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VOA标准英语2012--Political Conflict Hurts Egyptian Economy

时间:2012-12-31 11:14:45

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Political Conflict Hurts Egyptian Economy

On many Cairo shopping streets, it's hard to tell there's an economic crisis. At a women's clothing store, however, manager Abdel Aziz Mohammed can see the impact.

“It's normal anywhere that you get affected1 by the country's circumstances. As long as there is tension in the country, there's not much business. When the situation returns to normal, there will be nothing to worry about,” said Mohammed.

In the last two years, prices of various items are up, and so is unemployment. And with the poverty rate rising from 20% to 25%, businesses are feeling the pinch.

At the same time, foreign investment and tourism are down, and the government's foreign currency reserves have been cut in half.

“The economy is a victim of the political transition," said Political Economics Professor Ashraf Mishrif at London's King's College. "We have seen the economy is actually suffering significantly from the uprising, the protests over the last two years.”

Mishrif, himself an Egyptian, is not surprised that two years of political protests and uncertainty2 have hurt foreign investment.

“The high political risk associated with the transition has really impacted negatively and led to disinvestment in the country. Some of the companies actually tried to find more a stable market to invest their capital in,” he said.

In the current political atmosphere, Egypt's new leaders have struggled to turn the economy around, announcing and then canceling tax and price increases, and postponing3 a crucial International Monetary4 Fund loan because they can't meet the conditions.

At the Egypt World Trade Organization Institute, a trade and investment promotion5 company, manager Mohammed Hesham said he believes the economy will bounce back once the political situation stabilizes6.

“The government has to take care of the economic side. It must. The people want economic stability and fast growth and they need a lot of jobs. This is the main duty for this government and this president.”

He acknowledged, though, that would require an easing of the tension and protests that have become a regular feature in Egypt during the last two years. The mainly Islamist supporters of the new constitution hope it will bring some stability, but the opposition7 has vowed8 to keep up the pressure on the streets as parliamentary elections approach, fearing the country will become too religiously conservative. Experts say that will make it difficult for the government to take unpopular steps on the economy, and likely will delay any recovery. 


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1 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
2 uncertainty NlFwK     
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物
参考例句:
  • Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
  • After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
3 postponing 3ca610c0db966cd6f77cd5d15dc2b28c     
v.延期,推迟( postpone的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He tried to gain time by postponing his decision. 他想以迟迟不作决定的手段来争取时间。 来自辞典例句
  • I don't hold with the idea of postponing further discussion of the matter. 我不赞成推迟进一步讨论这件事的想法。 来自辞典例句
4 monetary pEkxb     
adj.货币的,钱的;通货的;金融的;财政的
参考例句:
  • The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
  • Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
5 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
6 stabilizes 941f717ef460b2f5ae8b72fac9292ecb     
n.(使)稳定, (使)稳固( stabilize的名词复数 )v.(使)稳定, (使)稳固( stabilize的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The broadbased attachment of the mesenteric root stabilizes the small bowel. 肠系膜根部基底宽阔的附着面使小肠得以稳定。 来自辞典例句
  • The available supply of industrial product and produce stabilizes growth. 工业品与农产品的有效供给稳定增长。 来自互联网
7 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
8 vowed 6996270667378281d2f9ee561353c089     
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
  • I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

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