BEC中級(jí)閱讀材料：IMF海灣國(guó)家今年盈余將縮水

劍橋大學(xué)考試委員會(huì)設(shè)立BEC考試的目的是在全球范圍內(nèi)建立一個(gè)測(cè)試商界雇員英語(yǔ)水平的統(tǒng)一標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，使BEC證書(shū)被跨國(guó)公司和非英語(yǔ)國(guó)家的大公司用作商務(wù)英語(yǔ)測(cè)試標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，以評(píng)估在真實(shí)商務(wù)環(huán)境下雇員的英語(yǔ)水平，使人力資源部門(mén)能準(zhǔn)確評(píng)估雇員商務(wù)英語(yǔ)的運(yùn)用技能。因此，與我國(guó)的四、六級(jí)考試相比較，BEC考試更側(cè)重對(duì)英語(yǔ)實(shí)際運(yùn)用能力的考查。換句話說(shuō)，BEC中的考查內(nèi)容都是可以馬上拿到實(shí)際工作中去的，不會(huì)出現(xiàn)所謂高分低能現(xiàn)象。

IMF海灣國(guó)家今年盈余將縮水

國(guó)際貨幣基金組織(IMF)表示，由于國(guó)內(nèi)投資加大且石油價(jià)格回落，預(yù)計(jì)今年海灣地區(qū)石油出口國(guó)的經(jīng)常賬戶盈余將下降。

Gulf oil exporters’ current account surpluses are expected to fall this year on rising domestic investment and softer oil prices, said the International Monetary Fund said.

然而，這些國(guó)家在全球范圍內(nèi)收購(gòu)國(guó)際性企業(yè)和房地產(chǎn)的投資熱情似乎將持續(xù)下去。

But the global spending spree undertaken by Gulf states, snapping up international companies and real estate nevertheless looks set to continue.

IMF在其半年一度的中東和中亞地區(qū)經(jīng)濟(jì)展望中指出，石油出口國(guó)的合計(jì)經(jīng)常賬戶盈余今年將縮減至1800億美元，其占國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值(GDP)的比重將從去年的20%降至13%。IMF和其他經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家利用經(jīng)常賬戶盈余來(lái)預(yù)測(cè)投資者購(gòu)買(mǎi)外國(guó)資產(chǎn)的閑置資金量。

The fund’s half-yearly regional economic outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia region said oil-exporting countries’ combined current account, used by the IMF and other economists to gauge the spare cash investors have to plough into foreign assets, will narrow to 13 per cent of gross domestic product, or $180bn, from 20 per cent of GDP last year.

IMF預(yù)測(cè)，沙特阿拉伯今年的經(jīng)常賬戶盈余將下降28%，從去年的960億美元降至約700億美元。

Saudi Arabia’s current account surplus will decline 28 per cent to about $70bn (€52bn, ￡35bn) from $96bn last year, the IMF forecast.

然而，盡管中東和中亞地區(qū)的經(jīng)常賬戶盈余預(yù)計(jì)將回落，但該地區(qū)的經(jīng)常賬戶累計(jì)盈余仍處于高位。自2003年以來(lái)，該地區(qū)的累計(jì)盈余已增至8100億美元，其中海灣阿拉伯國(guó)家所占比例為四分之三。

But despite the expected dip in surpluses this year, the cumulative current account surplus for the Middle East and Central Asia region remains high. Since 2003, it has grown to $810bn, with Gulf Arab states accounting for three-quarters of that amount.

IMF中東暨中亞部門(mén)主任莫辛汗(Mohsin Khan)表示，現(xiàn)在這些資金流回海外的時(shí)機(jī)已經(jīng)成熟。

These funds are ripe for recycling overseas, says Mohsin Khan, IMF Middle East and Central Asia department director.

"自從(去年)該地區(qū)股市崩盤(pán)以來(lái)，投資者已將目光轉(zhuǎn)向房地產(chǎn)和外國(guó)資產(chǎn)，"莫辛汗在接收一次采訪時(shí)表示，"他們還著眼于本地區(qū)的資產(chǎn)，主要目標(biāo)為埃及、約旦和北非。"

"Since the regional stock market crash [last year], investors have looked to real estate and foreign assets," said Mr Khan in an interview. "They are also looking at assets around the region, going in a major way into Egypt, along with Jordan and North Africa."

IMF表示，該地區(qū)整體前景將繼續(xù)明朗。

The general outlook continued to be bright, the IMF said.

經(jīng)濟(jì)改革、有利的全球環(huán)境和油價(jià)高企令該地區(qū)去年的實(shí)際GDP增幅達(dá)到6.5%，同時(shí)使該地區(qū)人均收入較2002年高出75%。此輪石油美元熱潮始于2002年。

A combination of economic reforms, a favourable global environment and high oil prices produced real GDP growth across the region of 6.5 per cent last year, bringing up average per capita incomes 75 per cent higher than 2002, the first year of this petrodollar boom.

由于石油將繼續(xù)推動(dòng)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)，預(yù)計(jì)中東和中亞地區(qū)今年的經(jīng)濟(jì)增速將與去年持平。

Economic growth in the Middle East and Central Asia is expected to remain at the same level this year as the oil-driven surge continues.

IMF表示，埃及等新興市場(chǎng)國(guó)家將繼續(xù)保持強(qiáng)勁增長(zhǎng)勢(shì)頭。如果國(guó)內(nèi)安全得到改善，在更為強(qiáng)健的制度和更為穩(wěn)定的政策推動(dòng)下，伊拉克、阿富汗和蘇丹等爆發(fā)過(guò)國(guó)內(nèi)沖突的國(guó)家應(yīng)能實(shí)現(xiàn)兩位數(shù)增長(zhǎng)。

Emerging markets such as Egypt would continue to grow strongly, the IMF said. Post-conflict states such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan should jump into double-digit growth on stronger institutions and steadier policies, providing security improved.