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The Irish government received 67.5bn euros in loans
媒體英語會帶大家一起學習 BBC 撰稿人在報道世界大事時常用到的單詞和短語。
愛爾蘭曾因歐元區債務危機面臨經濟崩盤。歐盟和國際貨幣基金組織先後三年向其提供了近675億歐元財政緩助。從本周開始，愛爾蘭將恢復其金融自主，與其他國家一樣在資本市場集資。以下是 BBC 經濟記者 Andrew Walker 的報道。
It is being called Ireland's exit from the bailout. If all goes to plan Ireland will receive no more financial assistance. It does not mean that the money has been repaid - that will take until 2042.
Ireland will still need to borrow - and all the signs are that it will be able to do so in the financial markets at an affordable cost. The country's economy has shown signs of stabilisation. It has grown, though erratically, and unemployment is down from its highs. But living standards have been hit - the economy is still 9% smaller than it was six years ago.
This is an important stage in the Eurozone's financial repair effort. Ireland is the first country to be bailed out to get to this stage. Portugal is due to do it next year, though there are concerns that it might need more financial help.
Greece and Cyprus are further away from getting back on their feet financially. It certainly helps that the recession in the Eurozone has ended - that the economy of the region as a whole has started to grow again. But it is still feeble growth.
Europe needs stronger performance to generate the tax revenue that could really help struggling governments get control of their borrowing needs.
Quiz 聽力測驗
True or false? Living standards in Ireland have improved.
False. Living standards have been hit.
When will Ireland pay off all the money it got from the bailout?
True or false? Cyprus will not be ready to pay off its bailout loans next year.
True. Cyprus is further away from getting back on their feet financially.
How will a stronger performance in Europe help governments control their borrowing needs?
A stronger performance will generate the tax revenue that could really help struggling governments get control of their borrowing needs.
Glossary 词汇表 （点击单词收听发音）
affordable負擔得起的
stabilisation穩定
erratically 不規律的，難以預測的
getting back on their feet恢復
feeble微弱的，無力的
revenue (公司、組織的)收入，收益;（政府的）財政收入，稅收