高考英语阅读拔高 外刊精读素材第1期

本期文章选自《经济学人》20210821期适合高三阅读拔高Biden’sdebacleThefiascoinAfghanistanisahugeandunnecessaryblowtoAmerica’sstanding.词汇详解：debacle:aneventorasituationthatisacompletelyfailureandcausesembarrassmentn.大败，崩溃；垮台；灾祸fiasco:somethingthatdoesnotsucceed,ofteninawaythatcausesembarrassmentn.惨败；可耻的失败；尴尬的结局Afghanistan：n.阿富汗blow：asuddeneventwhichhasdamagingeffectsonsb/sth,causingsadnessordisappointmentn.打击；挫折ablowtosb/sth对某人/某事的打击例句：Losinghisjobcameasaterribleblowtohim.失业给他造成了沉重的打击。standing:thepositionorreputationofsb/sthwithinagroupofpeopleorinanorganizationn.地位；级别；身份；名声参考译文：拜登大败在阿富汗的惨败对于美国的地位来说是一个巨大而不必要的打击。IfthepropagandistsoftheTalibanhadscriptedthecollapseofAmerican’s20-yearmissiontoreshapeAfghanistan,theycouldnothavecomeupwithmoreharrowingimages.AsinsurgentssweptintoKabul,desperateAfghansterrifiedaboutwhatthevictoriouszealotsmightdo,chaseddepartingAmericancargoplanesdowntherunway,tryingtoclamberintothelandinggearandinevitablyfallingtotheirdeaths.TheAmerican-backedgovernmenthadsurrenderedwithoutafight—somethingthatAmericanofficialswereinsistingwouldnothappenonlydaysbefore.Afghanswereleftinsuchahorrifyingbindthatclingingtothewheelsofahurtlingaircraftseemedtheirbestoption.词汇详解：propagandist:apersonwhocreatesorspreadspropaganda（宣传）n.鼓吹者，宣传者Taliban：n.塔利班script:towritethescriptforafilm/movie,play,etc.v.为电影（或戏剧等）写剧本collapse:tofailsuddenlyorcompletelyv.突然失败，崩溃，瓦解mission:animportantofficialjobthatapersonorgroupofpeopleisgiventodo,especiallywhentheyaresenttoanothercountryn.官方使命，使团的使命reshape:v.重塑，重整该词由前缀re-加shape构成，re-表示重新，再次如：rebornadj.再生的，新生的；rereadv.重读，再读shape:v.塑造harrowing:veryshockingorfrighteningandmakingyoufeelveryupsetadj.恐怖的，令人肝肠寸断的；失分令人难过的insurgent:apersonfightingagainstthegovernmentorarmedforcesoftheirowncountryn.起义者，叛乱者；造反者sweepinto:涌入，进入，冲入Kabul:喀布尔（阿富汗首都）terrified:veryfrightenedadj.恐惧，很害怕zealot：apersonwhoisextremelyenthusiasticaboutsth,especiallyreligionorpoliticsn.（尤指宗教或政治的）狂热分子，狂热者cargo:thegoodscarriedinashiporaplanen.货物runway:n.飞机跑道clamber：toclimbormovewithdifficultyoralotofeffort,usingyourhandsandfeetv.（吃力地）攀登，攀爬landinggear：飞机的起落架back：togivehelporsupporttosb/sthv.支持surrender：toadmitthatyouhavebeendefeatedandwanttostopfightingv.投降bind：anannoyingsituationthatisoftendifficulttoavoidn.窘境cling:toholdontightlytosb/sthv.抓紧，握紧，紧抱clingtosb/sth抓紧某物hurtle:tomoveveryfastinaparticulardirectionv.（向某个方向）猛冲长难句解析：AsinsurgentssweptintoKabul,desperateAfghansterrifiedaboutwhatthevictoriouszealotsmightdo,chaseddepartingAmericancargoplanesdowntherunway,tryingtoclamberintothelandinggearandinevitablyfallingtotheirdeaths.