VOA慢速：英国议会否决梅首相的脱欧协议

British Parliament Rejects Prime Minister's Brexit Plan

燕山大学 刘立军 编写

u TRANSCRIPT

The British parliament has rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's plan for Britain to leave the European Union.

The House of Commons voted 432 to 202 against the plan negotiated by members of May's government. The prime minister said she is trying to carry out the "democratic decision" voters made 18 months ago to leave the EU.

Opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbin called the vote a "catastrophic defeat" for May's Conservative Party. He also demanded a parliamentary vote be held Wednesday on whether to withdraw support from her government. He criticized the British government as incompetent.

The vote against May's plan was widely expected, but it is not clear what comes next for the withdrawal, known as Brexit. Before the vote, May warned members of parliament that the EU would not offer an "alternative deal."

One of the main terms of her plan was to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and British Northern Ireland. She wanted to prevent the return of border measures if Britain and the EU failed to reach a free trade agreement.

May's deal would have left unchanged the rights of more than three million EU citizens living in Britain and the one million Britons living in the EU. Britain would have paid $51 billion to settle its financial responsibilities with the EU.

May's plan faced opposition from both sides of the debate over Brexit. Those supporting the break argued that her deal would still leave Britain tied to EU rules. Opponents to Brexit wanted even stronger economic links to the EU.

Groups of pro-EU and pro-Brexit activists demonstrated near parliament in London, Tuesday.

Negotiators from Britain and the EU agreed to the terms of the Brexit deal in November after long and difficult talks. It is unclear what will happen next.

May has until next Monday to present a new proposal.

I'm Caty Weaver.

Adapted from www.tingclass.net

u VOCABULARY

1. catastrophic adj. 糟糕的;不成功的 If you describe something as catastrophic, you mean that it is very bad or unsuccessful. 例如：His mother's untimely death had a catastrophic effect on him.  

他妈妈的过早离世对他具有灾难性的影响。

2. incompetent adj. not having the skill or ability to do your job or a task as it should be done 无能力的；不胜任的；不称职的。例如：

l an incompetent teacher不称职的教师

l his incompetent handling of the affair他在处理这件事上的无能表现

l The Prime Minister was attacked as incompetent to lead. 首相被攻击缺乏领导能力。

3. alternative adj. ( also alternate especially in North American English) that can be used instead of sth. else 可供替代的。例如：

l an alternative method of doing sth. 做某事的其他方法

l Do you have an alternative solution? 你有没有别的解决办法？

u QUESTIONS

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and check the true (ü) or false (û) statements.

q 1. The British parliament has rejected Theresa May's plan for Britain to leave the EU.

q 2. The House of Commons voted 432 to 200 against the plan.

q 3. Jeremy Corbin called the vote a "catastrophic defeat" for May's Labor Party.

q 4. Jeremy Corbin criticized the British government as incompetent.

q 5. The vote for May's plan was widely expected.

q 6. Before the vote, May warned members of parliament that the EU would not offer an "alternative deal."

q 7. May's deal would have left unchanged the rights of more than two million EU citizens living in Britain and the one million Britons living in the EU.

q 8. Britain would have paid $51 billion to settle its financial responsibilities with the EU.

q 9. May's plan faced opposition from both sides of the debate over Brexit.

q 10. Those supporting the break argued that her deal would still leave Britain tied to EU rules.

q 11. Opponents to Brexit wanted even stronger economic and political links to the EU.

q 12. Groups of pro-EU and pro-Brexit activists demonstrated near parliament in London, Wednesday.

q 13. Negotiators from Britain and the EU agreed to the terms of the Brexit deal in November after short and difficult talks.

u KEY

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and check the true (ü) or false (û) statements.

þ 1. The British parliament has rejected Theresa May's plan for Britain to leave the EU.

ý 2. The House of Commons voted 432 to 200 against the plan. 正确表达：The House of Commons voted 432 to 202 against the plan.

ý 3. Jeremy Corbin called the vote a "catastrophic defeat" for May's Labor Party. 正确表达：Jeremy Corbin called the vote a "catastrophic defeat" for May's Conservative Party.

þ 4. Jeremy Corbin criticized the British government as incompetent.

ý 5. The vote for May's plan was widely expected. 正确表达：The vote against May's plan was widely expected.

þ 6. Before the vote, May warned members of parliament that the EU would not offer an "alternative deal."

ý 7. May's deal would have left unchanged the rights of more than two million EU citizens living in Britain and the one million Britons living in the EU. 正确表达：May's deal would have left unchanged the rights of more than three million EU citizens living in Britain and the one million Britons living in the EU.

þ 8. Britain would have paid $51 billion to settle its financial responsibilities with the EU.

þ 9. May's plan faced opposition from both sides of the debate over Brexit.

þ 10. Those supporting the break argued that her deal would still leave Britain tied to EU rules.

ý 11. Opponents to Brexit wanted even stronger economic and political links to the EU. 正确表达：Opponents to Brexit wanted even stronger economic links to the EU.

ý 12. Groups of pro-EU and pro-Brexit activists demonstrated near parliament in London, Wednesday. 正确表达：Groups of pro-EU and pro-Brexit activists demonstrated near parliament in London, Tuesday.

ý 13. Negotiators from Britain and the EU agreed to the terms of the Brexit deal in November after short and difficult talks. 正确表达：Negotiators from Britain and the EU agreed to the terms of the Brexit deal in November after long and difficult talks.