英语四级阅读考试训练5

　　President Clintons decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an agreement on Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization seemed to be a massive miscalculationThe President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bagThe Cabinet and Whit House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as furious over the lost opportunityZhu charged that Clinton lacked the courage to reach an accordAnd when Clinton later telephoned the angry Zhu to pledge a renewed effort at negotiations, the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop.

　　In fact, Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO dealA lot more horse trading is needed before a final agreement can be reachedAnd without the Administrations goal of a bullet-proof agreement that business lobbyists can enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisan acrimony that could harm relations with China for years.

　　THE HARD PARTMany business lobbyists, while disappointed that the deal was not closed, agree that better terms can still be hadAnd Treasury Secretary Robert ERubin, National Economic Council Director Gene BSperling, Commerce Secretary William MDaley, and top trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advised Clinton that while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, were not there yet, according to senior officials.

　　Negotiating with Zhu over the remaining issues may be the easy partAlthough Clinton can signal U.Sapproval for Chinas entry into the WTO himself, he needs Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of a broad trade accordAnd the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may prove over-whelmingZhu had barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott declared himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTOAnd Senators Jesse AHelms and Emest FHollings promised to introduce a bill requiring congressional approval of any deal.

　　The hidden message from these three textile-state Southerners: Get more protection for the USclothing industryHoping to smooth the way, the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textilesAlso left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and DetroitZhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on cultural restrictions on American movies and musicHe also blocked efforts to allow USauto makers to provide fleet financing.

　　BIG JOBAlready, business lobbyists are blanketing Capitol Hill to presale any eventual agreement, but what theyve heard so far isnt encouragingRepublicans, including Lott, say that the time just isnt right for the dealTranslation: Were determined to make it look as if Clinton has capitulated to the Chinese and is ignoring human, religious, and labor rights violations; the theft of nuclear-weapons technology; and the sale of missile parts to Americas enemiesBeijings fierce critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Paul DWellstone of Minnesota and House Minority leader Richard AGephardt of Missouri, wont help, either.

　　Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be become clear on Apr20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to discipline their Republican alliesWith business and the White House still trading charges over who is responsible for the defeat of fast-track trade negotiating legislation in 1997, working together wont be easyAnd Republicanswith a winksay that theyll eventually embrace Chinas entry into the WTO as a favor to Corporate AmericaThough not long before they torture ClintonBut Zhu is out on a limb, and if Congress overdoes the criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renegeBusiness must make this much dear to both its GOP allies and the Whit House: This historic deal is too important to risk losing to any more partisan squabbling

　　1The main idea of this passage is

　　The Contradiction between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

　　On Chinas entry into WTO.

　　Clinton was right.

　　Business Lobbyists Control Capitol Hill.

　　2What does the sentence Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, Detroit convey?

　　Premier Zhu rejected their requirements.

　　The three places overdid criticism.

　　They wanted more protection.

　　They are in trouble.

　　3What was the attitude of the Republican Party toward Chinas entry into the WTO?

　　Contradictory.

　　.Appreciative.

　　Disapproving.

　　Detestful.

　　4Who plays the leading part in the deal in America?

　　White House .

　　Republicans.

　　The Democratic Party.

　　Businessmen.

　　5It can be inferred from the passage that

　　America will make concessions.

　　America will hold out for a better WTO

　　Clinton has the right to signal USapproval for Chinas entry.

　　Democratic party approve Chinas entry into the WTO.

　　Vocabulary

　　1drubbing 痛打

　　get/take a drabbing 遭人痛打

　　2flip-flop=great change suddenly 游说，突然改变，突然反方向。人字拖鞋，趾拖鞋

　　3hold out 维持，保持

　　hold out for sth故意拖延达成协议以谋求

　　4horse trading 精明的讨价还价

　　5bullet-proof 防弹的

　　6lobby 收买，暗中活动

　　7lobbyist 院外活动集团成员

　　8partisan 党人，帮派，是党派强硬支持者

　　9acrimony 语言/态度的刻薄

　　10sell to 说服接受或采用

　　11meddle 干预

　　12Capitol Hill 美国国会

　　13budge 使稍微移动，改变

　　14lucrative 有利可图的，赚钱的

　　15block 制止

　　16fleet 舰队，船队，车队，机队

　　17blanket 覆盖，妨碍扫兴，扑灭

　　18Capitulate 投降，停止抵抗

　　19fast track 快速行程

　　20with a wink 眼睛一眨，很快的

　　21out on a limb 孤立无援

　　22renege 违约

　　23squabble 争吵

　　难句译注

　　1President Clintons decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an agreement

　　send one packing 打发人走。

　　克林顿于4月8日决定不达成中国加入世贸组织的协议便打发中国总理朱容基走人。

　　2The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag.

　　in the bag 倒手，囊中之物。

　　总统遭到许多报界舆论的抨击，它们曾报道过这桩买卖已是囊中之物。

　　3Zhu charged that Clinton lacked the courage to reach an accord.

　　朱指责克林顿缺乏达成协议的勇气。

　　4the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop

　　普遍认为总统的姿态来了一个一百八十度的转弯。

　　5Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal.