本句的主干结构如上黑体所示，主语为desperateAfghans，谓语为chased,宾语为departingAmericancargo，主句的意思为“绝望的阿富汗人追赶即将离开的美国货机”。句首As所引导的句子为时间状语从句，此as的意思为“当……的时候”，terrifiedaboutwhatthevictoriouszealotsmightdo这一部分是desperateAfghans的后置定语，其中what引导的句子为about的介宾从句，意思为“担心着获胜的狂徒会做什么的（阿富汗人）”。tryingtoclamberintothelandinggearandinevitablyfallingtotheirdeaths.这部分为非谓语动词做状语成分，其中trying和falling的逻辑主语皆为desperateAfghans，这个成分用来描述阿富汗人追飞机的状态，trying…表示追飞机的目的，而falling…表示追飞机的结果，这些都属于状语描写参考译文：即使塔利班的宣传者为美国20年重塑阿富汗使命之败编写剧本，他们也无法想象出比这更加令人痛心的场面。当叛乱分子席卷喀布尔时，由于害怕胜利的狂徒会做什么，绝望的阿富汗人在跑道上追赶即将离开的美国货机，他们试图爬上起落架，但不可避免地摔死了。美国支持的政府不战而降——美国官员在几天前还坚持声称这样的事情绝不会发生。阿富汗人陷入了如此可怕的困境，以至于紧紧抓住急速飞行的飞机的轮子似乎是他们最好的选择。Americahasspent$2trninAfghanistan;morethan2000Americanliveshavebeenlost,nottomentioncountlessAfghanones.Andyet,evenifAfghansaremoreprosperousnowthanwhenAmericainvaded,Afghanistanisbacktosquareone.TheTalibancontrolmoreofthecountrythantheydidwhentheylostpower,theyarebetterarmed,havingseizedtheweaponsAmericashoweredontheAfghanarmy,andtheyhavenowwontheultimateaffirmation:defeatingasuperpower.词汇详解：nottomention:更不用说；且不说prosperous：richandsuccessfuladj.繁荣的，成功的，兴旺的invade:toenteracountry,town,etc.usingmilitaryforceinordertotakecontrolofitv.侵略，侵犯，武装入侵backtosquareone：backtowhereonestarted,withnoprogresshavingbeenmade回到原点shower：tofallontosb/sth,especiallyinalotofsmallpiecesv.洒落，纷纷降落shower(down)onsb/sthultimate:happeningattheendofalongprocessadj.最后的，最终的，终极的affirmation：theactionorprocessofaffirmingsomethingn.断言，肯定参考译文：美国在阿富汗花费了2万亿美元；超过2000名美国人丧生，更不用说无数的阿富汗人了。然而，即使阿富汗现在比美国入侵时更加繁荣，然而也回到了原点。与他们失权时相比，现在塔利班对国家的控制更多，夺取了美国向阿富汗军队提供的武器，拥有了更好的武装，现在他们赢得了最终的肯定：击败了一个超级大国。Theinsurgentshavemadeashowofmagnanimity,pledgingthattheywillnottakerevengeonthosewhoworkedforthetoppledgovernmentandinsistingthattheywillrespectwomen’srights,withintheirinterpretationofIslamiclaw.Butthatinterpretationkeptmostgirlsoutofschoolandmostwomenconfinedtotheirhomeswhenthegroupwaslastinpowerinthe1990s.Brutalpunishments—floggings,stonings,amputations—werecommon.ThefreedomsthaturbanAfghanstookforgrantedoverthepast20yearshavejustgoneupinsmoke.ItisanappallingoutcomeforAfghanistan’s39mpeople,anddeeplydamagingforAmerica.词汇详解：magnanimity:iskindnessandgenerositytowardssomeone,especiallyafterdefeatingthemorbeingtreatedbadlybythemn.宽宏大量，宽厚，大度pledge:aserouspromisen.保证，诺言revenge:somethingthatyoudoinordertomakesbsufferbecausetheyhavemadeyousuffern.报复，复仇take(one’s)revengeonsb向某人复仇topple:tobecomeunsteadyandfalldown;tomakesthdothisv.（使）失去平衡而坠落，倒塌，倒下，此处toppled为形容词，意为倒塌的interpretation：theparticularwayinwhichsthisunderstandorexplainedn.