Lesson 8 Trading standards 贸易标准

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What makes trading between rich countries difficult?

Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables. No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. It is not just farmers who are complaining. An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards 5 must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hits the market in Europe.

As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many 10 products. They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th. Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.

Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug 15 manufacturing. The EU-following fine continental traditions-wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.

An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States.

Unit 1 Lesson 8

New words and expressions 生词和短语

slaughter (l.1) /'slɔːtə/v. 屠宰 electrocute (1.7) /i'lektrəkjuːt/v. 使触电身亡

fit (1.1) / fIt/ adj. 适合 eliminate (1.9) /i ’liminent/ $v$ . 消灭

grace (1.1)/greɪs/v. 给……增光 accord (1.13) $/$ 5’ kɔːd/ $n$ . 协议

tariff (1.3) /’taerɪf/ n. 关税 device (1.14) $/$ dI’vars $/n$ . 仪器,器械

standard (1.4) $/$ ’stænded $/n$ . 标准 hammer out (1.14) /’ hæmə-ˌaʊt/ v. 推敲

dialysis (1.6)/dar’ælisis/ $n$ . 分离,分解; 透析,渗析 pact (1.14)/packt/n. 合同, 条约, 公约

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 Chickens slaughtered in ... to grace European tables. 在这句话中引用了布鲁塞尔官员的评论, 却没有放在引号之中。这种方式常用于报刊文章, 对读者的直接影响更大。在 claim officials in Brussels 中, 动词 claim 置于名词之前。

2 it is differences in national regulations... between rich countries. 是各国管理条例上的差异, 而不是关税阻碍了发达国家之间的贸易。这是一个 it 引导的强调句。put sand in the wheels of, 阻碍, 阻挠。

3 So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do? 这是另一个没有引号的直接引语的例子。注意 why have two ... do 中的语序,这是非常口语化的直接引语的语序。

参考译文

布鲁塞尔的官员说, 在美国屠宰的鸡不适于用来装点欧洲的餐桌。不, 美国人说, 我们的家禽很好, 只是我们使用了另一种清洗方式。当前,是各国管理条例上的差异,而不是关税阻碍了发达国家之间的贸易。并不仅仅是农民在抱怨。一把符合欧州联盟安全标准的电动剃须刀必须得到美国检测人员的认可,方可在美国市场上销售；而美国制造的透析仪也要得到欧盟的首肯才能进入欧洲市场。

碰巧在欧州使用安全的剃须刀不大可能使美国人触电身亡,因此,大西洋两岸的企业都在问,当一套测试可以解决问题时, 为什么需要两套呢? 政治家在原则上同意了, 因此, 美国和欧洲一直在寻求达成协议, 以便为许多产品取消双重检查。他们希望尽早达成协议,为 5 月 28 日举行的美国和欧洲贸易的最高级会议作准备。虽然谈判代表持乐观态度, 但协议细节如此复杂, 他们所面临的困难很可能使他们根本无法取得一致。

为什么呢? 困难之一是起草这些协议。美国人很愿意先就医疗器械的标准达成一个协议, 然后推敲出不同的合同, 用以涵盖一一比如说——电子产品和药品的生产。欧洲人遵循优良的大陆传统, 则希望就普遍的原则取得一致,而这些原则适用于许多不同产品,同时可能延伸到其它国家。

Comprehension 理解

Give short answers to these questions in your own words as far as possible. Use one complete sentence for each answer.

1 What does this phrase mean: ... put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. (1.3)

2 What point is made about European-approved electric razors compared with American dialysis machines?

3 Why will the Americans and Europeans be 'hard-pressed to get a deal'? (II.11-12)

Vocabulary 词汇

Give another word or phrase to replace these words as they are used in the passage: slaughtered (1.1); grace European tables (1.1); the EU's okay (1.6); hits (1.6); eliminate the need (1.9); summit (1.10); complex (1.11); they may be hard-pressed (1.11); construct (1.13); accord (1.13); hammer out (1.14); products (1.16).

Unit 1 Lesson 8

Sentence structure 句子结构

A Combine the following sentences to make one complex statement out of each group. Make any changes you think necessary but do not alter the sense of the original. Refer to the passage when you have finished the exercise:

1 Chickens have been slaughtered in the United States. They are not fit to grace European tables. Officials in Brussels claim this. (1.1)

2 An electric razor meets the European Union's safety standards. It must be approved by American tests. Only then can it be sold in the United States. An American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay. Only then can it be sold in Europe. (ll.4-6)

3 Politicians agree in principle. America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal. This would eliminate the need to double test many products. (11.8-10)

4 Negotiators are optimistic. The details are complex. They may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all. (ll.11-12)

5 The EU follows fine continental traditions. It wants agreement on general principles. They could be applied to many types of products. Perhaps they could be extended to other countries as well. (ll.15-16)

B What, in your opinion, is the author's main argument in this text?