　　总统故意拖延协议以谋取一笔更好的入世贸组织交易的决定完全正确。

　　6And without the Administrations goal of a bullet-proof agreement that business lobbyists can enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisan acrimony that could harm relations with China for years.

　　没有商界院外活动集团成员热情的劝说共和党国会采纳政府目标中的防弹性协议，那么整个过程将会以党派之间的尖刻的争吵而结束，这会影响以后多年和中国的关系。

　　7the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles.

　　美国政府希望铺平道路，试图使朱在纺织品上让步，结果失败。

　　8Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit.

　　这句句子连接上文而说。

　　Leave sbIn the lurch 固定用法，义：置某人于困难之中弃之不顾，遗弃某人。完整句型应该是：Wall Street, Hollywood and Detrait are also left in the lurch.

　　同样也陷于困境的有华尔街，好莱坞和底特律。

　　9Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on cultural restrictions on American movies and musicHe also blocked efforts to allow USauto makers to provide fleet financing.

　　朱容基总理不允许开放金融股票市场，坚持对美国电影和音乐作文化方面的限制规定，不让美国汽车商染指投资汽车。

　　10Translation翻译。这是作者为共和党的The time isnt right做注解/解释。

　　写作方法与文章大意

　　文章以先声夺人的写作手法：克林顿不同意中国加入世贸打发朱总理回国引出两党矛盾，国会和白宫之相反意见到最终四方趋向一致来证明总统决定是对的以最好的价码使美国获得最佳利益为前提同意中国加入世贸来满足美国商人的要求。

　　答案祥解

　　1C.

　　总统是对的。这篇文章摘自Business Weekly文章是从商人的角度来看待中国加入WTO，他们希望从谈判中获得更多的利益，而克林顿的同意不同意的目的和他们相符争取更多利益。这篇就是从四方利益最终趋向一致同意中国加入世贸来证明总统结论正确的中心思想。

　　第一段指出Clinton由打发朱总理回国，不同意中国入世到一百八十度大转弯，在电话中愤怒的朱总理表示再次努力协商。内阁和白宫官员意见分歧，商人对失去机会火冒三丈。

　　第二段点出克林顿故意拖延以谋取更多的利益的决定是正确的文章的主旨句。商人院外活动集团成员要以政府完美无缺的协议的目标来说服共和党赞成/接受。以免整个过程以党争而告终。

　　第三，四段是商业方面的高级官员的代表纷纷却说Clinton当中国作出许多优惠让步时，美国不在那里。克林顿有权签署赞成中国加入世贸组织，可他需要国会批准北京永久性最惠国作为扩大贸易协定的组成部分。再说对国会的干预的诱惑力相当大：就在朱踏上美国本土时，参议院多数派领袖Trent Lott宣布他对中国是该不该入世持怀疑态度，而参议院Tesse A Helms 承诺提出一项要求国会批准任何交易的提案。

　　第五段讲了朱总理的强硬立场。第六段又是共和党的反对声，使民主党内站在北京以便的批评家也无能为力。

　　最后一段指出：尽管困难重重，这一历史事件太重要了，不能因党争而冒失失去机会的危险。

　　A民主党和共和党的矛盾。两党之争见上文译注，最终还是一致。 B论中国加入世贸组织。文章不是论中国加入而是论美国环绕中国入世贸的种种。 D商人院外活动集团成员控制国会。这在第五段中提到商人院外活动集团成员阻挠美国国会事先接受最终协议，但不是主题思想。

　　2A.

　　朱总理拒绝了他们的要求。见难句译注9。

　　B这三个地方批评过头。 C他们要求更多的保护。 D他们陷入困境。

　　3A.

　　矛盾。共和党一开始就反对。什么对中国该不该加入世贸组织持怀疑态度。第六段说得更露骨，时间不对。意思是他们想把整个事件看起来好象克林顿屈从于中国，忽视了中国违反人权，宗教权，劳动权，偷窃核武器技术，把导弹组成部件买给美国的敌人等事实。最后一段共和党一下子又所他们最终将会接受中国加入世贸组织以表示对整体美国的好感。不管是商人院外活动集团的作用，还是明确指出重开谈判的重要性。这一历史事件太重要绝不能因党争而失去机会。共和党纵然心中不愿，也不得不接受现实。心情是矛盾的。

　　B赞赏。 C不赞成。 D厌恶。

　　4D.

　　商界。第一段中就点出：商界领袖对失去这次机会火冒三丈。第二段中提到商界院外活动成员要以实实在在的协议来说服共和党国会，免得以党争告终。第三段明确指出：许多商界院外人士一方面对协议未签定表示失望，另方面又同意，还会更好的条件。各种和商界直接关系的高级官员对克林顿劝说。

　　第五段：纺织，金融股票，汽车以至电影等都是商界的要求。朱总理拒绝的就是商界要求。

　　第六段提及商界院外活动的成员制止国会事先接受最终协定。

　　最后一段又是商界使共和党联盟和白宫懂得此事的重要性。

　　5A.

　　美国将会作出让步，见上面注释。商人是绝对不会放弃中国市场的。

　　B美国会故意拖延以求取得更好的条件。这一点恐怕不会，见上文注释。朱总理的强硬立场，商人的见解。 C克林顿有签署批准中国入世之权。 D民主党赞成中国加入世贸，这两项都是事实。