??號: 知所雨

Riding High

Paragraph 1

If there is one thing that Americans of all political?stripes?can agree on, it is that the economy is broken. Donald Trump, who saw trade as a?rip-off?and his country in decline, came into office promising to make America great again. President Joe Biden is spending $2trn remaking the economy, hoping to build it back better. Americans are worried. Nearly four-fifths tell?pollsters?that their children will be worse off than they are, the most since the survey began in 1990, when only about two-fifths were as?gloomy.?The last time?so many thought the economy was in such terrible shape,?it was?in the?throes?of the global financial crisis.

?

內(nèi)容大意：如果有一件事是所有政治派別的美國人都能達成共識的，那就是經(jīng)濟已經(jīng)崩潰。唐納德·特朗普認為貿(mào)易是一種剝削，美國正在衰落，他上臺時承諾讓美國再次偉大。喬·拜登總統(tǒng)正在花費2萬億美元重建經(jīng)濟，希望能重建得更好。美國人很擔心。近五分之四的人告訴民意調(diào)查者，他們的孩子會比他們更糟糕，這是自1990年調(diào)查開始以來的最高比例，當時只有五分之二的人持同樣的悲觀態(tài)度。上一次這么多人認為經(jīng)濟狀況如此糟糕，還是在全球金融危機的陣痛中。

表達學習：

1.?stripe

N a chevron sewn on to uniform to denote military rank (制服上標示軍銜的)條紋，V型臂章。

a type or category <主北美>類型，類別

例句：Entrepreneurs of all?stripes?are joining in the offensive.

各類企業(yè)家聯(lián)合發(fā)起攻勢。

2.?rip-off?

(1)N a fraud or swindle, especially something that is grossly overpriced <非正式>欺騙，騙局（尤指商品等的索價過高）；索價過高的東西

例句：The service charge is a?rip-off, but I'm willing to pay if I'm guaranteed a seat.?

這項服務費是宰人的，但要是能保證我有座位我就愿意付錢。

(2)N an inferior imitation of something 仿冒品；抄襲之作

例句：It was a?rip-off, plain and simple.?

這是一個不折不扣的冒牌貨。

【擴展】tip-off：舉報；密告

3.?pollster?

N A pollster?is a person or organization that asks large numbers of people questions to find out their opinions on particular subjects. 民意調(diào)查者; 民意測驗機構

4.?gloomy

ADJ?If a situation is?gloomy, it does not give you much hope of success or happiness. 前景暗淡的

例句：Officials say the outlook for next year is?gloomy.?

官員們稱來年前景暗淡。

5.?The last time..., it was?

例句：The last time?the situation was that bad,?it was?when you were in command.

上次這么糟糕的情況還是出現(xiàn)在你掌權的情況下。

6.?throes

N?violent?pains, especially at the moment of death?（尤指死亡時的）劇痛

in the throes of?正忙于，處于...困境之中

例句：The country is?in the throes of?a general election.?

該國正忙于大選。

?

Paragraph 2

The record is as impressive for many of the ingredients of growth. America has nearly a third more workers than in 1990, compared with a tenth in western Europe and Japan. And, perhaps surprisingly, more of them have graduate and postgraduate degrees. True, Americans work more hours on average than Europeans and the Japanese. But they are significantly more productive than both.

?

內(nèi)容大意：許多增長因素的記錄同樣矚目。與1990年相比，美國的工人數(shù)量增長了近三分之一，而西歐和日本僅增長十分之一。還有一點或許會令人驚訝，美國工人中有本科和研究生學位的更多。的確，美國人的平均工作時間比歐洲和日本長，但其生產(chǎn)率明顯高于這兩者。

?

Paragraph 3

American firms own more than a fifth of?patents?registered abroad, more than China and Germany put together. All of the five biggest corporate sources of research and development(R&D) are American; in the past year they have spent $200bn. Consumers everywhere have benefited from their innovations in everything from the laptop and the iPhone to artificial-intelligence chatbots. Investors who put $100 into the S&P 500 in 1990 would have more than $2,000 today, four times what they would have earned had they invested elsewhere in the rich world.

