalthought 55 LanguagePoints 21 explodevt vi lastbut2ndlineofpara 4 toburst ortomakesthburst intosmallpieces usuallywithaloudnoiseandinawaythatcausesdamage 校车被炮火击中 引爆了油箱 Aschoolbuswashitbygunfirewhichexplodedthefueltank 56 LanguagePoints Synonyms backfire blast blowup burst detonate erupt gooff makeanexplosion setoff shatter 57 LanguagePoints 22 assumevt lastbut2ndlineofpara 4 1 totakeastrueorasafactwithoutactualproof 每个人都误认为有人会带来甜点 Everyoneassumedwrongly thatsomeoneelsewasbringingdessert 2 totaketoorupononeself 当事人双方都违反合同的 应当各自承担相应的责任 Incaseofbilateralbreach thepartiesshallassumetheirrespectiveliabilitiesaccordingly 58 LanguagePoints 3 topresentafalseappearanceof 装腔作势 过分卖弄的人 总是要露原形的 Theywhoassumeacharacterthatdoesnotbelongtothemgenerallybetraythemselvesbyoveractingit 4 toundertakethedutiesof anoffice 克劳斯先生将任总经理一职 手下有4位经理 Mr CrosswillassumetheroleofChiefExecutivewithateamoffourdirectors 59 LanguagePoints 23 BenBernankeandAlanGreenspan line1 para 5 arethecurrentandformerchairmenoftheU S FederalReserveBoard 美国联邦储备局 oftencalled TheFed Thispoliticallyindepen dentboardisveryimportantinmakingdecisionsabouttheAmericanbankingandeconomicsystem 60 LanguagePoints 24 realestate line2 para 5 propertyintheformoflandorhouses 最近房地产生意很景气 Thereistherecentboominrealestate 我父亲委托了一名房地产经纪人来卖我们的房子 Myfathercommissionedarealestateagenttosellourhouse 房地产开发商arealestatedeveloper 61 LanguagePoints 25 bubblen line2 para 5 1 Inthestockmarket abubbleexistswheninvestorsbecomeoverlycon fidentinthecurrentandfuturevalueofsometypeofinvestment Asmorepeoplecompetetoinvest thevalueincreases Thismakestheinvestmentseemgood morepeoplecompetetobuysharesandthevalueincreasesmore Thiscyclecontinuesandthevaluecontinuestorise Mostofthisvalueisnotreal 62 LanguagePoints butisbasedontheuninformedandincorrectassup tionsofinvestors Theydonotconsidercarefullythetruevalueandrisk Atsomepointintimetheexcessivevaluingbecomesevidenttosomepeopleandtheybegintoselltheirshares thevaluedrops Othersseeingthisalsodecidetoselltheirshares andthevaluefallsrapidly Atthistimewesay thebubblehasburst 63 LanguagePoints 2 sthlacksfirmness solidarity delusivescheme 这个西洋镜终会被戳穿 只是时间问题 Itisamatteroftimebeforethebubblebursts 那场房地产骗局坑害了的很多投资人 Therealestatebubbleruinedmanyinvestors 64 LanguagePoints 26 houseprices line4 para 5 Thiswouldusuallybestatedas homeprices thevalueofprivaterealestate Formanyyears decades thevalueofhomesandpropertyhadalwaysincreas edataverygoodrate Topurchasepropertywasconsideredthesurestandsafestinvestmentapersoncouldmake Asvaluesincreasedmanypeoplewouldtakeasecondloan securedbytheincreasedvalue andusethemoneyformoreinvestment orforperso nalspending 65 LanguagePoints 27 mathematicalmodels line3 para 5 computerprogramsdesignedtopredictfutureevents Anypredictionisonlyasgoodasthevariablesthatareincluded howtheyareweighted andthedatathatisputintotheprogram 66 LanguagePoints 28 mortgagen c line5 para 5 alegalarrangementbywhichyouborrowmoneyfromabankorsimilarorganizationinordertobuyahouse andpaybackthemoneyoveraperiodofyears 银行拒绝接受任何土地抵押 Thebankrefusedtoacceptanymortgageonland 他们无力继续偿还按揭贷款 房子被收了回去 Theirhousewasrepossessedwhentheycouldn tkeepuptheirmortgagepayments 67 LanguagePoints Synonyms advavce credit loan 68 LanguagePoints 29 taketotheroad line3 para 6 Itreferstothefactthatpeoplechangedtheirplansfromflyingtousingtheircars tookacarinsteadofaplane totravel whichhappenedtocoincidewithariseinthenumberoffatalaccidentsonUShighwaysandnomoreterroistsattacksorterroristcauseddeathintheair 