據(jù)最新公布的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，2014 年英國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)率為 2.6%，這是自2007年以來(lái)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)的最快速度。然而，過(guò)去三個(gè)月的數(shù)字可能預(yù)示快速增長(zhǎng)的勢(shì)頭正在減弱。以下是 BBC Jonty Bloom 的報(bào)道。

Growth?last year was good, but not as good as originally hoped and there are worries that the economy is losing?momentum. The British economy is probably still?expanding?faster than any other major economy, and this is the fastest?rate?of growth since 2007.

However, that growth is rather?patchy. The?services sector?is once again leading the way. But the?construction industry?is?contracting?quite?sharply?and?manufacturing industry?is pretty?flat.

All eyes?will now be on the growth rate in the first three months of this year. That could show the economy's?expansion?is slowing down again or it could be?boosted?by lower fuel prices. It's too early to say. We'll only know for certain in three months' time, just before the general election.

測(cè)驗(yàn)

請(qǐng)聽(tīng)報(bào)道并回答下列問(wèn)題。

1.?Everyone is happy with the current economic situation.?True or false?

2. When did the economy last perform as well as it is at the moment?

3.?Not all sectors of the economy are performing to the same level.?True or false?

4. What could help improve the current economic situation?

詞匯表

growth 增長(zhǎng)

momentum 動(dòng)力，勢(shì)頭

expanding 擴(kuò)張，發(fā)展

rate 速度，速率

patchy 分布不均衡的

services sector 服務(wù)行業(yè)

construction industry 建筑業(yè)

contracting 縮小， 收縮

sharply 大幅度的，急劇的

manufacturing industry 制造業(yè)

flat 停滯的，不景氣的

all eyes 所有的注意力

expansion 擴(kuò)張，發(fā)展

boosted 推動(dòng)

答案

1.?Everyone is happy with the current economic situation.?True or false??False. There are worries that the economy is losing momentum, or slowing down.

2. When did the economy last perform as well as it is at the moment??In 2007.

3.?Not all sectors of the economy are performing to the same level.?True or false??True. The services sector is performing well, but the construction and manufacturing industries aren't.

4. What could help improve the current economic situation??Lower fuel prices could help improve the economy.