?

內(nèi)容大意：美國公司擁有國外注冊專利的五分之一以上，比中國和德國加起來還多。五個最大的研發(fā)公司都是美國的;在過去的一年里，這幾家公司花費2000億美元。從筆記本電腦、iPhone到人工智能聊天機器人，世界各地的消費者都從其創(chuàng)新中獲益。1990年向標普500指數(shù)投資100美元的投資者，今天將獲得2000多美元，收益是投資其他發(fā)達國家的四倍。

表達學習：

1.?patent

N?an official right to be the only person to make, use or sell a product or an invention; a document that proves this 專利權；專利證書

例句：The device was protected by?patent.?

這一裝置受專利保護。

Paragraph 4

One retort to this could be that?Americans?trade?higher incomes?for?less generous?safety-nets. America’s spending on social benefits, as a share of GDP, is indeed a great deal?stingier?than other countries’. But those benefits have become more European and, as the economy has grown, they have grown even faster.?Tax credits?for workers and children have become more generous. Health insurance for the poorest has expanded, notably under President Barack Obama. In 1979?means-tested?benefits?amounted to a third of the poorest Americans’?pre-tax income; by 2019 these came to two-thirds. Thanks to this, incomes for America’s poorest fifth have risen in real terms by 74% since 1990, much more than in Britain.

?

內(nèi)容大意：對此的一種反駁是，美國人用更高的收入換取了不那么慷慨的安全保障。作為GDP的一部分，美國在社會福利上的支出確實比其他國家少得多。但這些福利已變得更歐洲化，且隨著經(jīng)濟增長，福利增長速度甚至更快。工人和兒童的稅收抵免更加慷慨。尤其在奧巴馬總統(tǒng)任內(nèi)，針對最貧困人口的醫(yī)療保險擴大了。1979年，收入狀況調(diào)查補助達到美國最貧窮人口稅前收入的三分之一；到2019年，這一比例達到三分之二。得益于此，自1990年以來，美國最貧窮的五分之一人口的實際收入增長了74%，遠高于英國。

表達學習：

1.?One?retort?to this could be that...?一種反駁是...

可用于議論文寫作：Someone argues/retorts...

2.?trade...for

V exchange or give (something) in exchange for 用...換；貿(mào)易交換

3.?safety-nets

N a net put below people performing at a great height to catch them if they fall 安全保障

4.?stingy

V ( informal ) not given or giving willingly ; not generous , especially with money 小氣的；吝嗇的

例句：Don't be so?stingy?with the cream!

別那么舍不得放奶油！

5.?tax credits?稅收抵免

一種減少納稅人應繳稅款的政策，通常是通過抵消部分或全部應繳稅款來實現(xiàn)。

6.?means-tested benefits?收入狀況調(diào)查補助；資產(chǎn)審查型收益

7.?pre-tax income?稅前收入

?

Paragraph 5

For the world as a whole, America’s outperformance says much about how to grow. One lesson is that size matters. America has the benefit of a large consumer market over which to spread the costs of R&D, and a deep capital market from which to raise finance. Only China, and perhaps one day India, can?boast of?purchasing power at such scale. Other countries have sought to mimic?it. But even those in Europe, which have?got the closest,?have struggled to become a true single market. Differences in bankruptcy laws and?contractual terms, together with a variety of?regulatory barriers,?prevent bankers, accountants and architects from?touting services across borders.

?

內(nèi)容大意：對于全世界而言，美國的出色表現(xiàn)提供了很多增長經(jīng)驗。其中之一就是規(guī)模很重要。美國享有可以分擔研發(fā)成本的大規(guī)模消費市場和籌措資金的龐大資本市場。只有中國，或許有朝一日還有印度，可以吹噓如此巨大的購買力。其他國家爭相效仿，但即使是情況最接近美國的歐洲國家，也很難成為真正的單一市場。破產(chǎn)法與合同條款上的差異，再加上各種監(jiān)管障礙，阻礙了銀行家、會計師、建筑師跨境推銷他們的服務。

表達學習：

1.?boast?