解释，理解，说明Islamic:伊斯兰教的Islamiclaw伊斯兰教戒律confine:tokeepsb/sthinsidethelimitsofaparticularactivity,subjects,area,etcv.限制，限定confinesb/sthtosth把某人/某物限制于文中用的是被动结构brutal:violentandcrueladj.残忍的，兽性的floggings：apunishmentinwhichsbishitmanytimeswithawhiporstickn.（作为惩罚的）鞭打，棒打stoning:n.石刑（是一种钝击致死的死刑执行方式，即埋入沙土用乱石砸死，是伊斯兰教法的一种——百度百科）amputation：n.截肢take…forgranted认为…是理所当然goupinsmoke:ifyourplans,hopes,etc.goupinsmoke,theyfailcompletely告吹，成泡影，破灭appalling:shocking,extremelybad令人震惊的，使人惊骇的，极为恶劣的，糟糕的参考译文：叛乱分子表现出宽宏大量，承诺他们不会报复那些为已被推翻的政府工作的人，并坚持说他们将在伊斯兰教戒律的解释范围内尊重妇女的权利。但是，当他们于20世纪90年代掌权时，该解释使大多数女孩无法上学，大多数妇女被限制在家中。而残酷的惩罚——鞭打、石刑、截肢——也很常见。在过去20年里，阿富汗城市人认为理所当然的自由化为了泡影。对于阿富汗的3900万人口来说，这是极其糟糕的结果，对美国来说也是严重的破坏。ItisnotsurprisingthatAmericafailedtoturnAfghanistanintoademocracy.Nation-buildingisdifficult,andfewimaginedthatitcouldbecomeSwitzerland.NorwasitunreasonableforJoeBiden,American’spresident,towanttodrawtheconflicttoaclose.Americanhasspent20yearsinaplaceofonlymodeststrategicimportanceaboutwhichmostAmericanvotershavelongsinceceasedtocare.Theoriginalreasonfortheinvasion—todismantleal-Qaeda’smainbaseofoperations—waslargelyachieved,thoughthatachievementcouldnowbereversed.词汇详解：democracy:asystemofgovernmentinwhichallpeopleofacountrycanvotetoelecttheirrepresentativesn.民主；民主整体；民主制度cease：tostophappeningorexisting;tostopsomethingfromhappeningorexistingv.（使）停止，终止，结束ceasetodosth停止做某事dismantle:toendanorganizationorasystemgraduallyinanorganizedwayv.（逐渐）废除，取消al-Qaeda:基地组织（伊斯兰教军事组织）reverse:tochangesthcompletelysothatitistheoppositeofwhatitwasbeforev.颠倒，彻底转变，撤销，废除长难句解析：NorwasitunreasonableforJoeBiden,American’spresident,towanttodrawtheconflicttoaclose.这是一个倒装句，否定词Nor位于句首，句子要半倒装，增强语气，这里的was就放在了主语前边，而American’spresident作为JoeBiden的同位语插入了句子中间，增加了句子的理解难度。这个句子还可以写为：ItwasnotunreasonableforJoeBiden,American’spresident,towanttodrawtheconflicttoaclose.unreasonable为不合理的，双重否定变为肯定，即这件事是合理的。参考译文：美国未能将阿富汗变成民主国家并不奇怪。建国不易，几乎无人想到它会变成瑞士。美国总统乔·拜登想要结束冲突也不是没有道理的。美国人在这个战略重要性不高的地方花费了20年，大多数美国选民早已不再关心这个地方。美国入侵阿富汗的最初原因——拆除基地组织的主要行动基地——在很大程度上实现了，尽管现在这一成就可能被逆转。TheclaimthatAmericaisshowingitselftobeafickleallybyallowingtheAfghangovernmenttofallisalsooverblown,giventheduration,scaleandexpenseoftheAmericandeployment.ThedefunctregimeinKabulwasnotanallyinthewaythatGermanyorJapanis.Itwasfarweaker,morecorruptandcompletelydependentonAmericaforitssurvival.词汇详解：fickle:changingoftenandsuddenlyadj.易变的，无常的ally:acountrythathasagreedtohelpandsupportanothercountry,especiallyincaseofwarn.（尤指战时的）同盟国overblown:thatismadetoseemlarger,moreimpressiveormoreimportantthanitreallyisadj.过分的，夸张的，虚饰过度的duration:thelengthofthetimethatsomethinglastsorcontinuesn.