(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
For VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report in Special English.
The World Bank released its Global Economic Prospects report this week. World Bank experts are using the words "fragile" and "uncertain" to describe the economic recovery this year.
The report predicts the international economy will grow a little over two percent in 2013. Slightly greater economic expansion is expected in 2014 and 2015.
Predictions of limited growth have become familiar since the financial crisis four years ago. Wealthy countries are expected to have slower growth than developing ones as they deal with larger amounts of debt and big budget deficits.
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is urging developing countries to become drivers of growth. But he notes that it was important to build a foundation for growth that can last over time.
He said, "What we are suggesting is that we cannot wait for the return growth in the high income countries. We really need developing countries to think about setting the stage for medium- and long-term growth. We have to continue to support developing countries in making investments in infrastructure, in health, in education."
Andrew Burns is lead author of the report. He says it is not only important to build roads and bridges, but to invest money in health care and effort in government reforms. Some high-growth developing countries, such as China, are spending a lot on public works projects, but spend little on health care.
The report notes the threat of European nations failing to make debt payments has eased. The World Bank President says Europe and America have approved some measures to deal with economic weakness. But financial policy remains a work in progress.
He said, "So despite promising, and sometimes courageous measures taken in Europe...issues remain in the Eurozone and of course we have fiscal policy issues in the United States."
The World Bank notes that budget deficits are decreasing in most other high-income nations. But these nations continue to carry a lot of debt compared to the size of their economies.
Developing countries are positioned for stronger growth. But they will face basic risks to economic progress over the next few years. World Bank chief Kim said he is concerned that low supplies of important grains, such as wheat and corn, could bring high food prices, hurting the poor.
The World Bank offers knowledge, assistance and loans to developing countries. Economic conditions in high-income nations affect the developing world because they are the largest and most developed markets for exports. Such nations are also the providers of investment that can fuel economic growth.
词汇解释
1. ease vi. 减轻，缓和；放松；灵活地移动
The pain began to ease up.
疼痛开始缓解。
2. grain n. 粮食；颗粒；
Corn is America's most important grain.
玉米是美国最重要的谷物。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
世界银行本周发布本年度《全球经济展望》，世行专家使用“脆弱”和“不确定”这样的词语来描述今年的经济复苏。
报告预测2013年全球经济增长率将稍微低于2%，预计2014和2015年经济增长将略微加快。
自从4年前金融危机开始以来，预测有限增长已是司空见惯。由于西方国家要解决更多债务和大量预算赤字，因此预计这些国家的增长率将低于发展中国家。
世行行长金永吉敦促发展中国家成为增长的引擎，但他指出，为持续增长打下基础很重要。
他说，“我们想指出的是，不能坐待发达国家的增长复苏，我们需要发展中国家为中长期的发展奠定基础。我们必须继续支持发展中国家，为它们提供基础设施、卫生和教育投资。”
安德鲁·伯恩斯是这篇报告的主要撰稿人，他说不仅要修建道路和桥梁，还要投资医疗，致力于政府改革。诸如中国这样的高增长发展中国家在公共工程项目上投资巨大，但在医疗上投资很少。
报告指出，欧洲国家支付债务失败的威胁已经缓解，世行行长称欧洲和美国已采取措施来应对经济弊病，但金融政策仍未完成。
他说，“尽管欧洲采取有价值，甚至可以说很有勇气的措施，欧元区的问题仍然存在，当然美国仍存在财政政策问题。”
世行指出，大多数其他发达国家的预算赤字正在减少，但这些国家的大量债务仍然与其经济规模不相称。
发展中国家未来的增长比较强劲，但未来几年仍面临经济发展的基本风险。世行行长金说，诸如小麦和玉米这样重要谷物的供应不足，导致粮食价格上涨，使穷人受害，对此他很担忧。
世行为发展中国家提供知识、援助和贷款，由于发达国家是出口的最大和最发达的市场，因此其经济状况也影响到发展中国家。这些国家也是投资的提供者，而投资能促进经济发展。
