第12章 资产阶级革命
12.1 复习笔记
I. Political and Social Situation
1. Iraq War and a War Against Terrorism
2. Tony Blair’s Stepping Down and Gordon Brown’s New Government
II. Science and Technology
1. Biotechnology & Sciences
2. Energy and Environment
3. Space & Planetary Science
4. Information and Communications Technology
5. Nanotechnology
III. GDP and Employment
I. Political and Social Situation (政治和社会状况)
1. Iraq War and a War Against Terrorism (伊拉克战争和反恐战争)
(1) After the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001, Blair allied George W. Bush in a global war against terrorism.
(2) In early 2003, Britain participated in the Iraq War. After Iraqi President Saddam was thrown, terrorists’ activities ran all the more wilder since 2003.
(3) In August 2006, there was a most sensational event of the world an “alleged airplane bomb plot”. The whole Britain was in chaos.
(4) In March 2007, 15 British sailors and marines captured in Iran.
(1) 2001年911事件后，布莱尔联合布什进行全球反恐行动。
(2) 2003年，英国参加伊拉克战争。伊拉克总统萨达姆被推翻后，伊拉克国内的恐怖组织更加猖獗。
(3) 2006年8月，飞机爆炸阴谋使整个英国处于惊恐状态。
(4) 2007年3月，15名英国水兵在伊朗被扣。
2. Tony Blair’s Stepping Down and Gordon Brown’s New Government (布莱尔政府的结束和戈登·布朗新政府)
(1) Tony Blair stepped down from office on June 27th 2007.
(2) Gordon Brown entered No. 10 Downing Street on June 27th 2007. The new prime minister is facing a country seeking response to the recent call for a referendum on the new European Union treaty.
(1) 2007年6月27日，布莱尔结束任职。
(2) 2007年6月27日，戈登·布朗上台。面对欧盟的公投，新首相将要做出回应。
II. Science and Technology (科学和技术)
1. Biotechnology & Sciences (生物技术和科学)
(1) The fields of tissue engineering and stem cell therapy are advanced in the world.
(2) Exploiting and extending the knowledge gained through the Human Genome Project is a major priority for-UK biomedical research.
(3) Britain supports a .significant body of basic and clinical research aimed at developing improved diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.
(1) 英国的组织生物学和干细胞疗法位于世界前列。
(2) 通过人类基因组计划探求知识是英国生物医学的一项主要任务。
(3) 英国支持基础临床研究，旨在提高诊断学，疫苗和治疗学的水平。
2. Energy and Environment (能源和环境)
(1) The government published a paper in February 2002—”Our Energy Future’s Creating a Low Carbon Economy”.
(2) Britain is a global leader in many areas of energy and environmental science and research, including renewable energy research and innovation.
(1) 2002年2月，英国政府公布了一份文件——《我们能源的未来，创造低碳经济》。
(2) 英国在能源和环境科学的很多领域都是全球领先的，包括可再生能源研究与创新。
3. Space & Planetary Science (太空和行星科学)
(1) Micro satellite technology developed by Britain provides an innovative and low-cost alternative to the more traditional and more expensive optical satellites.
(2) British scientists and engineers play a leading role in many space science missions.
(1) 相对于更传统和更昂贵的卫星，英国的卫星技术提供了革新又廉价的选择。
(2) 英国的科学家和工程师在很多空间科学任务中起着重要作用。
4. Information and Communications Technology (信息和通信技术)
(1) The British telecom industry currently accounts for 5% of the global market with around 7000 companies.
(2) Britain is ranked No. 1 in Europe for semiconductor design and is home to facilities established by most of the world’s major electronics companies.
(1) 目前，英国的电信产业占全球市场的5%，拥有7000左右家公司。
(2) 英国的半导体设计欧洲第一，全球大多数电子公司的设备都来自英国。
5. Nanotechnology (纳米技术)
(1) Britain is a large user and producer in this field drawing on areas of traditional strength in biology and biochemistry.
(2) Nanotechnology provides the means for a wide range of increasingly complex monitoring systems.
(1) 英国是生物学和生物化学中传统力量的生产者。
(2) 纳米技术为日益复杂的监测系统提供方式方法。
III. GDP and Employment (GDP和就业)
1. Britain’s national economic development in the early 21st century was unstable. In 2001, the GDP growth rate was 2.3%, rose to 3.6% in 2004 and fell back to 2.7% in 2006.
2. Household consumption growth rate in the third quarter of 2006 was only 0.4%.
3. Employment rate fell nearly two years and unemployment rate increased sharply. The number of the unemployed amounted to 1.7 million.