持续时间，期间scale:thesizeorextentofsth,especiallywhencomparedwithsthelsen.（尤指与其他事物相比较时的）规模，范围，程度deployment:themovementofsoldiersorequipmenttoaplacewheretheycanbeusedwhentheyareneededn.部署defunct:nolongerexisting,operatingorbeingusedadj.已灭绝的，不再起作用的regime:amethodorsystemofgovernment,especiallyonethathasnotbeenelectedinafairwayn.（尤指未通过公正选举的）统治方式，统治制度，政权，政体corrupt:willingtousetheirpowertododishonestorillegalthingsinreturnformoneyortogetanadvantageadj.贪污的，受贿的，腐败的survival:thestateofcontinuingtoliveorexist,oftendespitedifficultyordangern.生存，存活，幸存参考译文：考虑到美国部署的持续时间、规模和费用，因为美国允许阿富汗政府垮台来而认为美国是一个善变的盟友的说法也被夸大了。在喀布尔已覆灭的政权不像是德国或日本那样是盟友。它要弱得多，也更腐败，完全依赖美国生存ButnoneofthatabsolvedAmericaoftheresponsibilitytowithdrawinanorderlyfashion.Mr.BidenfailedtoshowevenamodicumofcareforthewelfareofordinaryAfghans.TheironyisthatAmericahadaplantodojustthat,whichhadbeenintheworksforseveralyears.Ithadhugelyscaleddownitsgarrison,fromaround100,000troopsin2011tofewerthan10,000by2017,alongwithasimilarnumberfromotherNATOcountries.TheywerenotsupposedtodefeattheTaliban,butpreventtheAfghanarmy’scollapse,largelythroughairpower,andsoforcetheTalibantothenegotiatingtable.词汇详解：absolve:tostateformallythatsbisnotguiltyorresponsibleforsthv.宣告无罪，免除……的责任withdraw:tomovebackorawayfromaplaceorsituationv.（使）撤回，撤离modicum:afairlysmallamount,especiallyofsthgoodorpleasantn.少量，一点点irony:theamusingorstrangeaspectofasituationthatisverydifferentfromwhatyouexpectn.有讽刺意味的情况scaledown:按比例减少（或缩小，降低）garrison:agroupofsoldierslivinginatownorforttodefendit;thebuildingsthesesoldiersliveinn.卫戍部队，守备部队；卫戍区，防驻地troop:soldiers,especiallyinlargegroupsn.军队，部队，士兵NATO:全称NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization北约，北大西洋公约组织negotiate:totrytoreachanagreementbyformaldiscussionv.谈判，磋商，协商参考译文：但这一切都不能免除美国有序撤离的责任。拜登甚至没有对普通阿富汗人的福祉表现出一丝关心。讽刺的是，美国是有一个计划来做到这一点的，而这个计划已经酝酿了好几年。美国大幅缩减了驻军规模，从2011年的约100,000名士兵减少到2017年的不到10,000人，以及其他北约国家的相似人数。美国并不想打败塔利班，而是主要通过空中力量阻止阿富汗军队的崩溃，从而迫使塔利班进行谈判。ApologistsforMr.Bidenarguethathispredecessor,DonaldTrump,hadalreadyscupperedthisplanbytryingtorushittoaconclusionbeforelastyear’spresidentialelectioninAmerica.ItistruethatMr.Trumpwassodesperatetostrikeaquickdealthatheacceptedpreposterousterms,agreeingtoendAmerica’sdeploymentwithoutevensecuringaceasefire,letaloneaclearplantoendthecivilwar.HehadalreadyreducedtheAmericanpresencetolittlemorethan2,000soldiersbythetimeMr.Bidentookoffice,andhadpromisedtogettherestoutbyMay1st.词汇详解：apologist:apersonwhotriestoexplainanddefendsth,especiallyapoliticalsystemorreligiousideasn.（尤指政治或宗教方面的）辩护者，辩解者predecessor:apersonwhodidajobbeforesbelsen.前任scupper:toocausesb/sthtofailv.使泡汤，使成为泡影rush/jumptoaconclusion:武断（或草率）地下结论，conclusion也有签订协议，缔结之意desperate:needingorwantingsthverymuchadj.非常需要，极想，渴望bedesperatetodosth渴望做某事，极想做某事strikeadeal/bargain:tomakeanagreementwithsbinwhichbothsideshaveanadvantage达成协议，进行交易preposterous:completelyunreasonable,especiallyinawaythatisshockingorannoyingadj.荒唐的，及不合情理的secure:toobtainorachievesth,especiallywhenthismeansalotofeffortsv.（尤指经过努力）获得，取得，实现ceasefire:atimewhenenemiesagreetostopfighting,usuallywhileawayisfoundtoendthefightingpermanentlyn.（通常指永久性的）停战，停火letalone:更不用说，同上文中的nottomentionpresence:agroupofpeople,especiallysoldiers,whohavebeensenttoaplacetodealwithaparticularsituationn.（派遣的）一个队，（尤指执行人物的）部队参考译文：为拜登辩护的人声称，前任总统唐纳德·特朗普早在去年大选之前就武断地想要结束战争从而破坏了这一计划。不可否认的是，特朗普过于急切地达成协议，以至于接受了荒谬的条件，同意在没有实现停火的情况下结束美军部署，更不用说有结束内战的明确计划了。到拜登上任时，特朗普已经将美国驻军人数减少到2,000多名士兵，并承诺在5月1日之前将其余士兵撤出。ButMr.Bidendidnothavetosticktothisagreement.Infact,hedidn’tentirely,refusingtokeeptotheoriginaltimetable.TheTalibanwereclearlynotholdinguptheirendofthebargain,pressingtheiradvantageonthebattlefieldinsteadofnegotiatingingoodfaithwiththeAfghangovernment.ThatcouldhavebeengroundstohaltorreversetheAmericawithdrawal.TherewaslittlepoliticalpressurewithinAmericatobringthewartoaspeedyconclusion.YetMr.Bidenwasworkingtoanarbitraryandflippantdeadlineofhisown,seekingtoendthewarbythe20thanniversaryof9/11.AlthoughthespeedoftheAfghangovernment’simplosionsurprisedmostobservers,includingthisnewspaper,America’ssoldiersandpoliticianswereamongthemostnaivelyoptimistic,insistingthatatotalcollapsewasavanishinglyremoteprospect.AndwhenitbecameclearthattheAfghanarmywasmeltingaway,Mr.Bidenpressedonintransigently,despitethelikelyconsequences.词汇详解：stickto:坚持，坚守，不放弃，忠于holdup:维持，表现良好，支撑住ingoodfaith:believingthatwhatyouaredoingisright;believingthatsthiscorrect真诚，诚心诚意grounds：agoodreasonforsaying,doingorbelievingsthn.充分的理由；根据（一般用复数形式）halt:tomakesthstop;tostopv.（使）停止，停下withdrawal：theactofmovingortakingsthawayorbackn.撤走，收回，取回withdraw的名词形式bring…toaconclusion:使…结束arbitrary:notseemingtobebasedonareason,systemorplanandsometimesseemingunfairadj.任意的，武断的，专横的，专制的flippant:showingthatyoudonottakesthasotherpeoplethinkyoushouldadj.轻率的seek:trytodosthv.试图，设法seektodosth试图做某事implosion:n.内爆，崩溃implode的名词形式implode:toburstorexplodeandcollapseintothecenter;tofailsuddenlyandcompletelyv.内爆，向内坍塌；（组织、体制等的）突然崩溃observer:n.观察家，评论员，观察者，目击者naive:innocentandsimpleadj.天真的；直率的vanish:tostopexistingv.不复存在；消亡，绝迹vanishingly:adv.