听力文本

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

Some experts fear that rights reforms in Burma are slowing ahead of national elections planned for 2015. The Asian Development Bank has said that Burma, also known as Myanmar, can become a middle income country by 2030. To do so however, the economy must continue to grow at more than six percent a year.

Burma's military rulers began reforming its economic and political systems in 2011. These reforms led most nations to end restrictions against Burma.

John Hancock is an Australian lawyer and expert on Burma. He says Burma has made strong progress in the past 6 to 7 years. He adds that foreign investors see opportunity for profits in Burma.

However, Mr Hancock says that Burma must rebuild government operations, and complete land reforms. He says the government must increase spending on education, roads and power systems. More than 25 percent of Burma's 61 million people live below the national poverty level. Many of the poor live in rural areas.

Aung Zaw is the editor of the Irrawaddy newspaper. He says many in Burma fear the reform efforts will not be enough. He says poor supervision of land records leaves people in danger of losing their land.

Aung Zaw says there is evidence that the Burmese army has forced villagers out to make room for foreign investment. He says foreign investors have shown interest in new Special Economic Zones. But he says, these new economic areas come with huge social and environmental costs. He says often villagers are forced from their homes without fair payment.

The government of Australia has warned investors that people and companies with close ties to Burma's military influence areas of the economy, including the oil, gas and wood industries.

Sean Turnell is an economist at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He says agriculture reform has slowed in Burma, although a majority of Burmese make a living through agriculture.

"What I am really struck by is the lack of progress in agriculture," said Turnell.

Mr Turnell says that without land rights, farmers have limited opportunity to borrow money at fair rates.

Experts say some who fear changes in Burma are trying to slow reforms by creating ethnic and religious conflict ahead of the planned 2015 elections.

And that is the Economics Report for VOA Learning English. I'm Mario Ritter.

文本来自51voa，译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载

词汇解释

1.restriction n. 限制；约束；束缚

His parents are trying to make up to him for the restrictions of urban living.
他的父母正试图为城市生活的诸多限制而补偿他;MtLpB6vNas*]zqgj。

2.ties n.联系，关联

Quebec has always had particularly close ties to France.
魁北克一直都与法国有着特别密切的联系UHuGBYl4*-),Zb。

内容解析

1.But he says, these new economic areas come with huge social and environmental costs.

come with 与……一起供给；伴随……发生；从……开始

These figures should come with a government health warning.
这些数字须附以谨慎对待的警告wDka]9eOI54ZuA。

All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
所有主菜都配有色拉或蔬菜#S%55,Em%CK|Od。

参考译文

这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道[v~4su]=0I6&^u。

有的专家担心缅甸的权利改革在2015年全球大选之前放缓，亚洲开发银行曾表示缅甸将在2030年之前成为中等收入国家0ERD1hf7Y[bKp(。但是要实现这个目标，这个国家必须保持每年6%以上的发展速度uzy%x68O,jF~^K)16|=。

2011年缅甸的军事统治者开始改革其经济和政治体系，这些改革使得大多数国家终结了对缅甸的限制Nku_O3lB;w|+-62cbA2L。

约翰·汉考克是澳大利亚的一名律师兼缅甸问题专家，他说缅甸过去6、7年间取得了巨大进步，他说外国投资者在缅甸看到了获利机会3xp,.04y2)J%。

然而，汉考克说缅甸政府必须重新运作起来，并完成土地改革fH+P*Mt3*lT8VJ。他说政府必须增加在教育、道路和电力系统上的开支1[dj#U(X#%37Xg]|kL。缅甸6100万人口中有25%以上生活在国家贫困线以下，大多数穷人生活在农村地区*i_8ArxG|Pm%6D@。

Aung Zaw是《伊洛瓦底报》编辑，他说很多缅甸人担心改革力度不够大，他说对土地登记的监督不力使得很多人有丧失土地的危险ax,!mJCTd-O0)B。

Aung Zaw说有证据表明缅甸军队迫使村民离开来为外国投资让出空间，他说外国投资者对新的经济特区表现出兴趣D#)C9;s#BVksv.F5CJ。但他说这些新经济区带来了巨大的社会和环境成本，他说通常村民被迫离开家园，也没有获得公平的报酬U3]Z)&s]P2C。

澳大利亚政府警告投资者，与缅甸军队有密切关联的人和公司在影响着经济的各个领域，包括石油、天然气和木材业hgU5qBV2z3p_owxO。

肖恩·特纳尔是澳大利亚悉尼市麦考瑞大学的一位经济学家，他说缅甸的农业改革进展缓慢，尽管大多数缅甸人靠农业生活ZWU2o)!0H^mE3。

“令我震惊的是农业方面的进步很小iWO;R6QAd5q!;nPlk。”

特纳尔说如果没有土地权利，农民们以公平利率借款的机会就很小Zpa|)H-I=rbmlsS。

专家称有的人担心2015年选举之前缅甸的改变是在企图通过制造种族和宗教冲突来放缓改革进程#Q,7#2KRNKfkD。

这就是美国之音慢速英语经济报道，我是马里奥·利特~^aN|lYgy%v0=#B。

点击此处下载本期VOA慢速新闻讲解PDF与音频字幕