Next Year Marks the EUs 50th Anniversary of the Treaty
A.After a period of introversion and stunned self-disbelief, continental European governments will recover their enthusiasm for pan-European institution-building in 2007.Whether the European public will welcome a return to what voters in two countries had rejected so short a time before is another matter.
B.There are several reasons for Europes recovering self-confidence.For years European economies had been lagging dismally behind America , but in 2006 the large continental economies had one of their best years for a decade, briefly outstripping America in terms of growth.Since politics often reacts to economic change with a lag, 2006s improvement in economic growth will have its impact in 2007, though the recovery may be ebbing by then.
C.The coming year also marks a particular point in a political cycle so regular that it almost seems to amount to a natural law.Every four or five years, European countries take a large stride towards further integration by signing a new treaty: the Maastricht treaty in 1992, the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997, the Treaty of Nice in 2001.And in 2005 they were supposed to ratify a European constitution, laying the ground for yet more integrationuntil the calm rhythm was rudely shattered by French and Dutch voters.But the political impetus to sign something every four or five years has only been interrupted, not immobilised, by this setback.
D.In 2007 the European Union marks the 50th anniversary of another treatythe Treaty of Rome, its founding charter.Government leaders have already agreed to celebrate it ceremoniously, restating their commitment to ever closer union and the basic ideals of European unity.By itself, and in normal circumstances, the EUs 50th-birthday greeting to itself would be fairly meaningless, a routine expression of European good fellowship.But it does not take a Machiavelli to spot that once governments have signed the declaration they will already be halfway towards committing themselves to a new treaty.All that will be necessary will be to incorporate the 50th-anniversary declaration into a new treaty containing a number of institutional and other reforms extracted from the failed attempt at constitution-building andhey prestoa new quasi-constitution will be ready.
E.According to the German governmentwhich holds the EUs agenda-setting presidency during the first half of 2007there will be a new draft of a slimmed-down constitution ready by the middle of the year, perhaps to put to voters, perhaps not.There would then be a couple of years in which it will be discussed, approved by parliaments and, perhaps, put to voters if that is deemed unavoidable.Then, according to bureaucratic planners in Brussels and Berlin, blithely ignoring the possibility of public rejection, the whole thing will be signed, sealed and a new constitution delivered in 2009-10.Europe will be nicely back on schedule.Its four-to-five-year cycle of integration will have missed only one beat.
F.The resurrection of the European constitution will be made more likely in 2007 because of what is happening in national capitals.The European Union is not really an autonomous organisation.If it functions, it is because the leaders of the big continental countries want it to, reckoning that an active European policy will help them get done what they want to do in their own countries.
G.That did not happen in 2005-06.Defensive, cynical and self-destructive, the leaders of the three largest euro-zone countriesFrance, Italy and Germanywere stumbling towards their unlamented ends.They saw no reason to pursue any sort of European policy and the EU, as a result, barely functioned.But by the middle of 2007 all three will have gone, and this fact alone will transform the European political landscape.
H.The upshot is that the politics of the three large continental countries, bureaucratic momentum and the economics of recovery will all be aligned to give a push towards integration in 2007.That does not mean the momentum will be irresistible or even popular.The British government, for one, will almost certainly not want to go with the flow, beginning yet another chapter in the long history of confrontation between Britain and the rest of Europe.More important, the voters will want a say.They rejected the constitution in 2005.It would be foolish to assume they will accept it after 2007 just as a result of an artful bit of tinkering.
Questions 1-6
Do the following statemets reflect the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?
Write your answer in Boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
TRUE if the statemenht reflets the claims of the writer
FALSE if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is possbile to say what the writer thinks about this
1.After years introspection and mistrust, continental European governments will resurrect their enthusiasm for more integration in 2007.
2. The European consitution was officially approved in 2005 in spite of the oppositon of French and Dutch voters.
3. The Treaty of Rome , which is considered as the fundamental charter of the European Union, was signed in 1957.
4.It is very unlikely that European countries will sign the declaration at the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.
5.French government will hold the EUs presidency and lay down the agenda during the first half of 2008.
6.For a long time in hisotry, there has been confrontation between Britain and the rest of European countries.
Questions 7-10
Complet the following sentencces.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Reading Passage 1 for each answer.
Write your answer in Boxes 7-10 on your answer sheet.
7.Every four or five years, European countries tend to make a rapid progress towards ___________________by signing a new treaty.
8.The European constitution is supposed to ______________________for yet more integration of European Union member countries.
9.The bureaucratic planners in Brussels and Berlin rashly ignore the possibility of __________________and think the new consitution will be delivered in 2009-10.
10.The politics of the three large continental countries, __________________ and the economic recovery will join together to urge the integration in 2007.
Questions 11-14
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.
11.Which of the following statemnts is true of Euopean economic development.
A.The economy of Europe developed much faster than that of Asia before 2006.
B.The growth of European economy was slightly slower than that of America in 2006.
C.The development of European economy are likely to slow down by 2007.
D.The recovery of European economy may be considerably accelerated by 2007.
12.The word immobilised in the last line of Section C means ___________.
A.stopped completely.
B.pushed strongly.
C.motivated wholely.
D.impeded totally.
13.Which of the following statements about the treaties in European countries is NOT TRUE.
A.The Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992.
B.The Treaty of Amsterdan was signed in 1997.
C.The Treaty of Nice was signed in 2001.
D.The Treaty of Rome was signed in 2007.
14.The European constitution failed to be ratified in 2005--2006, because
A.The leaders of France, Italy and Germany were defensive, cynical and self-destructuve..
