(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
This is the VOA Learning English Economics Report.
Chinese officials say the country’s economy grew last year at about the same rate as in 2012. The 7.7 percent growth rate was the slowest growth China has reported since 1999. Yet officials say, the growth rate was still higher than their prediction of 7.5 percent.
Ma Jiantang is director of China’s National Bureau of Statistics. He says it is no easy job to keep growth at over 7.7 percent and inflation low at the same time. That is made more difficult by the size and nature of China’s economy, the world’s second largest. Mr Ma says this combination of high growth and limited inflation is unusual in the world.
China’s economy had 10 percent growth rate in the years before the world financial crisis of 2008. That economic expansion resulted from big trade surpluses and full investment. Now, says Ma Jiantang, China is seeking to move away from that growth model. The country is working to balance exports with demand at home.
Recently released information shows that households’ spending in China remains lower than in most economies. Chinese government estimates put households’ spending at about 36 percent of all goods and services produced within the country,that is down from 49 percent in 1978. By comparison, Thailand’s households’ spending represents 56 percent of its economy.
Some experts dispute the belief that China’s personal consumption is so low. They say businesses often buy goods for their employees to avoid taxes, this means companies are increasing demand for household goods by buying them directly.
Chinese officials say they want to reduce the economic influence of state control businesses and to let market forces shape the economy. However, economists expect China’s growth to slow in the coming years. How quickly that happens depends on several issues. The recovery of the United States and European economies means rising demand for Chinese exports.
One issue that might slow growth is the expanding node of local government debt, that debt is estimated at about three trillion dollars, or about one third of the size of the economy. China has long tied its estimate of local officials on their ability to grow the economy. Reforms are possible, but some could slow economic growth.
The government is moving away from growth to areas such environmental protection, and the ability of local officials to contain debt. Experts say that could also weaken investment and slow growth.
And that’s the Economics Report.
VOA听力文本来自51VOA，译文由可可原创，未经许可请勿转载。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速学英语经济报道。
中国官员表示，中国经济去年的增长速度与2012年持平。7.7%是自1999年以来中国经济增长率的最低值。然而，官员们表示，该数字仍然高于原本预期的7.5%。
马建堂是中国国家统计局局长。他表示，保持经济增长率超过7.7%的同时控制较低的通胀率并不容易。由于中国经济规模庞大，是世界第二大经济体，实现起来更加困难。马局长表示，能够在保持较高的经济增长率的同时控制通胀率在全世界都是罕见的。
2008年全球金融危机以前，中国的经济增长率高达10%。如此迅速的经济发展得利于巨大的贸易顺差和充分投资。马建堂表示，现在中国正在寻求摆脱这种发展模式。中国正在平衡出口与国内需求。
最近公布的信息显示，中国家庭支出仍然低于大部分经济体。中国政府估计，家庭支出占据国内所有货物和服务支出的36%，比1978年的49%有所下降。相对而言，泰国的家庭支出占据整个经济的56%。
一些专家并不认同中国消费水平较低的说法。他们说，一些企业经常为员工购买物品来避税，这意味着各公司通过直接购买提升了对日常用品的需求。
中国官员表示，他们希望降低国有企业对经济的影响，让市场力量主导经济。然而，经济学家预期未来几年中国的发展速度会放缓。这种情况发生的速度取决于几个因素。美国和欧洲经济体的复苏意味着对中国出口的需求上涨。
影响经济增长的一个因素就是地方政府的债务不断增加。该债务总额高达3万亿美元，约为中国经济总量的三分之一。长期以来，中国一直以促进经济增长的能力来评估地方官员。政府可能会进行改革，但是一些措施可能会导致经济增长速度放缓。
政府已经逐渐将注意力从发展经济转向环境保护和地方官员控制债务的能力方面。专家表示，这样会削弱投资，阻碍发展。
以上就是今天的经济报道。
词汇学习
1.prediction n. 预言，预报
Recently it makes a sizable dent in this prediction.
这一预言最近有了很大进展。
2.combination n. 结合体，联合体
The materials can be used singly or in combination.
这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。
3.surplus n. 顺差
Wheat was in surplus that year.
那一年小麦过剩。
4.household adj. 家庭的，家内的
a sale of miscellaneous household items
各种生活用品大减价
5.contain vt. 包含，容纳
It took an almost superhuman effort to contain his anger.
他以超常的克制力强压住怒火。
6.weaken vt.& vi.（使）削弱
The king tried to weaken the power of the clergy.
国王试图削弱教会的权力。
内容解析
1.That economic expansion resulted from big trade surpluses and full investment.
result from产生于…，由…引起
That are job losses resulting from changes in production.
那是生产革新所造成的失业。
2.By comparison, Thailand’s households’ spending represents 56 percent of its economy.
by comparison相比之下； 相形之下
This dress is really cheaper by comparison.
比较起来，这件衣服确实便宜。
3.How quickly that happens depends on several issues.
depend on随…而定
You can depend on him to make a sound choice.
你可以依靠他作出正确的选择。
