本文选自吴应时主编的《大学英语六级阅读真题精读——晨读伴侣》。本书对历年国家大学英语六级考试（CET-6）的仔细阅读部分进行了详尽而精准的分析、翻译和注释，对四六级考生有着事半功倍的效果，对提升整体英语能力也很有帮助。

学习导读：

文章的话题是国际贸易，无非就是想考察学生对说明文细节的把握能力。在阅读中，我们要慢慢学会剔除冗余的信息，对进口还是出口有敏锐的识别。这类型的阅读材料对于国际经济与贸易专业的学子并没有优势，归根结底还是看你是否能看懂作者想表达的意思，以及能否在以文章为准则的情况下以逻辑为利剑破解难题。而非考察对专业知识的理解。

What’s the one word (of advice) a well-meaning1 professional would give to a recent college graduate? China? India? Brazil? How about trade?

一名好心的职业顾问会给刚毕业的大学生什么样的一字箴言呢？“中国”？“印度”？“巴西”?“贸易”怎样？

注：1. well-meaning adj. 善意的；好心的。例：

Imaginative and well-meaning suggestions about what ought to happen, but not much consideration given to the how.

想象的好心的建议是关于会发生什么，但不怎么考虑怎么发生。

[选自：BBC: These are my times and I must know them]

[When the Commerce Department reported [last week] that the trade deficit [in June] approached $50 billion,] it set off 1 a new round (of 2 economic doomsaying 3). Imports, (which soared 4 to $200.3 billion [in the month],) are subtracted 5 [in the calculation] (of gross domestic product). [The larger the trade deficit], [the smaller the GDP]. Should [such] imbalances continue, pessimists say, they could contribute to (slower) growth.

当商务部上周报道六月的贸易赤字接近500亿美元时，这引起了新一轮对经济充满绝望的预测。当月的进口飙升至2,003亿美元，在计算国内生产总值（GDP）时，需扣除。贸易赤字越大，GDP越小。悲观者认为，如果这种贸易失衡继续下去，这将导致经济增长更缓慢。

注：1. set off v. 动身，出发；引发，触发；衬托。例：

The arrival of the charity van set off a minor riot as villagers scrambled for a share of the aid.

救济物资车的到来引发了小小的骚乱，村民们争先恐后地想抢到一份救援物资。

Pink suits you, sets off the color of your skin.

粉色很适合你，能衬托出你的肤色。

The latest round of violence was set off by a rocket attack earlier in the week.

近一轮的暴力冲突因本周早些时候的导弹袭击而爆发。

[选自：NPR: Gaza Militants Offer Ceasefire As Attacks Continue]

2. a round of 一轮。例：

a round of applause掌声雷动

a round of parties一连串的社交聚会

They played a round of golf.

他们打了一场高尔夫球。

3. doomsaying n. 末世预言。也做doom saying。

4. soar vi. 猛增，剧增；高飞，升腾；（情绪、期望等）高涨；高耸，屹立。例：Prices soar because of inflation.

通货膨胀导致价格飞涨。

A bird soar across the sky above.

一只鸟飞过头顶的天空。

At the good news from the play,our spirit soared.

听到从比赛中传来的好消息，我们情绪高涨。

The obelisk soared straight into the sky.

方尖石头高耸入云。

5. subtract vt. 减去，扣除。例：

We have subtracted $20 per adult to arrive at a basic room rate.

我们已经给每位房客减去了20美元，这就是基本的房费了。

The rule of thumb is to subtract your age from 100 and allocate the difference to stocks.

