内容概要

乌克兰拒绝续签俄罗斯天然气过境协议，引发欧洲能源价格和政治支持担忧。预计奥地利、匈牙利和斯洛伐克等国将面临天然气价格上涨，可能影响民众对乌克兰的支持态度，欧盟能源政策面临挑战。

全文词数：684
重点词数：31
试题数量：5

正文

Part 1

As the agreement allowing Russian gas transit through Ukraine to Europe expires on Tuesday, concerns are mounting about potential energy price hikes and their impact on European public opinion regarding support for Ukraine.

The current five-year contract for gas transit will not be renewed in next year as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made clear.

This decision not only threaten to escalate costs in European nations long reliant on Russian gas, but also poses broader repercussions for the entire continent.

Analysts warn that the shutdown of this pipeline could drive up natural gas prices in Europe, leading to heightened living expenses and production overheads, ultimately undermining the competitiveness of the European economy.

随着允许俄罗斯天然气经乌克兰向欧洲运输的协议于周二到期，人们对潜在的能源价格上涨及其对欧洲公众支持乌克兰态度的影响日益担忧。

正如乌克兰总统Volodymyr Zelensky明确表示的那样，目前为期五年的天然气运输合同明年将不再续签。

这一决定不仅威胁到长期依赖俄罗斯天然气的欧洲国家的成本上升，而且对整个大陆都会产生更广泛的影响。

分析师警告说，这条管道的关闭可能推高欧洲天然气价格，导致生活成本和生产开支增加，最终削弱欧洲经济的竞争力。

transit /ˈtrænzɪt/ n. 运输，通过，经过

expire /ɪkˈspaɪər/ v. 到期，期满，终止

mounting /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/ adj. 日益增长的，上升的

impact /ˈɪmpækt/ n. 影响，冲击，作用

renew /rɪˈnjuː/ v. 续签，更新，恢复

repercussion /ˌriːpərˈkʌʃən/ n. 影响，后果，反响

heighten /ˈhaɪtn/ v. 加剧，提高，增加

overhead /ˈəʊvəhed/ n. 开支，经费，管理费用

undermine /ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ v. 削弱，暗中破坏，逐渐损害

competitiveness /kəmˈpetətɪvnəs/ n. 竞争力，竞争性

Part 2

'There are alternatives, but they tend to be a bit more expensive than the Russian pipeline gas. The impact will be felt especially in Austria, in Hungary and Slovakia, where the price of gas will likely rise. And this could have an impact on consumer prices, on the cost of living, but also on prices for industry, which could have an impact on the competitiveness of those industries,' said Philipp Lausberg, a policy analyst at the European Policy Center.

The suspension of the Ukrainian gas transit pipeline is seen as a 'key uncertainty' for Europe this winter, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

As the onset of the long winter and heating season looms, several European nations may find themselves grappling with soaring energy prices and ensuing public discontent.

'虽然存在其他替代方案，但它们往往比俄罗斯管道天然气更为昂贵。这种影响将在奥地利、匈牙利和斯洛伐克尤为明显，这些国家的天然气价格可能会上涨。这可能会影响消费者价格和生活成本，同时也会影响工业成本，进而可能影响这些行业的竞争力'，European Policy Center的政策分析师Philipp Lausberg表示。

根据国际能源署（IEA）的说法，乌克兰天然气运输管道的暂停被视为今年冬季欧洲面临的'关键不确定因素'。

随着漫长的冬季和供暖季节的来临，多个欧洲国家可能会发现自己正在应对飙升的能源价格和随之而来的公众不满。

alternative /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/ n. 替代方案，选择方案，备选方案

suspension /səˈspenʃn/ n. 暂停，中止，悬浮

uncertainty /ʌnˈsɜːtnti/ n. 不确定性，不确定的事物

loom /luːm/ v. 逼近，临近，若隐若现

grapple /ˈɡræpl/ v. 努力应对，搏斗，抗争

ensuing /ɪnˈsjuːɪŋ/ adj. 随之而来的，接着发生的

Part 3

Furthermore, Ukraine's decisive move to 'close the gate' has stoked dissatisfaction among European populations, fostering a more critical stance towards supporting Ukraine.

'I could expect that the debate around the stop of Ukraine, of Russia gas coming through Ukraine. In Ukraine not continuing the contract on transit. This could make some of those populations even more critical of the support of Ukraine,' said Lausberg.

Ukrainian President Zelensky reaffirmed the country's refusal to extend the transit agreement after meeting with EU leaders in Brussels on Dec. 19, noting that the ban would apply to all gas flows 'coming from Russia.'

On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that there would be no new deal with Kiev, and Russia may consider other gas transmission routes such as transiting Poland.

此外，乌克兰'关闭大门'的决定性举措引发了欧洲民众的不满，促使他们对支持乌克兰采取更加批评性的立场。

Lausberg表示：'我预计，围绕乌克兰停止输送俄罗斯天然气以及不再续签过境协议的争论，可能会使这些民众对支持乌克兰持更加批评的态度。'

乌克兰总统Zelensky在12月19日于布鲁塞尔与欧盟领导人会面后重申了该国拒绝延长过境协议的立场，并指出这一禁令将适用于所有'来自俄罗斯'的天然气流。

同一天，俄罗斯总统Putin确认不会与基辅达成新协议，俄罗斯可能会考虑其他天然气输送路线，如经由波兰过境。

decisive /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/ adj. 决定性的，关键的，果断的

stoke /stəʊk/ v. 激起，煽动，助长

dissatisfaction /ˌdɪsˌsætɪsˈfækʃn/ n. 不满，不满意

stance /stæns/ n. 立场，态度，姿态

reaffirm /ˌriːəˈfɜːm/ v. 重申，再次确认

Part 4

Tacit acceptance of Ukraine's decision to halt Russian gas transit will heighten tensions, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico warned in a letter to the European Union (EU) on Sunday.