69 LanguagePoints 30 fatalityn c plural lastlineofpara 6 1 adeathinanaccidentoraviolentattack 撞车很厉害 但无人死亡 Itwasabadcrash buttherewerenofatalities 酒后驾车死亡人数在过去10年中下降了10 以上 Drunkdrivingfatalitieshavedeclinedmorethan10percentoverthepast10years 70 LanguagePoints 2 n u fmlthefeelingthatyoucannotcontrolwhathappenstoyou 他命中注定不得尽享天年 Hisfatalitypredestinedhisearlydeath 做坏事总没有好报应 Crimebringsitsownfatalitywithit 71 LanguagePoints Synonyms casualty death loss 72 LanguagePoints 31 stakesn line1 para 7 1 moneyorthingsofvaluethatareputatrisk asinabet orariskyfinancialinvestment risklosingalotoritwillbedangerousifyoufail 载人空间轨道飞行风险很大 Thestakesinmannedorbitalflightareveryhigh 73 LanguagePoints 对布莱尔来先生来说 这已经是最高的政治赌注了 ForMrBlairthepoliticalstakescouldhardlyhavebeenhigher 2 atstake ifsththatyouvalueverymuchisatstake youwillloseitifaplanoractionisnotsuccessful 74 LanguagePoints 世界贸易谈判正处于成败的重要关头 Atstakeisthesuccessorfailureofworldtradetalks 中华民族到了生死存亡的关头 TheChinesenationhasreachedapointwhereitsveryexistenceisatstake 75 LanguagePoints 32 itfallstosomebody sth line1 para 7 itbecomessb sduty responsibility 完成这项工作的任务落在我头上 Itfallstometofinishthework 保护环境是我们时代的责任 Itfallstoourtimestotakecareofourenvironment 76 LanguagePoints 33 leaveonetoone sowndevices line2 para 7 tomakeonerelyononeself 如果我们让她自己想办法 她会处理好的 Shewillmanageifweleavehertoherowndevices 我会让他自己决定 一切都会很好 Iwillleavehimtohisowndevicesandeverythingwillturnoutfine 77 LanguagePoints 34 oddsn line4 para 7 theprobabilitythatonethingissoorwillhappenratherthananother chances 在门口找到停车位的可能性有多大 Whataretheoddsoffindingaparkingspacerightoutsidethedoor 78 LanguagePoints atodds indisagreement inconflict 一位顾问说这两个国家没有任何理由一直不睦 Anadvisersaidtherewasnoreasonthetwocountriesshouldremainatodds 79 LanguagePoints 35 provisionn line1 para 8 aconditioninanagreementorlaw 该规定使我们对这个问题有了发言权 Thisprovisionensuresto forusavoiceinthesubject 他赞成一项允许法官在一些情况下延迟作出离婚判决的法律条款 Hebackedaprovisionthatwouldallowjudgestodelaygrantingadivorcedecreeinsomecases 80 LanguagePoints Synonyms limitation obligation proviso qualification requirement restriction stipulation terms 81 LanguagePoints 2 food drink andothersupplies especiallyforajourney 我们有足够的食品可以维持2周 Wehadenoughprovisionsfortwoweeks 3 whenyouprovidesththatsomeoneneedsnoworinthefuture 82 LanguagePoints 这位母亲在物质上得到了很好的赡养 Thereareverygenerousprovisionsforthemother 应给孩子在经济上专门作好安排 Specialprovisionshouldbemadeforchildren 83 LanguagePoints Synonyms food foodstuff groceries rations subsistence supplies 84 LanguagePoints 36 capv line2 para 8 1 tosetanupperlimitto 所有地方议会有将近一半的开销将面对最高额度的限制 Nearlyhalfoftheexpenditureofalllocalcouncilsfacebeingcapped 2 toputtheotherthingontop 他们在房顶上加盖了胶合板 Theycappedtheroofwithplywood 85 LanguagePoints 37 liabilityn u line2 para 8 1 legalresponsibilityforsth especiallyforpayingmoneythatisowed orfordamageorinjury 你的雇主对你在路上发生的意外不负责任 Youremployer sliabilitydoesnotcoveraccidentsthatyouhaveonyourwaytowork 一个类似的问题已经出现在产品责任案例中 Asimilarissuehasariseninproductsliabilitycases 86 LanguagePoints 2 someoneorsththatislikelytocauseproblemsforsomeone 汤姆的伤使他成为全队的累赘 BecauseofhisinjuryTomwasjustaliabilitytotheteam 这一吸引选票的政策 如今成了政治上的负担 Thevotecatchingpolicyisnowapoliticalliability 87 LanguagePoints 38 onthehookforn line4 para 8 1 beresponsibleforhookn2 becaughtinadifficultordangeroussituation 他指望朋友们帮他摆脱困境 Hecountedonhisfriendstolet gethimoffthehook 3 sththatintendedtoattractandensnare 88 LanguagePoints 他很快就叫那傻瓜上了圈套 Hehadthefoolonthehookrightsoon 4 tolet getsomebodyoffthehook toallowso