拇指规则即以100减去你的年龄，然后按这个差值来分配股票。

[选自：FORBES: Balance Yourself For Market Risks]

[释义：A rule of thumb is a principle with broad application that is not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable for every situation. It is an easily learned and easily applied procedure for approximately calculating or recalling some value, or for making some determination.拇指规则是具有广泛适应性的原则，但并非所有情形都准确可靠。是在大致上计算或回忆某些价值或做些决定时，易学易用的方法。]

[背景：相传在十九世纪的英国普通法里有一条“大拇指规则”，即只要用一根比大拇指细的棍子殴打妻子，便不属虐待妻子行为。后人将这种简单得近似愚蠢的法条引申为一种经验法则。“拇指规则”又称“经验法则”，要求决策者不是把获得的所有信息都引入到决策模型中，而只是考虑重要信息，是在判断或决策时走捷径的经验法则。]

be subtracted in从...中被减去

【派】subtraction（n.减法）

But there’s another way (of looking at the trade data). [Over the past two years], the figures (on imports and exports) seem [not] to signal 1 a double-dip recession – ^a renewed decline in the broad level of economic activity in the United States^ – but an economic expansion 2.

但还可以从另一个角度看待贸易数据。过去两年来，进口与出口的数额似乎并没有发出美国的经济陷入二次衰退的信号——美国的经济活动在更广泛层面 上的再次下滑——而是表明了经济的扩张。

注：1. signal n. 信号，暗号。例：

When he was leaving, he sent me a signal.

当他离开的时候，他给了我一个暗号。

v. 发信号，用新号通知。例：

You had better signal Jim about this news.

你最好给吉姆发个信号，告诉他这个消息。

【派】sign (n.符号，记号；vi&vt.用信号表示，签名)

2. expansion n. 扩张，膨胀；张开，伸展。例：

The headmaster is drafting a plan for the expansion of our school building.

校长正在起草一份扩建我校校舍的计划。

But in the third quarter, this heady expansion slowed to a more modest pace of 1.1%.

但在第三季度，这次的快速扩张放缓至1.1%的合适速度。

[选自：ECONOMIST: The recovery stumbles but still has legs]

The rising volume 1 (of trade) – ^more goods and services shuttling 2 in and out of the United States^ – is good news [for many sectors]. Companies (engaged in shipping, trucking, rail freight 3, delivery 4, and logistics 5) have [all] been reporting [better than expected results]. The rising numbers signify 6 growing vitality 7 [in foreign markets] – [when we import [more stuff],] it puts [more] cash [in the hands] (of people around the world), and U.S. exports are rising [because more foreigners have the ability (to buy the things) (we produce and market.)] The rising tide 8 (of trade) is [also] a good news [for people] (who work [in trade-sensitive businesses],) [especially] those (that produce commodities) (for which global demand sets the price) – {agricultural goods, mining, metals, oil}9.

贸易额的增长——更多的商品和服务在美国流进流出——对很多行业来说都是好消息。从事航运、货运、铁路运输、送货和物流的公司，都已经报告了超过预期的结果。增长的数字意味着国外市场的经济活力正在增强——当我们进口更多的东西时，更多的资金就会流到世界各地人们的手中。更多的外国人有能力购买我们生产和销售的东西，因此美国出口增长。贸易的高涨对于那些工作在容易受贸易影响的行业的人们来说，也是个好消息，对于那些由全球供需关系决定商品价格（如农场品、矿产、金属及石油）的生产商来说更是如此。

注：1. volume n.容积，体积；量; 卷，册；音量，响度。例：

A large volume of oil washed up on shore from the spill.

大量泄漏的石油被冲到了岸上。

Martin took out a beautiful decorated volume and began to read.

马丁掏出一本装帧精美的书看起来。

India volume is seen rising by 3.1% to 1.46 billion tons of oil equivalent.

印度的油量增长了3.1%达到了14.6亿吨的油当量。

[油当量(oil equivalent)按标准油的热值计算各种能源量的换算指标。中国又称标准油。]

[选自：FORBES:What Will China's Energy Demand Be In 20 Years?]

2. shuttle n. 航天飞机；（织机的）梭子；短程穿梭运行的飞机（或火车、汽车）。接驳车就是shuttle bus。例：

The shuttle can carry devices for scientific inquiry.

这架航天飞机能携带提供科学探测用的装置。

My heart like a shuttle went to and fro.

我的心就像梭子一样七上八下的。

v.（使某物）穿梭般得来回。文中用穿梭来回之意。例：

Everyday I shuttle between people and cars to my office.

