金融时报:FT年度词汇：北方引擎

FT年度词汇：北方引擎

英国财政大臣表示，通过权力下放，不久的将来，英国北部将拥有一个以曼彻斯特和利物浦等城市为核心的“北方经济引擎”，与伦敦相媲美。这个战略真的可行吗？一起来了解一下吧。

测试中可能遇到的词汇和知识：

encompass包含

mausoleum陵墓；阴森森的大厦

hydraulic accumulators液压蓄能器

turbine涡轮

chancellor of the exchequer财政大臣

marginal边缘的

A year in a word: Northern powerhouse（301words）

by John McDermott, December 24, 2014 UK now has its best chance in years at having a Chicago to add to its New York, says John McDermott

Northern powerhouse

noun — a conurbation in northern England encompassing Manchester, Liverpool etc (first known usage probably 18th century).

Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry is the mausoleum for the industrial revolution. In June, amid hydraulic accumulators, beam engines and turbines, George Osborne gave a speech in which he called on his audience to create a new “northern powerhouse” linking cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull — a conurbation to vie with London. Later in the year, the UK chancellor of the exchequer announced cities would receive more power over how money is spent in their locales.

Mr Osborne's critics say devolution is a ruse to deflect attention from deep cuts to local government spending. Other cynics see it as the inevitable response to Scotland's successful quest for more control over its affairs. They add that it will help the chancellor's Conservatives in marginal constituencies; the party of Margaret Thatcher remains a toxic brand in much of the north.

There is a less cynical explanation. Cities are sources of growth. Productive people want to live alongside one another in urban areas. London is the prime example. However, compared with their counterparts in the US, Germany and Italy, the UK's second-tier cities have been puny for too long. Rather than try to halt the ascent of its capital, Britain is wisely trying to make other cities more than the sum of their parts. The rise of Greater Manchester — the successor to Barcelona as the symbol of urban development — under the leadership of its activist council shows the potential of this idea.

The northern powerhouse is more a slogan than a strategy. Compared with Scotland (although not Scottish cities), English cities have few economic powers. Still, the UK now has its best chance in years at having a Chicago to add to its New York. Most important, the project should show that north versus south is not a zero-sum game.

请根据你所读到的文章内容，完成以下自测题目：

1.According to Osborne,“northern powerhouse” would bring benefit such as?

A.Competition between north and south.

B.More Power devolved to cities.

C.End of control from the central government.

D.A decrease in local government spending.

答案(1)

2.Which of the following critique to Osborne's devolution is inappropriate?

A.A ruse to distract public attention.

B.An inevitable response to Scotland's referendum.

C.A disguised assistance to Conservative election campaign.

D.A way to halt the ascent of London.

答案(2)

3.Who have been “puny” for a long time in UK according to the author?

A.Rural areas.

B.The Greater Manchester.

C.Second-tier cities.

答案(3)

4.What does the author mostly expect from the project?

A.English cities can obtain more economic powers.

B.The plan is not a slogan but a strategy.

C.North versus south is not a zero-sum game.

答案(4)

* * *

(1)答案：A.Competition between north and south.

解释：文章第一段，财政大臣认为该计划能促进北方核心城市与伦敦的良性竞争。

(2)答案：D.A way to halt the ascent of London.

解释：文章第二段，有些批评者认为该计划是为了把公众的视线从政府削减开支中转移；有些认为，这是对苏格兰公投后争取到更多权益不可避免的反应；有些认为，这是为保守党争取更多边缘区选票的手段。

(3)答案：C.Second-tier cities.

解释：倒数第二段，英国二线城市发展被搁置了很长时间。

(4)答案：C.North versus south is not a zero-sum game.

解释：最后一段，作者最希望这项决议能让英国南、北方城市的经济较量不是一个“零和博弈”。