VOA常速英语:Europe Struggles to Restore Confidence in Troubled Economies

短语讲解：

1. Italy’s embattled Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is also expected to give way to an interim government, perhaps also to be led by an economist

give way to让路,让步
例句：We refused to give way to their demands.
我们拒绝对他们的要求让步。

2. The goal is to restore confidence in the two troubled economies and their leadership, and to stabilize financial markets, in the hope of avoiding the kind of dire consequences highlighted by headline writers in recent days.

in the hope of怀着…的希望
例句：We returned to the park in the hope of finding her wallet.
我们回到公园, 希望能找到她的钱包。

3. He says Italy’s debt is so high that even as the world’s eighth-largest economy it will not be able to pay all of it back, with huge regional and global repercussions.
pay back偿还
例句：I am sure that he will pay back every cent he owes you.
我敢肯定他会分文不差地把欠款还给你。

4. Italians know, however, that this debt is financed by Italians, and is very likely to keep on being financed, even in a higher percentage than before, by Italians.

keep on继续前进; 继续工作
例句：They kept on working after dark.
天黑了他们还继续工作。

5. But the European Union is imposing tough conditions on continued financing of the troubled economies, and insisting on tighter monitoring.

impose on把…加于
例句：The present trouble was imposed on him.
目前的困难是强加在他身上的。
insist on坚持; 强调
例句：She insisted on her mother's living with her.
她坚持要她母亲和她住在一起。

6. Some experts are concerned about an austerity-based approach that could lead to many years of recession in some countries, and have begun to call for targeted spending to stimulate growth.

be concerned about关心,挂念
例句：She is concerned about your safety.
她不放心你的安全。
lead to导致
例句：Smoking can lead to lung cancer.
抽烟可能导致肺癌。
call for要求; 需要
例句：Your plan will call for a lot of money.
你的计划需要许多钱。

7. You lost productivity. So you have to invest in these.

invest in在…上投资, 在…投入(时间、精力等)
例句：He invested his money in shares.
他把钱投资在股票上。

8. And that is a tough thing for European leaders to contemplate as they focus on reducing debt and convincing banks and investors that, with help, troubled countries can live within their means.

focus on集中于, 对(某事或做某事)予以注意
例句：Many firms are focusing on increasing their markets overseas.
许多商行都专注于扩大国外市场。