每天我在人群与车流中穿行着去上班。

3. rail freight 铁路运输

rail freight in asia-pacific 亚太地区铁路货运

These are expected to integrate the rail freight networks across member states to increase the opportunities for competition.

这就希望将跨成员国铁路网进行整合以期增加竞争机会。

[选自：BBC: Development of rail freight in the EU supported by MEPs]

4. delivery n. 传递，传送，交付。例：

special/express delivery速递

a difficult delivery难产

The manufacturer asked for an immediate delivery.

厂商要求立即交货。

This site lets you set a date for delivery, making it easier to surprise your recipient.

这个网站支持自主设定送货日期，让你能更方便地给收货人惊喜。

[选自：NPR: Consumer's Guide To Downloadable Gifts]

5. logistics n.后勤，物流；逻辑学。例：

Logistics is now more important in our industry than technology.

物流目前在我们这一行比技术更重要。

To ensure effective logistics management and employee satisfaction degree.

做好有效的后勤管理，以提高员工的满意度。

In the next few weeks, it will launch its unmanned logistics ship to the space station.

在接下来的几周中，这会发射其无人驾驶物流飞船前往空间站。

[选自：BBC: RELATED BBC SITES]

6. signify vt.表示，意味。例：

In your heart, I know fame would signify nothing.

我知道，在你心里名誉什么都不是。

vi.要紧，有重要性  例：

I doesn’t signify,so you need’t worry about it.

这无所谓，你不必担心。

【派】significance(n.意义，重要性)；significant(adj.有意义的，重大的)

7. vitality n. 活力，生动性。例：

Without continued learning ,graduates will lose their intellectual vitality.

如果不继续学习，毕业生就会失去思想上的活力。

【参】vital（adj.生死攸关的，重大的；生命的，生机的）

And I believe the basis of that will help restore the environmental vitality of that region.

我相信（油井）的基建有助于恢复该区域环境的生态。

[选自：WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing on BP Oil Spill]

8. tide n.潮，潮汐；潮流，趋势。例：

During the high tide,most of the beach is covered with water

涨潮的时候，大本分海滩都被水淹没了。

The tide of public opinion seems to be turning against the government.

公众舆论的趋势似乎朝着不利于政府的方向转变。

【派】tidal(adj.潮汐的，潮流的)

9. agricultural goods, mining, metals, oil作commodities的同位语，表示这些都是以全球的供求关系定价的商品。以供求关系定价是效用经济学的核心观点，区别于马克思政治经济学所认为的凝结在商品中的无差别的人类劳动之价值来决定。

And [while exports [always] seem to lag 1,] U.S. companies are becoming [more] involved [in 2 the global economy] [with each passing month]. General Motor sells [as many cars in China] [as in America month]. [While that may not do [much] [for imports],] it does help GM’s balance sheet – and [hence 3] makes the jobs (of U.S.-based executives) [more] .

虽然看起来出口总是滞后，但是每过一个月，美国的公司就越来越多的参与到全球经济中来。通用汽车每月在中国的汽车销量和美国一样多。虽然这或许对进口的作用不大却也帮助改善通用汽车的资产负债状况，因而使得美国总部的主管们位置坐得更牢。

注：1. lag vi. 落后于，滞后于。例:

lag behind 落后，滞后

Brown lagged far behind in his studies because of his long illness.

由于长期生病，布朗的学习落后了好多。

n. 落后，滞后。例：

jet lag时差

He wondered darkly at how great a lag there was between his thinking and his actions.

他暗自惊讶于自己在思想和行为上竟有如此大的差异。

2. be involved in涉及，卷入。例：

I don’t want to be involved in this thing.

我不想卷进这件事。

"No U.S. troops are involved in any military operations in FATA, " said the spokesman.

发言人表示：“美军没有在联邦直辖部落区采取任何军事行动。”

[FATA: Federally Administered Tribal Areas联邦直辖部落区]

[选自：MSN: Pakistan army denies U.S. troops were in northwest]

【参】be involved with  涉及，参与

3. hence adv. 今后。例：

The mortgage of your land was paid in full and hence you “bought the farm”.