消遁似地，难以察觉地meltaway：（使）慢慢消失presson:tostartorcontinuedoingsomethinginadeterminedway,oftendespiteproblems坚定地继续intransigent:unwillingtochangetheiropinionsorbehaviorinawaythatwouldbehelpfultoothersadj.不妥协的，不愿合作的，不肯让步的参考译文：但拜登不必坚持这个协议。事实上他并不完全拒绝遵守原来的安排。塔利班显然没有遵守协议，他们在战场上发挥优势，而不是诚心与阿富汗政府进行谈判。这本可以是停止或扭转美国撤军的理由。美国国内几乎没有政治压力要求尽快结束战争。然而，拜登正在为自己任性而轻率做出的期限而努力，他试图在9/11事件20周年之前结束战争。尽管阿富汗政府崩溃的速度令包括本报在内的大多数观察人士感到惊讶，但美国的士兵和政客却非常乐观，他们认为全面崩溃还遥遥无期。尽管阿富汗军队瓦解的迹象已经明显，但拜登依然不顾后果地继续前进。Asaresult,America’spowertodeteritsenemiesandreassureitsfriendhasdiminished.Itsintelligencewasflawed,itsplanningrigid,itsleadercapriciousanditsconcernforalliesminimal.Thatislikelytoemboldenjihadistseverywhere,whowilltaketheTaliban’svictoryasevidencethatGodisontheirside.ItwillalsoencourageadventurismonthepartofhostilegovernmentssuchasRussia’sorChina’s,andworryAmerica’sfriends.Mr.BidenhasdefendedthewithdrawalbyarguingthatAfghanistanwasadistractionfrommorepressingproblems,suchasAmerica’srivalrywithChina.ButbyleavingAfghanistaninsuchachaoticfashion,Mr.Bidenwillhavemadethoseotherproblemshardertodealwith.词汇详解：deter:tomakesbdecidenottodosthorcontinuedoingsth,especiallybymakingthemunderstandthedifficultiesandunpleasantresultsoftheiractionsv.制止，阻止，威慑，使不敢detersbfromsth/doingsth阻止某人做某事reassure:tosayordosomethingthatmakessblessfrightenedorworriedv.使…安心；打消…的疑虑diminish:tobecomeortomakesthbecomesmaller,weaker,etc.v.减少，（使）减弱，缩减，降低intelligence：secretinformationthatiscollectedn.（机密）情报；情报人员flawed:havingaflaw(缺陷),damagedorspoiledadj.有错误的，有缺点的，有瑕疵的rigid:(ofrules,methods,ect.规则，方法等)verystrictanddifficulttochangeadj.死板的，僵硬的capricious:showingsuddenchangesinattitudeorbehavior（态度或行为）反复无常的；任性的minimal:verysmallinsizeoramount;assmallaspossibleadj.极小的；极少的；最小的embolden：tomakesbfeelbraverormoreconfidentv.使增加勇气；使更有胆量；使更有信心jihadist:apersoninvolvedinajihad;anIslamicmilitantn.伊斯兰圣战士adventurism:（企业政治等方面）冒险主义hostile:veryunfriendlyoraggressiveandreadytoargueorfightadj.敌意的，敌对的defend:sayorwritesthinsupportofsb/sththathasbeencriticizedv.辩解，辩白defendsth:为…辩解distraction:n.分散注意力的事，使人分心的事pressing:needingtobedealtwithimmediatelyadj.紧急的，急迫的rivalry:astateinwhichtwopeople,companies,ect.arecompetingforthesamethingn.竞争，较量，竞赛chaotic:inastateofcompleteconfusionandlackoforderadj.混乱的，杂乱的，紊乱的参考译文：结果，美国威慑敌人和安抚朋友的力量减弱了。它的情报有缺陷，计划僵化，领导者反复无常，对盟友的关心极少。这可能会鼓舞各地的圣战分子，他们会将塔利班的胜利作为上帝（真主）支持他们的证据。它还将鼓励俄罗斯或中国等敌对政府的冒险主义，并使美国的朋友担忧。拜登为撤军辩护说阿富汗分散了他们面临更加紧迫的问题的精力，例如美国与中国的竞争。但是拜登以如此混乱的样子撤离阿富汗，会让其他问题更难处理。AfterthefallTheshambolicwithdrawaldoesnotreducetheobligationofAmericaanditsalliestoordinaryAfghans,butincreaseit.TheyshouldusewhatleveragetheystillhavetourgemoderationontheTaliban,especiallyintheirtrea