大学英语四级阅读题文章精读(2)
That is far from saying that they have the people or the cash to forge a nation. But, with the Gypsy question on the EU's agenda in Central Europe, they are making ground.
1. The Best Title of this passage is
[A]. Gypsies Want to Form a Nation. [B]. Are They a Nation.
[C]. EU Is Afraid of Their Growth. [C]. They Are a Tribe
2. Where are the most probable Gypsy territory origins?
[A]. Most probably they drifted west from India in the 7th century.
[B]. They are scattered everywhere in the world.
[C]. Probably, they stemmed from Central Europe.
[D]. They probably came from the International Romany Union.
3. What does the International Romany lobby for?
[A]. It lobbies for a demand to be accepted by such international organizations as EU and UN.
[B]. It lobbies for a post in any international Romany Union.
[C]. It lobbies for the right as a nation.
[D]. It lobbies for a place in such international organizations as the EU or UN.
4. Why is the Europe Commission wary of encouraging Gypsies to present themselves as a nation?
[A]. It may open a Pandora's Box.
[B]. Encouragement may lead to some unexpected results.
[C]. It fears that the Basgnes, Corsicans and other nations seeking separation may raise the same demand.
[D]. Gyspsies' demand may highlight the difference in the EU.
5. The big problem lies in the fact that
[A]. Gypsies belong to different and antagonistic clans and tribes without a common language or religion.
[B]. Their leaders prove corrupt.
[C]. Their potential unity stems from “being regarded as sub-human”.
[D]. They are a bit more pragmatic.
Vocabulary
1. albeit 尽管，虽然
2. outnumber 数字上超过
3. ethnic 少数民族的成员，种族集团的成员
4. Hindi 印地语
5. misty 模糊不清的，朦胧的
6. derivative 衍生的，派生的
7. itinerant 逻辑的
8. Romanesten 说吉普塞语的地方
Romanes 吉普塞语
Stan 地方
9. outfit （口）组织，（协同工作）的集体
10. local 地方（市，镇，县）政务委员会
11. wary 谨慎的，机警的
12. backfire 产生出乎意料或事与愿违的结果
13. highlight 强调
14. persecution 迫害
15. catch on 了解，风行=to become popular
16. pogrom 大屠杀，集体迫害
17. commissioner 委员，调查团团员
18. quota 定量，配额，限额
19. snag （尖利突出物，抽丝）潜在的困难
20. heterogeneous 由不同种类组成的
21. antagonistic 有效对抗性的，对抗性的
22. clan 氏族
23. tribe 部落
24. pragmatic 务实的，讲究实效的
25. municipality 城市，镇，区属政府，自治区
26. Rom 罗姆，即吉普塞人
难句译注
1. Central Europe 中欧，如本文提及捷克，匈牙利，罗马尼亚等。
2. European Union 欧盟。
3. the EUs institutions 欧洲机构，如：European Commission 欧盟委员会，European Council 欧盟理事会，European Parliament 欧洲会议，the Court of Justic 欧洲法院。4m=more than 4 million 四百多万。
4. Unlike Jews, Gypsies have had no known ancestral land to hark back to.
[结构简析] hark back to =to mention again or remember an earlier subject, event, etc. 吉普塞不知其祖先来自何方，而犹太人在《圣经》中已阐明了他们的历史。
[参考译文] 吉普塞人和犹太人不同，他们没有可以回想起来的已知的祖居地。
5. …the notion of Romanestan as a landless nation founded on Gypsy culture has gained ground.
[结构简析] gain ground （on） 接近。
[参考译文] 作为建立在吉普塞文化基础上的无疆地民族应该有一个说吉普塞语的地方。这种想法越来越为人接受。
6. the International Romany Union 国际吉普塞人联盟。
7. Vaclav Harel （1936——） 剧作家和人权运动成员，1990——1992为捷克斯洛伐克的总统，1993年后为捷克总统。
8. a Slovak-born lawyer 斯洛伐克出生的律师，1992年捷克斯洛伐克
9. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 简称OSCE，偶中安全合作条约组织，成立于1972.
10. nation 一词有民族和国家的含义。这里主要指：民族。因为作为国家应有疆土，但吉普塞人有要求成立国家的想法，欧盟是国家加入地方，不是民族加入。
11. electoral block 选举集团
12. The might, it is feared, open a Pandora's box already containing Basques, Corsicans and other awkward peoples.
[结构简析] Pandora's box 潘多拉盒子——喻种种麻烦事。潘多拉是主神宙斯命火神用黏土制成的第一个女性。宙斯命潘多拉带着一个盒子下凡。潘多拉私自打开盒子，于是里面的疾病，罪恶等各种祸害全部出来，散布于世。这里潘多拉盒子喻里面已有的各种麻烦的民族，吉普塞加入，更多了一份麻烦。