1. 21世纪初期的英国国民经济发展很不稳定。2001年GDP的增长率为2.3%，2004年增长3.6%，到了2006年又回落到2.7%。
2. 居民家庭消费2006年第三季度增长仅为0.4%。
3. 就业率近两年有所下降，而失业率却急剧增高，2006年失业人数达170万。
12.2 课后习题详解
Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:
1. What event threw whole Britain in chaos in August 2006?
Key: In August, there was a most sensational event of the world—an alleged airplane bomb plot threw whole Britain in chaos. British authorities warned travelers to remain vigilant, saying they may still be in the cross hairs of Islamic terrorists. Airlines cancelled almost a third of the flights from Britain’s busiest airport. May passengers missed their flights dues to delays caused by the heightened security measures.
2. State briefly the clash between UK and Iran in March 2007.
Key: In March 2007, there was a clash between UK and Iran. On March the 23rd, naval forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards captured 15 British sailors and marines in the Persian Gulf and they declared the British soldiers had violated Iranian waters. But the British Foreign Ministry insisted the soldiers were operating in Iraqi waters. It summoned the Iranian ambassador in London and demanded that Tehran return the detainees. After marathon negations on March 29th, the UN Security Council announced its support for the crew’s release but stopped short of condemning the seizure. The European Union called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release 15 British sailors and marines being held. But although neither side agreed on the location of the sailors when they detained, both sides softened their rhetoric in the last two days. After 13-day standoff Iran released 15 British soldiers.
3. What was Tony Blair appointed to do by UN after he left No.10 Downing Street?
Key: At the time he left his office as Prime Minster, Tony Blair was appointed to represent the Middle East negotiating Quartet as its envoy and he would serve as their reprehensive to promote peace in the region.
4. What problems does the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown face?
Key: First the British economy has seen low interest rates, falling unemployment and has been characterized by fiscal prudence during Gordon Brown’s term in office. Second new prime minister is facing a country still divided by the Iraq war and seeking response to the recent call for a referendum on the new European Union treaty, which was agreed during a summit to replace the dead EU constitution treaty. Furthermore, there is rising speculation that Brown would soon occupy himself with an early general election. In organizing his government he showed his new ideas that he would reach out beyond the narrow party interest and build a government.
5. Give a brief account of Britain’s information and commutation technology.
Key: Britain’s Information and Communications Technology sector is internationally recognized and respected for its entrepreneurship and innovation. Britain, for example, has 80% of the leading telecom equipment manufactures in the world, and those companies employ around 35,000 people and generate approximately $10.6 billion in annual revenue.
6. State briefly UK’s economic development in the new century.
Key: In the new century, UK’s economy has developed in a curving wary. GDP grew, by 0.7% in the previous three quarters of 2006. The level of GDP is now 2.7% higher than the third quarter of 2005. The output of the production industries rose by 0.1% in the latest quarter. The output of manufacturing grew by 0.6% and output of utilities grew by 0.3%. This was offset by a 3.9% decline in mining and quarrying.
7. What was the employment rate in 2006 in Britain?
Key: The employment rate for people of working age was 74.5% for the three months ending in September 2006, down 0.1 over the quarter and down 0.3 over the year. The number of people in employment for the three months ending in September 2006 was 28.99 million, up 56000 over the quarter and up 192000 over the year. Total hours worked per week were 925.4 million, down 0.9 million over the quarter but up 1.3 million over the year.
Exercise 2. Explain the following terms:
1. Gordon Brown
Key: He is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He took office on 27 June 2007, three days after becoming leader of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Prior to this he served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Tony Blair’s government from 1997 to 2007, becoming the United Kingdom’s longest serving Chancellor.
2. Our Energy Future Creating a Low Carbon Economy
Key: It is a white paper published by British Government in February 2002. It defined a long-term strategic vision for energy policy combining Britain’s environmental security of supply, competitiveness and social goals.
3. microsatellite technology
Key: It was developed by Britain to provide an innovative and low-coast alternative to the more traditional, and more expensive optical satellites, making it easier to provide wide access to the images generated, increasing the number of people who can see them, and expanding their areas of use. Microsatellite images are currently being used in many remote-sensing applications.
4. IRCs
Key: It is the abbreviation of Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations. They are centers of internationally -acknowledged scientific and technological excellence, with sufficient critical mass to make a real impact in areas of key future industrial relevance to the UK.
5. governmental final consumption expenditure
Key: It consists of expenditure, including imputed expenditure, incurred by general government on both individual consumption goods and services and collective consumption services.