你已付清了抵押这块地的全部货款，因此可以说你“买下了这个农场”。

4. stable adj.安定的，稳定的。例：

stable prices稳定的物价

The famous movie star has been longing for a stable marriage.

这位著名的影星一直渴望有个稳定的婚姻。

And if he takes over, I'm not sure Bulgaria will continue to be stable.

如果旧主掌权，我不确定保加利亚的政局能保持稳定。

[选自：BBC: Old king promises new Bulgaria]

n. 马厩，马棚。例：

The poor child slept in a horse stable.

可怜的孩子睡在了马厩里。

One great challenge (for the U.S. Economy) is (slack 1 domestic consumer) demand.  America are paying down 2 debt 3, saving [more], and spending [more] [carefully]. That’s to be expected, [given what we’ve been [through].] But there’s a bigger challenge. Can U.S.-based businesses, [large and small], figure out how to get a piece of growing global demand? [Unless you want to pick up 4 and move to India, or Brazil, or China,] the best way (to do that) is through trade. It may seem obvious, but it’s [no longer] enough [simply] [to do business] [with our friends and neighbors here] [at home].

美国经济面临的一大挑战是疲软的国内消费需求。美国正在偿还债务，存更多钱而花得更谨慎。考虑到我们所经历的，这在预料之中。但是还有一个更大的挑战。总部设在美国的企业，无论大小，能不能找到方法从全球增长的需求中分得一杯羹呢？除非你想生意好转并搬到印度、巴西或中国，否则最好的办法就是通过贸易。这可能看起来显而易见，但却不再是简简单单地不出国门与我们的朋友和邻居做生意。

注：1. slack adj. 懈怠的，懒散的，松弛的，不紧的；萧条的。例：

a slack student

懒散的学生

slack muscles

肌肉松弛

Business was slack, so the owner closed the store early.

生意不景气，所以老板早早地关门了。

n. 淡季，萧条；[pl.]便裤，运动裤。例：

The girls at the private school weren’t allowed to wear slacks.

2. pay down用现金支付；当场支付；付头款。英文媒体在使用该词组时主要也和原文一样接债务debt。例：

Because if we pay down the debt, we increase savings -- aggregate savings in America.

因为如果我们支付债务，我们就得增加储蓄——美国的总储蓄。

[选自：CNN: Transcript: President Bill Clinton's news conference]

3. debt n. 债，债务。例：

in debt欠债，欠情  

He was so extravagant that he was always in debt.

他非常奢侈以至于经常负债。

4. pick up v. 捡起；（开车）接；逮捕。例：

Tom picked up a pencil and fiddled with it.

汤姆拿起一支铅笔，不停地在手里摆弄着。

We drove to the airport the next morning to pick up Susan.

我们第二天早上开车去机场接苏姗。

Jack had been picked up by police at his office.

杰克在办公室遭到了警察的逮捕。

该词组还有(生意)逐渐好转；使好起来之意，例：

Trade has been slack for the past year, but it is now picking up.

一年来生意一直不景气，不过现在好起来了。

Companies and individuals (who don’t have a strategy 1 [to export more, or to get more involved in foreign markets, or to paly a role in global 2 trade],) are shutting themselves [out of the lions’ share 3] (of economic opportunity) [in our world].

任何公司和个人，如果没有扩大出口、更多地参与国外市场，或在全球贸易中发挥作用的策略，就会将自己隔绝在最大份额的全球经济机会之外。

注：1. strategy n. 战略，策略。例：

The Time Warner board is generally supportive to Levin and his corporate strategy.

时代-华纳公司的董事会基本上支持列文以及他的公司经营策略。

【派】strategic(adj.战略上的，战略的)

2. global adj. 全球的，世界的。例：

global warming全球变暖

【派】globally (adv.全球地，世界性的)；globalization (n.全球化)

3. lions’ share最大的份额

Thus, even if pirated versions are available, studios are not losing out on the lions’ share of their sales.

这样一来，哪怕盗版有卖，音乐工作室也不会丧失他们最大的销售份额。

[选自：ENGADGET: SlySoft takes down BD+ DRM once more]