Key structures 关键句型

A Write these sentences again changing the position of the words or phrases in italics. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 Before it can be sold in the United States, an electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards much be approved by American testers. (ll.4-5)

2 A razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans, as it happens. (1.7)

3 The details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all, although negotiators are optimistic. (11.11-12)

B Replace the words in italics with suitable alternatives:

1 Our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. (1.2)

2 It is not just farmers who are complaining. (II.3-4)

3 They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th. (1.10)

C Supply the missing words and explain their use, then refer to the passage.

1 No, ... the Americans: our fowl are find. (I.2)

2 The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts cover, ... , electronic goods and drug manufacturing. (II.13-15)

D Supply the missing words, then refer to the passage.

1 It is not just farmers ... are complaining. (II.3-4)

2 An electric razor ... meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers. (II.4-5)

3 As it happens, a razor ... is safe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. (I.7)

4 America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal ... would eliminate the need to double-test. (I.9)

5 The EU wants agreement on general principles ... could be applied to many types of products. (II.15-16)

Unit 1 Lesson 8

Special difficulties 难点

A Note this use of way:

We simply clean them in a different way. (1.2)

Explain the meaning of these phrases with way in these sentences:

1 We simply clean them in a different way.

2 I think they went this way.

3 I bought an evening paper on my way home.

4 In a way, I think you may be right.

5 Could you move that step-ladder please? It's in my way.

B Note this use of the verb sell.

An electric razor must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the US. (II.4-5)

Explain the various uses of sell and sale in these sentences:

1 The house next door has been sold.

2 The flat upstairs is for sale.

3 I bought this coat quite cheaply in the sales.

4 I've been asking for a reasonable amount for my car, but it's still unsold.

C Note the use of in time in this sentence:

They hope to finish in time for a trade summit. (1.10)

Explain these phrases with time:

1 I was on time for my appointment with my dentist.

2 In times like these people become cautious about spending money. )U

3 I'm glad I didn't live in the middle ages. In those times people died young.

4 Fortunately, I was just in time to catch the last train home.

5 I missed the celebrations in Hong Kong. I was in Singapore at the time.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 Which one of these statements is true?

(a) American farmers are the only ones who are complaining about trading standards.

(b) Problems with trading standards don't affect only American farmers.

(c) Europe is happy to import American poultry.

(d) There is general agreement about regulations for world trade.

2 An electric razor made in the EU can only be sold in the US _____

(a) if it conforms with European required standards 4

(b) when it is safe to use

(c) when it has hit the markets in Europe

(d) after it has been given approval by US authorities

Unit 1 Lesson 8

3 Business people on both sides of the Atlantic _____ .

(a) question whether two sets of tests are necessary

(b) think the present situation is satisfactory

(c) have agreed to abandon two sets of tests

(d) have set up a single test which has everyone's approvai

4 The main difference between the two sides is that _____.

(a) it's difficult to construct agreements

(b) one side wants a general agreement and the other wants lots of separate ones

(c) neither of them can agree about electronic goods and drug manufacturing

(d) the EU follows fine continental traditions

Structure 句型

5 American farmers can't export chickens to Europe _____ differences in national regulations. (1.1)

(a) through (b) according to (c) in respect of (d) because of

6 An electric razor from the EU _____ sold in the US unless it meets US standards. (II.4-5)

(a) oughtn’t to be (b) can’t be (c) shouldn’t be (d) doesn’t have to be

7 America and the EU _____ to reach a deal. (1.9)

(a) are still trying (b) always try (c) tried (d) were trying

8 The details are _____ that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal. (II.11-12)

(a) so complex (b) enough complex (c) such complexity (d) too complex

Vocabulary 词汇

9 There are many differences in national _____ . (ll.2-3)

(a) laws (b) rules (c) commands (d) orders

10 An electric razor that _____ Europe must be approved by American testers. (II.4-5)

(a) fits (b) matches (c) is suitable for (d) likes

11 America and the EU have been trying to get_____double tests. (1.9)

(a) away from (b) rid of (c) out of (d) lost in

12 Although negotiators are _____ ... (1.11)

(a) clear-sighted (b) uncertain (c) hopeful (d) enthusiastic 51.

Unit 2

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE STUDENT

Content

This unit consists of eight passages followed by exercises on Comprehension, Vocabulary, The paragraph, Key structures, Special difficulties and Multiple choice questions.

Aim

To provide practice in paragraph construction.

How to work

1 Read each passage carefully two or three times.

2 Answer the questions in the order in which they are given.

The paragraph

All the exercises given under this heading are based directly on the passage. Yo may correct your own answers to some of the questions by referring to the passag immediately after you have completed the exercises. The following types is exercise have been given :

1 Selecting a suitable title for the passage.

2 Selecting a statement which best expresses the main idea of a paragraph.

3 Expressing the main idea of a paragraph in a sentence.

4 Rearranging sentences taken from the passage so as to make up a complex paragraph.