V ~( about / of sth ) to talk with too much pride about sth that you have or can do 自夸；自吹自擂?

例句：He openly?boasted of?his skill as a burglar.

他公然炫耀他的盜竊手法。

?

Paragraph 6

The size and the quality of the workforce matters, too. America?was blessed with?a younger population and a higher fertility rate than other rich countries. That may not be easily?remedied?elsewhere, but countries can at least?take inspiration from?America’s high share of immigrants, who?in 2021 made up 17% of its workforce, compared with less than 3% in ageing Japan.

內(nèi)容大意：勞動力規(guī)模和質(zhì)量也同樣重要。相比其他富裕國家，美國人口更年輕，生育率更高。這些優(yōu)勢是其他優(yōu)勢很難彌補的，但是其他國家至少能從美國的高移民比例中獲得靈感，2021年，移民占美國勞動力的17%，而在老齡化的日本，該比例不到3%。

表達學習：

1.?be blessed with?

to have a special ability, good quality etc 擁有，享有：表示某人或某物具有某種特質(zhì)、能力或優(yōu)勢。

例句：China?is blessed with?a large territory and rich resources.

中國地域遼闊，物產(chǎn)豐饒。

可替換enjoy, boast.

2.?remedy

V to correct or improve sth 改正；糾正；改進

例句：This situation is easily?remedied.

這種情形易于補救。

3.?take inspiration from?從...獲取靈感

例句：Scientists?take inspiration from?nature.

科學家從大自然尋求靈感。

?

Paragraph 7

Another lesson is the value of dynamism. Starting a business is easy in America, as is restructuring it through bankruptcy. The flexibility of the labour market helps employment adapt to?shifting?patterns of demand. Already many of the workers in America who were laid off from Alphabet and other tech firms at the start of the year are applying their?sought-after?skills elsewhere, or setting up their own businesses. In continental Europe, by contrast, tech firms are still negotiating lay-offs, and may?think twice about?hiring there in future.

?

內(nèi)容大意：另一經(jīng)驗是活力的價值。在美國，創(chuàng)業(yè)很簡單，就像破產(chǎn)重組。勞動力市場的靈活性有助于就業(yè)適應不斷變換的需求模式。今年年初被Alphabet解雇的美國員工已經(jīng)在其他公司大展拳腳，或開創(chuàng)自己的事業(yè)。相比之下，在歐洲大陸，科技公司仍在就裁員進行協(xié)商，未來在招聘員工方面可能會三思而行。

表達學習：

1.?sought-after

ADJ Something that is sought - after is in great demand, usually because it is rare or of very good quality 受青睞的 ；受歡迎的

例句：An Olympic gold medal is the most?sought- after?prize in world sport.?

奧運會金牌是世界體育活動中最受青睞的獎牌。

2.?think twice about?對...三思而行

例句：Tom may?think twice about?setting up his own business.

Tom在創(chuàng)業(yè)方面可能會三思而行。

?

Paragraph 8

Americans should find the economy’s performance reassuring.?If history is a guide, living standards will continue to go up for the next generation, even as the country bears the costs of decarbonising the economy. Yet, resilient as the growth record has been, there are shadows. The middle class has seen its post-tax incomes rise by less than those of both the poorest and the richest. A group of people have?fallen into?hard times. The share of?prime-age?American men who are not in work has been rising for years and is higher than in Britain, France and Germany. And life expectancy in America?lags?shamefully?behind?others in the rich world, mainly?on account of?too many younger people dying from drug overdoses and gun violence. Tackling such problems should be easier when the economy as a whole is growing. But America’s poisonous politics?are no help.

?

內(nèi)容大意：美國應對其經(jīng)濟表現(xiàn)感到欣慰。如果以史為鑒，就算美國承擔著經(jīng)濟脫碳的成本，下一代的生活水平將持續(xù)提高。但是，雖然增長記錄一直很強勁，仍有陰影存在。中產(chǎn)階級的稅后收入增長低于最貧窮人口和最富有人口。一群人陷入困境。美國壯年男性無業(yè)比例多年來一直在上升，高于英國、法國和德國。美國人的預期壽命遠遠落后于其他富裕國家，主要因為太多年輕人死于吸毒過量和槍支暴力。經(jīng)濟整體增長時，解決這些問題應該更容易，但美國有毒的政治卻于事無補。

表達學習：

1.?If history is a guide, ... 如果以史為鑒,...

例句：If history is a guide, this company will by no means survive this crisis.

如果以史為鑒，這家公司絕不可能安然度過這場危機。

2.?fall into

to begin to do or experience (something) or to be affected by (something) without wanting or trying to 陷入；落入

例句：She?fell into the habit?of?going out for ice cream every night.

她養(yǎng)成了每個晚上出去吃冰淇淋的習慣。

3.?prime-age

N The best years of one's life, when one is at the peak of one's powers 黃金年齡；成熟期

例句：People say a?prime-age?man must have his career.

人們說一個成熟男性必須有事業(yè)。

4.?lag behind?落后于

例句：This company's development?lags?far?behind?its counterparts.

該公司的發(fā)展遠遠落后于同類公司。

5.?on account of?因為；由于

例句：He felt guilty?on account of?his misbehavior.

他為自己的品行不端感到內(nèi)疚。

6.?be no help?沒有幫助

例句：It's water under the bridge, your complaints?are no help.

木已成舟，你再抱怨也沒用。

?

Paragraph 9

In addition, the more that Americans think their economy is a problem in need of fixing, the more likely their politicians are to?mess up?the next 30 years. Although America’s openness brought prosperity for its firms and its consumers, both Mr Trump and Mr Biden have turned to protectionism and the politics of immigration have become toxic. Subsidies could boost investment in?deprived areas?in the short term, but risk?dulling?market incentives?to?innovate. In the long run they will also entrench?wasteful?and?distorting lobbying. The rise of China and the need to fight climate change both confront America with fresh challenges.?All the more reason, then,?to?remember what has powered its long and successful run.?

?

內(nèi)容大意：另外，美國人越是想著經(jīng)濟問題需要解決，政治家們就越可能在接下來的30年內(nèi)搞破壞。雖然美國的開放為企業(yè)和消費者帶來繁榮，但特朗普和拜登都選擇了保護主義，移民政治也更有害。補貼可能會在短期內(nèi)促進貧困地區(qū)的投資，但可能會削弱市場對創(chuàng)新的激勵。從長遠來看，這還會加強浪費、扭曲的游說。中國的崛起和應對氣候變化的需要都給美國帶來了新挑戰(zhàn)。因此，我們更不能忘記是什么推動了美國長期以來的成功發(fā)展。

表達學習：

1.?mess up

V ~( about / of sth ) to talk with too much pride about sth that you have or can do 自夸；自吹自擂?

例句：He openly?boasted of?his skill as a burglar.

他公然炫耀他的盜竊手法。

2.?deprived areas?貧困地區(qū)：指經(jīng)濟、社會和文化條件較差，居民生活水平低下的地區(qū)。

3.?dull

V to make a person slower or less lively 使遲鈍；使不活潑

例句：He felt?dulled?with sleep.

他睡得迷迷糊糊。

4.?wasterful

ADJ?~( of sth ) using more of sth than is?necessary ; not saving or keeping sth that could be used 浪費的；揮霍的

例句：The whole process is?wasteful?and inefficient.

整個程序既浪費又效率低。

5.?distort?歪曲；曲解；扭曲；使失真

tort, distort, extort, retort詞義辨析

6.?All the more reason to?更有理由...

可用于議論文寫作。

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5JBIbQCmEMv9QhErkGbqHA