B.The voters in two countries of the Union --France and Holland rejected the constitution.
C.The leaders of the EU thought that it was unneccessary to pursue any European policy.
D.France, Italy and Germany are the three largest and most influential euro-zone countries.
Part II
Notes to the Reading Passage
1.pan-Enropean
pan-: 前缀:全,总,泛
pan-African 全/泛非洲的
pan-Enropean全/泛欧的
2.outstrip
超越,胜过,超过,优于
Material development outstripped human development物质的发展超过了人类的进步
3.ebb
回落跌落;衰退或消减
The tide is on the ebb.正在退潮。
4.Machiavelli
马基雅维利,尼克尔1469-1527意大利政治理论家,他的著作君主论阐述了一个意志坚定的统治者不顾道德观念的约束如何获得并保持其权力。
文章中意为任何一个人都可以看到,显而易见。。。。
5.hey presto
突然地;立即您看,变!
6.upshot
结果;结局
Part III
Keys to the Questions 1-14
1.TRUE
Explanation
See the first sentence in Section A Aftera period of introversion and stunned self-disbelief, continental European governments will recover their enthusiasm for pan-European institution-building in 2007.
2.FALSE
Explanation
See the third sentence in Section C And in 2005 they were supposed to ratify a European constitution, laying the ground for yet more integrationuntil the calm rhythm was rudely shattered by French and Dutch voters..
3.TRUE
Explanation
See the first sentence in the Section D In 2007 the European Union marks the 50th anniversary of another treatythe Treaty of Rome, its founding charter..
4.FALSE
Explanation
See the third sentence in Section DBut it does not take a Machiavelli to spot that once governments have signed the declaration they will already be halfway towards committing themselves to a new treaty.
5.NOT GIVEN
Explanation
See the first sentence in Section E According to the German governmentwhich holds the EUs agenda-setting presidency during the first half of 2007.
6.TRUE
Explanation
See the third sentence in Section HThe British government, for one, will almost certainly not want to go with the flow, beginning yet another chapter in the long history of confrontation between Britain and the rest of Europe.
7.further integration
Explanation
See the second sentence in Section CEvery four or five years, European countries take a large stride towards further integration by signing a new treaty.
8.lay the ground
Explanation
See the third sentence in Section C And in 2005 they were supposed to ratify a European constitution, laying the ground for yet more integrationuntil the calm rhythm was rudely shattered by French and Dutch voters..
9.publc rejection
Explanation
See the third sentence in Section EThen, according to bureaucratic planners in Brussels and Berlin, blithely ignoring the possibility of public rejection, the whole thing will be signed, sealed and a new constitution delivered in 2009--10.
10.bureaucratc momentum
Explanation
See the frst sentence in Section H The upshot is that the politics of the three large continental countries, bureaucratic momentum and the economics of recovery will all be aligned to give a push towards integration in 2007..
11.C
Explanation
See the last sentence in Section B Since politics often reacts to economic change with a lag, 2006s improvement in economic growth will have its impact in 2007, though the recovery may be ebbing by then.
12.A
Explanation
See the last sentence in Section C But the political impetus to sign something every four or five years has only been interrupted, not immobilised, by this setback.
13.D
Explanation
See the first sentence in Section D In 2007 the European Union marks the 50th anniversary of another treatythe Treaty of Rome, its founding charter.
14.B
Explanation
See third sentence in Section C: And in 2005 they were supposed to ratify a European constitution, laying the ground for yet more integrationuntil the calm rhythm was rudely shattered by French and Dutch voters.
My Schoolbag 我的书包
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Chinese premier hails China-Germany cooperation on autopilot, pledges further sup
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Lis Bulgaria trip promotes China-Europe ties, safeguards free trade
体坛英语资讯:France send Argentina packing 4-3 at World Cup
If the cap fits 用“帽子合适就戴上吧”劝人接受批评
国内英语资讯:China to boost defense, security cooperation with Africa: defense minister
美军研发出可变形车轮 可适应95%的地形
国内英语资讯:Strategic partnership heralds new chapter of China, Arab states ties: FM
体坛英语资讯:Kenya 15s team targets Uganda scalp in hunt for Rugby Africa Gold Cup points
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Su Bingtian equals 100m Asian record
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Top legislature holds joint inquiry meeting on air pollution control
国内英语资讯:China to improve management of state-owned financial capital
国际英语资讯:Czech president appoints new justice minister
国内英语资讯:African trainees receive agricultural training in Guizhou
体坛英语资讯:LeBron James signs four-year deal with Lakers
外国移居者成本榜出炉 香港居榜首北京排第九
贵州梵净山列入世界遗产名录
商务部发言人介绍缓解中美贸易摩擦影响有关政策
世界杯出局后 C罗完成转会 加盟尤文图斯
《我不是药神》:8句虐心台词之英译
体坛英语资讯:Colombian Football Federation confirms no muscle tear for Rodriguez
体坛英语资讯:Russia eliminate Spain on penalties to advance to World Cup last 8
Talking to technology 能与你聊天的“虚拟助手”
体坛英语资讯:Spain World Cup exit not linked to off-field turmoil: Hierro
《摩登家庭》S01E17:“我无所谓”用英语怎么说?
川普提名卡瓦诺出任联邦最高法院大法官
体坛英语资讯:France celebrates victory against Argentina following spectacular match
研究发现 噪音竟能增加患精神疾病的风险
爱做白日梦敌人,更聪明
体坛英语资讯:Denmark goalkeeper says hes proud of team despite World Cup exit
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |