Trading standards
Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables. No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way. These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries. It is not just farmers who are complaining. An electric razor that meets the European Union’s safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU’s okay before it hits the market in Europe.
As it happens, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do? Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products. They hope to finish in time for a trade summit between America and the EU on May 28th. Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all. Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements. The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing. The EU – following fine continental traditions – wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.
单词
fit a. 合适的 of a good enough standard for sb. or sth. （达标的）
be fit for …
be fit to do …
The food is not fit for human consumption. 这种食物不适合人类食用。
He is not fit to govern this country. 他不适合统治这个国家。
suitable 搭配、协调的
appropriate 非常适合、特别协调的，very suitable
I haven’t any suitable clothes for the wedding. 我没有适合在婚礼上穿的礼物。
The present isn’t suitable for an old man.
Your dress is appropriate for a formal party.
felicitous /fə’lɪsɪtəs/ （措词等）恰当的，贴切的
felicitous remarks 恰当的、中肯的评论
proper 中性，没有场合限制，适合。
grace v. 使荣耀；装饰，装点
The queen graced us with her presence. 女王莅临，不胜荣幸。
Her face has graced the covers of magazines across the world.
graceful 优美的，优雅的
disgrace n. &. v. 耻辱；（使）蒙羞
shame
humiliate
bring shame / disgrace on …
standard n. 标准，水准，水平
a 发梅花音，/'stændəd/
safety / moral / living standards
a high / low standard of living
International Standards Organization (ISO)
criterion / criteria 组织制定的标准，如入学标准
admission criterion 录取标准
the criteria we use to select candidates
yardstick / benchmark 衡量事物的标准、基准，benchmark 基准测试
The yardstick / benchmark of truth is practice.
（作文）Some people believe that a society has to place its overall success before the well-being of its members to achieve prosperity, whereas others believe that the only benchmark of the well-being of a society is the general welfare of all its people. Admittedly, a society should pursue its overall success, but from my perspective this goal will never be attained unless and until the well-being of all its individual citizens is properly respected.
electrocute v. 电死，电刑处死 to kill a person pr an animal by means of an electric current
execute 执行；处死
execute one’s command / one’s will （遗嘱）
= carry out
He was executed for treason. 他因为叛国罪被处死了。
persecute 迫害（政治、宗教等原因）
prosecute 检举、告发某人；对某人提起公诉；继续从事
Jews ere persecuted by Nazis.
Trespassers will be prosecuted.
eliminate v. 彻底清除 to completely get rid of sth. that is unnecessary or unwanted
Many infectious diseases have been virtually eliminated. 许多传染病几乎被清除了。
The credit card eliminates the need for cash or checks. 信用卡替代了现金和支票。
remove
get rid of
root out “根除”
eradicate （“radi” = root radish 大萝卜）， eradicate crime / poverty
abolish 废除， abolish slavery 废除奴隶制，abolish capital punishment / death penalty 废除死刑
accord n. （国际）协议，条约
accord / treaty 国际协议
pact / compact 各种各样的合同，协议
contract 合同 deal 交易
agreement
hammer out v. 敲定了 to decide on an agreement, contract etc. after a lot of discussion and disagreement
reach / come to an agreement 达成协议
keep / honor an agreement 遵守协议
break / violate an agreement 破坏协议
课文
trading a. 贸易的，商业的
trading standards
trading partner
这是一篇新闻英语。
第一句：Chickens slaughtered in the United States, claim officials in Brussels, are not fit to grace European tables.
official adj. & n. 官员，政府官员（的）
an local / embassy official
official corruption / attitude
官僚、政府官员、官老爷（贬义）
bureaucrat 官僚的 bureaucracy 官僚制度，官僚作风
civil servant 政府公务员
political correctness 政治正确
举例
| Old | New |
|---|---|
| unemployed | between jobs |
| She is pregnant. | She is knitting a tiny garment. |
| dustman | garbologist |
| butcher 屠夫 | meat technologist |
| housewife | domestic engineer |
自由直接引语 在（尤其是新闻中）引用时不加引号，保证页面清晰整洁、客观公正。
第二句：No, say the Americans: our fowl are fine, we simply clean them in a different way.
fowl 禽肉，尤其是鸡肉。可以单复数同形，也可以加 -s
poultry 家禽，禽肉
livestock / stock 禽肉（不可数）
第三句：These days, it is differences in national regulations, far more than tariffs, that put sand in the wheels of trade between rich countries.
tariff 关税
these days today nowadays 当今
(3-4课) These days, people who do manual work often receive far more money than people who work in offices.
in those days 当初
(9课) In those days wandering minstrels were welcome everywhere.
(3-21课) In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
more than sth. 不仅仅是…
more than + ad. / adj. 极其/非常…
Peace is more than the absence of war.
He is more than selfish.
（听力）
M: I don’t know how I managed to break that platter. I’ll be more than happy to buy you a new one.
W: Forget about it. Some things just can’t be helped.
What does the woman mean?
Ans: (D) She doesn’t want the man to replace the platter.
例句：
I looked into the boy’s serious but eager face and asked him, “Do you want any more books?”
“Yes, more than I can ever get,” he replied.
这里末尾应该翻译为：是的，可惜我已经买不起了。
more than A can / could … 是 A 无法 …
(2-78课) When my old friend Brian urged me to accept a cigarette, it was more than I could bear. 当我的老朋友 Brian 让我抽一根时，我再也忍不住了。
(3-43课) Dancing proved to be more than the dish could bear, for during the party it capsized and sank in seven feet of water.
The story is more than I can believe.
The beauty of the West Lake is more than words can describe.
Such a complicated situation is far more than we could anticipate and deal with.
妨碍：
put sand in the wheels of …
put obstacles in the way of …
stand in the way of …
hinder impede hamper
(33课) There is none of the hurry which, in our society, often hampers the full development of a growing personality.
造句：现如今，是风俗习惯的差异，而远不仅仅是语言问题，阻碍了跨国婚姻（transnational marriage).
These days, it is differences in habits and customs, far more than languages, that put sand in the wheels of transnational marriages.
第五句：An electric razor that meets the European Union’s safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU’s okay before it hits the market in Europe.
meet, reach, pass, live up to, satisfy, fulfill + standards
- approve vt. to officially accept sth.
- reject
The budget has been approved by the legislature.
- approve of …
- disapprove of frown on
Catherine’s parents now approve of her marriage.
第七句：So, ask businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, why have two lots of tests where one would do?
why do （质问）
Why worry about such trifles?
why not do （建议）
Why not try to train you character?
lot: n. set; collection; group
do: v. be enough
– Don’t you want something to eat?
– OK. Two burgers will do.
第八句：Politicians agree, in principle, so America and the EU have been trying to reach a deal which would eliminate the need to double-test many products.
in principle 原则上: if you agree sth. in principle, you agree a general plan or idea but have not yet considered the details
The government has agreed in principle to a referendum. 政府原则上同意进行公投。
第十句：Although negotiators are optimistic, the details are complex enough that they may be hard-pressed to get a deal at all.
optimistic be optimistic about … 对 … 乐观
～ pessimistic
optimism optimist
pessimism pessimist
Bankers are cautiously optimistic about the country’s economic future.
He remains deeply pessimistic about the peace process.
be … enough to do / that
= be so … as to do / that
They as rash enough to cross the pass on foot.
They are so rash as to cross the pass on foot.
be hard-pressed to do … 太困难，不太可能发生
Owing to shortage of staff, the emergency services were hard-pressed to deal with the accident.
第十一句：Why? One difficulty is to construct the agreements.
construct 起草
construct a sentence 造句
construct an agreement 起草协议
第十二句：The Americans would happily reach one accord on standards for medical devices and then hammer out different pacts covering, say, electronic goods and drug manufacturing.
covering 包含
The course covers all aspects of business and law. 这份课程包含了商业和法律的方方面面。
embrace / encompass 包含
The term ‘mankind’ embraces / encompassed men, women, and children.
（阅读）In the American economy, the concept of private property embraces not only the ownership of productive resources but also certain rights, including the right to determine the price of a product or to make a free contract with another private individual.
（阅读）“Anthropology” derives from the Greek words anthropos “human” and logos “the study of.” By its very name, anthropology encompassed the study of all humankind.
say / let’s say: 假定，比方说
Let’s go out for a walk, (let’s) say, along the river.
第十三句：The EU – following fine continental traditions – wants agreement on general principles, which could be applied to many types of products and perhaps extended to other countries.
follow the crowd / herd 随大流
follow one’s example / lead 效法
I don’t want you to follow my example / lead and rush into marriage.
continental 大陆的
a continental climate 大陆气候
英语中的大陆一般指的是欧洲大陆
continental/Continental 欧洲的
the channel / Channel 英吉利海峡
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新东方《新概念英语（第四册）》（李延隆老师）课程来源于 YouTube.
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