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Belarus Shoppers Panic as Ruble Collapses

时间：2011-05-26 08:39:44

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     Panicky shoppers in Belarus are buying up consumer goods and scarce food supplies as fast as they can, after a sharp devaluation of the ruble failed to halt a slide in the national currency's value.

    Weeks of economic crisis have prompted many Belarusians to buy foreign currency - usually U.S. dollars or euros - to protect themselves against the ruble's plunge1.  The government announced Tuesday the official exchange rate would be 4,930 rubles for $1 as of Wednesday, compared to the previous rate of 3,155 rubles, but that triggered an immediate2 shift in the ruble's unofficial or black-market price, which now stands at about 6,500 rubles per dollar.
    President Alexander Lukashenko unexpectedly announced Wednesday that he may release hundreds of political activists3 who have been jailed since street protests that greeted the president's re-election five months ago.  This is being interpreted as a signal that Mr. Lukashenko may try to barter4 the prisoners' freedom for financial aid from the West.
    This week, Belarusians hoping to protect their savings5 tried to buy foreign currency before possible further devaluations erode6 the value of their rubles.  Only limited supplies of foreign currency normally are available in state-regulated shops, but those currencies have now disappeared.
    Retail prices on imported goods and many domestic supplies already have risen sharply, but consumers descended7 on shops Wednesday, using their ruble savings to buy any goods before prices could rise again - everything from appliances to jewelry8, and foods such as rice and frozen chicken.
    Word that Mr. Lukashenko is considering a mass release of political prisoners came in a speech the president delivered in Kazakhstan, but it is unclear which detainees might be affected9.
    Dozens of people rounded up after the election-day protests in December have been convicted and sentenced, but many others are awaiting trial.
    Among those already sentenced is opposition10 leader Andrei Sannikov, an opposition candidate who was reported to have the second highest vote total in the disputed presidential ballot11.
    Human-rights groups and Western governments have condemned12 Mr. Lukashenko for the crackdown on protesters.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

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1 plunge 228zO     
v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲
参考例句：
  • Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
  • That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。
2 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
参考例句：
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
3 activists 90fd83cc3f53a40df93866d9c91bcca4     
n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
  • Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 barter bu2zJ     
n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易
参考例句：
  • Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
  • They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。
5 savings ZjbzGu     
n.存款，储蓄
参考例句：
  • I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
  • By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。
6 erode NmUyX     
v.侵蚀，腐蚀，使...减少、减弱或消失
参考例句：
  • Once exposed,soil is quickly eroded by wind and rain.一旦暴露在外，土壤很快就会被风雨侵蚀。
  • Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits.金融市场的竞争降低了利润。
7 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的，出身于...的
参考例句：
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
8 jewelry 0auz1     
n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝
参考例句：
  • The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
  • Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。
9 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。
10 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。
11 ballot jujzB     
n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票
参考例句：
  • The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
  • The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。
12 condemned condemned     
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
  • The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

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