英语听力精选进阶版 6136
时间：2019-02-13 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
The British Prime Minister Makes an Important Speech 英国首相发表重要讲话
Gordon Brown’s speech was aimed at those within Labour who think the only way their party can win again is for him to go as soon as possible.
How did it come to this? When Mr Brown came into office 14 months ago, he was riding high in opinion polls and had a secure place in his party. His serious, no-nonsense approach was seen as a refreshing 1 change from Mr Blair’s slick and prepared style.
Mr Brown’s honeymoon 2 came to an end this time last year. There were hints that he might try to capitalise on his lead in the polls by calling a snap election. The Prime Minister allowed speculation 3 to build for several weeks before finally ruling out an autumn election.
The delay allowed the Prime Minister’s opponents to call him indecisive and even cowardly.
There followed unpopular changes to the tax system, which left some poorer voters worse off. This led to an embarrassing U-turn that further eroded 4 Mr Brown’s image as a safe pair of hands to run the economy.
And then we have the growing financial crisis that has already caused one UK bank to be nationalised and another, HBOS, to be taken over.
Some of his opponents say Mr Brown must shoulder some of the blame for recent events, since he was Chancellor 5 for 10 years under Tony Blair.
Yesterday the Prime Minister accepted that his first year in power might have gone better, saying, “Where I've made mistakes I'll put my hand up and try to put them right”.
But he insisted that his long experience meant he was best placed to handle the financial crisis.
Perhaps speaking of Mr Cameron, the Prime Minister said, “This is no time for a novice”.
The Prime Minister’s impassioned speech has impressed many supporters, but it is not clear if it will be enough to quieten the dissent 6 within his party.
GLOSSARY 词汇表
a new settlement for new times 新时期的新对策
time might be running out 恐怕没时间了
Opposition 反对党
riding high in opinion polls 民调支持率高
slick 圆滑的
honeymoon 蜜月（期）
capitalise 利用
snap election 临时选举
speculation 揣测
ruling out 排除
indecisive 犹豫不决
U-turn 掉头回转
eroded 损坏了
safe pair of hands 经验老手
nationalised 国有化
shoulder some of the blame 承担部分责任
put my hand up （举手）认错
This is no time for a novice 不是新手上阵的时候
impassioned 慷慨激昂的
quieten the dissent 平息不满情绪
- I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
- The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。
- While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
- The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。
- Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
- There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
- They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
- He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。