VOA慢速英语:World Economic Forum Rates Global Risks for 2013

The World Economic Forum says the most likely risk facing the world over the next 10 years is the severe disparity in income between rich and poor. The estimate was made in a new report called the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2013. Many of the issues discussed in the report are familiar. Food availability and the spread of extremism and terrorism are noted every year. But new risks, especially technological and financial ones, are becoming more important than ever.
世界经济论坛称未来10年全世界最可能面临的危机就是贫富收入的严重分化，世界经济论坛的这份新报告名为《2013年全球风险报告》。报告中涉及的诸多问题都很常见，每年都会强调粮食供应和极端主义及恐怖主义的蔓延。不过，日益引起重视的是新的风险，尤其是技术和金融方面。

The World Economic Forum is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The non-profit group says its risk report is based on surveys of more than 1,000 experts from around the world.  They include industry leaders and specialists in government, academics and civil society.
世界经济论坛总部在瑞士日内瓦，该非盈利组织称其风险报告基于全世界1000多名专家的调查，包括政府、学术界和民间团体的领袖和专家们。

The experts considered the likelihood that risks could become serious problems in the future. They also studied the impact, or influence, that these risks would have if they became reality.
专家们考虑了这些风险未来恶化的可能性，还调查了这些风险成为现实后的影响。

The experts judged the likelihood that a risk would become a problem over the next 10 years. Sharp income differences between rich and poor were the risk considered most likely. This is the second time in two years that the disparity in wealth was identified as the most likely problem. It was followed by what the report calls “chronic fiscal imbalances,” or the failure of governments to deal with heavy debt over time.
专家们评估了风险在未来10年成为实在的问题的可能性，最可能成为现实的风险是贫富收入的分化，这是两年来第二次将财富分化列为最可能成真的问题。上一份报告名为《财政慢性不平衡》，内容是政府长期无法解决沉重的债务问题。

The risk said to have the biggest possible impact was a major failure in the world financial system, like the collapse of a top institution or currency. But experts rated a water supply crisis as second on the list of high-impact risks. The report’s organizers say this issue has generally received little attention. 
据悉影响最大的风险是世界金融体系的重大问题，比如最高机构或货币的崩溃。但专家将水供应危机列为第二大最高风险，该报告的组织者称该问题得到的关注不够。

How the experts change their opinions is also something to note. This year, the mismanagement of the aging population moved from the 18th to the fifth most likely threat. The failure to deal with the costs and social issues involved with an aging population is now considered a risk with greater possible impact.
同时，专家们看法的改变也值得关注，今年，人口老龄化管理不当已从第18位上升为第5位，未能解决好人口老龄化有关的成本和社会问题的风险在加大。

The experts also were asked about extreme possibilities. The report calls these “X Factors.” They include the likelihood of climate change going out of control, and even the results of discovering alien life forms.
报告还咨询了专家们在极端可能性上的看法，报告称之为“X因素”，包括气候变化失去控制的可能性，甚至还有发现外星生命的结果。

The World Economic Forum is an international group whose members represent industry, charitable organizations and other partners. Its stated goal is to improve the state of the world.
世界经济论坛是一个国际组织，其成员来自工业界、慈善组织等其他合作伙伴，其主旨是改善世界现状。