金融時報:FT年度詞匯：北方引擎

FT年度詞匯：北方引擎

英國財政大臣表示，通過權(quán)力下放，不久的將來，英國北部將擁有一個以曼徹斯特和利物浦等城市為核心的“北方經(jīng)濟引擎”，與倫敦相媲美。這個戰(zhàn)略真的可行嗎？一起來了解一下吧。

測試中可能遇到的詞匯和知識：

encompass包含

mausoleum陵墓；陰森森的大廈

hydraulic accumulators液壓蓄能器

turbine渦輪

chancellor of the exchequer財政大臣

marginal邊緣的

A year in a word: Northern powerhouse（301words）

by John McDermott, December 24, 2014 UK now has its best chance in years at having a Chicago to add to its New York, says John McDermott

Northern powerhouse

noun — a conurbation in northern England encompassing Manchester, Liverpool etc (first known usage probably 18th century).

Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry is the mausoleum for the industrial revolution. In June, amid hydraulic accumulators, beam engines and turbines, George Osborne gave a speech in which he called on his audience to create a new “northern powerhouse” linking cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull — a conurbation to vie with London. Later in the year, the UK chancellor of the exchequer announced cities would receive more power over how money is spent in their locales.

Mr Osborne's critics say devolution is a ruse to deflect attention from deep cuts to local government spending. Other cynics see it as the inevitable response to Scotland's successful quest for more control over its affairs. They add that it will help the chancellor's Conservatives in marginal constituencies; the party of Margaret Thatcher remains a toxic brand in much of the north.

There is a less cynical explanation. Cities are sources of growth. Productive people want to live alongside one another in urban areas. London is the prime example. However, compared with their counterparts in the US, Germany and Italy, the UK's second-tier cities have been puny for too long. Rather than try to halt the ascent of its capital, Britain is wisely trying to make other cities more than the sum of their parts. The rise of Greater Manchester — the successor to Barcelona as the symbol of urban development — under the leadership of its activist council shows the potential of this idea.

The northern powerhouse is more a slogan than a strategy. Compared with Scotland (although not Scottish cities), English cities have few economic powers. Still, the UK now has its best chance in years at having a Chicago to add to its New York. Most important, the project should show that north versus south is not a zero-sum game.

請根據(jù)你所讀到的文章內(nèi)容，完成以下自測題目：

1.According to Osborne,“northern powerhouse” would bring benefit such as?

A.Competition between north and south.

B.More Power devolved to cities.

C.End of control from the central government.

D.A decrease in local government spending.

答案(1)

2.Which of the following critique to Osborne's devolution is inappropriate?

A.A ruse to distract public attention.

B.An inevitable response to Scotland's referendum.

C.A disguised assistance to Conservative election campaign.

D.A way to halt the ascent of London.

答案(2)

3.Who have been “puny” for a long time in UK according to the author?

A.Rural areas.

B.The Greater Manchester.

C.Second-tier cities.

答案(3)

4.What does the author mostly expect from the project?

A.English cities can obtain more economic powers.

B.The plan is not a slogan but a strategy.

C.North versus south is not a zero-sum game.

答案(4)

* * *

(1)答案：A.Competition between north and south.

解釋：文章第一段，財政大臣認為該計劃能促進北方核心城市與倫敦的良性競爭。

(2)答案：D.A way to halt the ascent of London.

解釋：文章第二段，有些批評者認為該計劃是為了把公眾的視線從政府削減開支中轉(zhuǎn)移；有些認為，這是對蘇格蘭公投后爭取到更多權(quán)益不可避免的反應；有些認為，這是為保守黨爭取更多邊緣區(qū)選票的手段。

(3)答案：C.Second-tier cities.

解釋：倒數(shù)第二段，英國二線城市發(fā)展被擱置了很長時間。

(4)答案：C.North versus south is not a zero-sum game.

解釋：最后一段，作者最希望這項決議能讓英國南、北方城市的經(jīng)濟較量不是一個“零和博弈”。