(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
Eighteen months of conflict in Syria have hurt the country's economy. But in the capital, Damascus, a certain level of normalcy exists. Prices are higher. But goods are still available.
VOA reporter Elizabeth Arrott recently visited Damascus. Her visit took place under the guidance of a Syrian government official.
She says the Spice Market of Old Damascus is an unusual sight in a country affected by civil war. Syrian military forces are striking nearby towns where rebels have support. But in the center of Damascus, business is good.
One man operates a business once owned by his father and grandfather. He sells cumin, dried peppers, pine nuts and almonds.
He says work is about the same, but prices have gone up. This has affected both his customers and business. He is thankful that supplies are still arriving at his shop. But he says people are cutting back, and mainly buying only essential goods.
Another shopkeeper says business has fallen.
"You know we live in a very difficult atmosphere, the atmosphere of crisis."
Afif Dala is with the Syrian Ministry of Economy and Trade. He says Western restrictions on Syria for its violent reaction to government opponents have caused problems. But the government has worked to keep business in the capital normal.
"But the Syrian economy actually depends on itself. There is a self-sufficiency in the Syrian economy because the Syrian economy is very diverse."
Syria, however, also seeks help from outside the country. Russia, China and Venezuela are major trade partners of Syria.
"There are a lot of countries, actually, because finally the interests, the economic interests between countries are talk, not anything else. It is not a moral thing, the Syrian economy, only; also its interests.
Syria Refugees Flee Areas of Conflict
But conditions in Syria are important to other countries. This is especially true when many thousands of people have been killed in violence across Syria. This has forced tens of thousands of people to cross the border to escape the conflict.
This week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Syria at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. He said actions of Turkey's neighbor are "hurting the heart of humanity and the whole Islamic world."
Mr. Erdogan said there are almost one hundred thousand Syrian refugees in Turkey. And he expects more will enter as they flee fighting between Syrian government and rebel forces.
And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Mario Ritter.
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词汇解释
1.normalcy n. 常态
Pakistan remains committed to normalcy, rule of law and democracy.
巴基斯坦正致力于恢复常态，恢复民主与法制。
2.almond n. 扁桃仁；扁桃树
On the left was a plantation of almond trees.
在左边曾是一个杏树种植园。
3.self-sufficiency n. 自给自足；自负
Many countries say agricultural self - sufficiency is an aim of their agricultural programs.
许多国家宣称农产品自给是它们的农业规化的一个目标。
4.humanity n.仁爱，仁慈，博爱；人道
Greed suffocates humanity and intuitive knowledge.
贪婪可以灭绝人性和良知。
内容解析
1.But he says people are cutting back, and mainly buying only essential goods.
cut back 削减；修剪；（美）倒叙；急忙返回
They were forced to cut back production.
他们被迫减产。
The gardener cut back all the bushes.
园丁把所有的灌木丛都修剪了。
2.He says work is about the same, but prices have gone up.
go up 增长；上升；被兴建起来
The goods have gone up in price.
这些商品的价格已经上涨。
How many houses have gone up this year?
今年新建了多少住房？
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
叙利亚18个月的冲突损害了该国的经济，但在首都大马士革还存在一定程度的常态。价格在上涨，但商品仍能买到。
美国之音记者伊丽莎白·阿罗特最近采访了大马士革，她的走访是在叙利亚一名政府官员的指导下进行的。
她说在这样一个受内摧残的国家，旧大马士革的香料市场很不寻常，叙利亚军队正在打击得到叛军支持的周边城镇。但在大马士革中心，生意还不错。
一名男子经营着从父亲和祖父手里传下来的的店铺，他出售孜然、干辣椒、松子和杏仁。
他说生意还跟过去差不多，但价格上涨了。这就影响了顾客和生意，他对供应仍然未断表示感激。但他说人们在削减开始，只购买基本用品。
另一位店主说生意变差了。
“要知道我们生活在很艰难的危机环境下。”
阿菲夫·达拉就职于叙利亚经济和贸易部，他说，由于叙利亚对其政府反对者实施的暴力镇压，西方对叙利亚了限制，由此引发问题出现。但政府努力维持首都商业的正常运转。
“不过叙利亚经济事实上主要依赖自身，叙利亚经济非常多样化，可以自给自足。”
不过叙利亚也会寻求国外的帮助，俄罗斯、中国和委内瑞拉都是叙利亚的主要贸易伙伴。
“有很多国家事实上追求的还是利益，经济利益，而不是别的，这不涉及道德问题，叙利亚经济也是利益问题。”
但叙利亚的局势对其他国家很重要，尤其是在整个叙利亚有数千人在暴力中丧生的时候，这迫使成千上万人越过边境逃避冲突。
本周，土耳其总理雷杰普·塔伊普·埃尔多安在伊斯坦布尔举行的伊斯兰合作组织会议上批评了叙利亚。他说土耳其邻国的行为“损害了仁爱之心和整个伊斯兰世界。”
埃尔多安说土耳其境内越有10万叙利亚难民，他预测还会有更多难民因逃避叙利亚政府和叛军的战斗而赶来。
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道，我是马里奥·利特。
