公共英语考试试题

President Clinton’s decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an agreement on China’s entry into the World Trade Organization seemed to be a massive miscalculation. The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag. The Cabinet and Whit House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as furious over the lost opportunity. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord. And 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 deal. A lot more horse trading is needed before a final agreement can be reached. And without the Administration’s 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 PART. Many business lobbyists, while disappointed that the deal was not closed, agree that better terms can still be had. And Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, National Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley, and top trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advised Clinton that while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, “we’re not there yet,” according to senior officials.

Negotiating with Zhu over the remaining issues may be the easy part. Although Clinton can signal U.S. approval for China’s entry into the WTO himself, he needs Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of a broad trade accord. And the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may prove over-whelming. Zhu had barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) declared himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTO. And Senators Jesse A. Helms (R-N.C.) and Emest F. Hollings (D-S. C.) 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 U. S. clothing industry. Hoping to smooth the way, the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on “cultural” restrictions on American movies and music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. auto makers to provide fleet financing.

BIG JOB. Already, business lobbyists are blanketing Capitol Hill to presale any eventual agreement, but what they’ve heard so far isn’t encouraging. Republicans, including Lott, say that “the time just isn’t right” for the deal. Translation: We’re 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 America’s enemies. Beijing’s fierce critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Paul D. Wellstone of Minnesota and House Minority leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, won’t help, either.

Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be become clear on Apr. 20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to discipline their Republican allies. With 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 won’t be easy. And Republicans-with a wink-say that they’ll eventually embrace China’s entry into the WTO as a favor to Corporate America. Though not long before they torture Clinton. But Zhu is out on a limb, and if Congress overdoes the criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renege. Business 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

1. The main idea of this passage is

[A]. The Contradiction between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

[B]. On China’s entry into WTO.

[C]. Clinton was right.

[D]. Business Lobbyists Control Capitol Hill.

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

[A]. Premier Zhu rejected their requirements.

[B]. The three places overdid criticism.

[C]. They wanted more protection.

[D]. They are in trouble.

3. What was the attitude of the Republican Party toward China’s entry into the WTO?

[A]. Contradictory. [B].Appreciative.

[C]. Disapproving. [D]. Detestful.

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

[A]. White House . [B]. Republicans.

[C]. The Democratic Party. [D]. Businessmen.

5. It can be inferred from the passage that

[A]. America will make concessions.

[B]. America will hold out for a better WTO

[C]. Clinton has the right to signal U. S. approval for China’s entry.

[D]. Democratic party approve China’s entry into the WTO.

Vocabulary

1. drubbing 痛打

get/take a drabbing 遭人痛打

2. flip-flop=great change suddenly 游说，3. 突然改变，4. 突然反方向。人字拖鞋，5. 趾拖鞋

6. hold out 维持，7. 保持

hold out for sth. 故意拖延达成协议以谋求……

8. horse -trading 精明的讨价还价

9. bullet-proof 防弹的

10. lobby 收买，11. 暗中活动

12. lobbyist 院外活动集团成员

13. partisan 党人，14. 帮派，15. 是党派强硬支持者

16. acrimony 语言/态度的刻薄

19. meddle 干预

20. Capitol Hill 美国国会

21. budge 使稍22. 微移动，23. 改变

24. lucrative 有利可图的，25. 赚钱的

26. block 制止

27. fleet 舰队，28. 船队，29. 车队，30. 机队

31. blanket 覆盖，32. 妨碍扫兴，33. 扑灭

34. Capitulate 投降，35. 停止抵抗

36. fast track 快速行程(轻车熟路)

37. with a wink 眼睛一眨，38. 很快的

39. out on a limb 孤立无援(尤指40. 争论和意见上)

41. renege 违约

42. squabble 争吵

难句译注

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

[结构简析] in the bag 倒手，囊中之物。

[参考译文] 总统遭到许多报界舆论的抨击，它们曾报道过这桩买卖(入世贸)已是囊中之物。

2. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord.

[参考译文] 朱指责克林顿缺乏达成协议的勇气。

3. the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop

[参考译文] 普遍认为总统的姿态来了一个一百八十度的转弯。

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

[参考译文] 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。

5. And without the Administration’s 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.

[参考译文] 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(保护性)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。

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

[参考译文] 美国政府希望(为纺织业)铺平道路，试图使朱在纺织品上让步，结果失败。

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

[结构简析] 这句句子连接上文而说。

Leave sb. In 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.

[参考译文] 同样也陷于困境的有华尔街，好莱坞和底特律。

8. Translation. 翻译。这是作者为共和党的“The time isn’t 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(共和党和民主党)矛盾，国会和白宫之相反意见(对比写法)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。