In the open letter posted on social media, Fico described the move as wrong, irrational, and likely to trigger reciprocal measures.

Earlier this month, the European Commission said it would not support discussions on extending the gas transit contract or seek alternative solutions to maintain flows, and it has not been involved in any negotiations regarding the matter, according to media reports.

Fico cautioned that ending the gas transit would harm the EU more than Russia, criticizing Zelensky for unilaterally announcing the transit shutdown without consulting EU bodies or affected member states.

斯洛伐克总理Robert Fico周日在致欧盟(EU)的一封信中警告称，默认接受乌克兰停止俄罗斯天然气过境运输的决定将加剧紧张局势。

在社交媒体上发布的公开信中，Fico形容这一举动是错误的、不理性的，并可能引发对等报复措施。

据媒体报道，本月早些时候，欧盟委员会表示将不支持就延长天然气过境运输合同进行讨论，也不会寻求维持气流的替代方案，且未参与任何相关谈判。

Fico告诫说，终止天然气过境运输对欧盟的伤害将大于对俄罗斯的伤害，他还批评Zelensky在未与欧盟机构或受影响成员国协商的情况下，单方面宣布停止过境运输。

tacit /ˈtæsɪt/ adj. 默认的，心照不宣的，暗含的

irrational /ɪˈræʃənl/ adj. 不理性的，非理性的，失去理智的

reciprocal /rɪˈsɪprəkl/ adj. 互惠的，对等的，相互的

caution /ˈkɔːʃn/ v. 警告，提醒，告诫

unilaterally /ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəli/ adv. 单方面地，单独地

Part 5

For decades, Russia has been transporting natural gas from northern Siberia through Ukraine to several European countries, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, through a cross-border pipeline. However, following EU sanctions on Russia and the formulation of policies to reduce energy dependence on Russia, Slovakia becomes the only EU country receiving Russian gas via the Ukrainian transit pipeline.

Russia's Sputnik news agency reported that Russian gas giant Gazprom supplied about 15 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe through the transit of Ukraine in 2023, accounting for 4.5% of the EU's total gas demand.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak recently said that the total volume of Russian gas exports to European countries from January to November this year increased by 18 to 20 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

The total volume of Russian gas transported to Europe by pipeline and liquefied natural gas exported to Europe so far this year has exceeded 50 billion cubic meters, an increase of 18 to 20 percent compared to the same period last year. Despite the pressure of sanctions on Russia, there is still demand for Russian gas, according to Novak.

几十年来，俄罗斯一直通过跨境管道经乌克兰将天然气从西伯利亚北部输送到斯洛伐克、捷克共和国、匈牙利、奥地利等几个欧洲国家。

然而，在欧盟对俄罗斯实施制裁并制定减少对俄能源依赖的政策后，斯洛伐克成为了唯一一个通过乌克兰过境管道接收俄罗斯天然气的欧盟国家。

俄罗斯卫星通讯社报道称，2023年俄罗斯天然气工业股份公司通过乌克兰过境向欧洲供应了约150亿立方米天然气，占欧盟天然气总需求的4.5%。

俄罗斯副总理Alexander Novak最近表示，今年1月至11月俄罗斯对欧洲国家的天然气出口总量比2023年同期增长了18%至20%。

今年到目前为止，俄罗斯通过管道运输到欧洲的天然气和出口到欧洲的液化天然气总量已超过500亿立方米，比去年同期增长18%至20%。Novak表示，尽管受到制裁压力，市场对俄罗斯天然气的需求仍然存在。

dependence /dɪˈpendəns/ n. 依赖，依赖性，从属

via /ˈvaɪə/ prep. 通过，经由，凭借

giant /ˈdʒaɪənt/ n. & adj. 巨头，大企业；巨大的，庞大的

volume /ˈvɒljuːm/ n. 体积，容量，数量，总量

liquefied /ˈlɪkwɪfaɪd/ adj. 液化的，被液化的

试题

题目

1.The current _______ contract for gas transit will not be renewed in next year. (2词)

2.The suspension of the Ukrainian gas transit pipeline is seen as a _______ for Europe this winter. (2词)

3.Ukraine's decisive move to _______ has stoked dissatisfaction among European populations. (3词)

4.Fico described the move as wrong, _______, and likely to trigger reciprocal measures. (1词)

5.Slovakia becomes the only EU country receiving Russian gas via the _______ pipeline. (2词)

答案

1.five-year
位置：Part 1 第2段
解析：原文直接提到'current five-year contract'，表示当前的五年期合同。
考点：时间类复合形容词的应用

2.key uncertainty
位置：Part 2 第3段
解析：原文直接引用IEA的说法，将乌克兰天然气运输管道的暂停视为欧洲这个冬天的'key uncertainty'。
考点：名词短语的准确使用

3.close the gate
位置：Part 3 第1段
解析：原文中使用引号标注的'close the gate'是一个比喻用语，表示乌克兰切断天然气运输。
考点：习语表达的运用

4.irrational
位置：Part 4 第2段
解析：原文中Fico描述这一举动时使用了三个形容词：wrong, irrational, and likely to trigger reciprocal measures。
考点：形容词的准确使用

5.Ukrainian transit
位置：Part 5 第2段
解析：原文明确指出斯洛伐克是唯一通过乌克兰运输管道接收俄罗斯天然气的欧盟国家。
考点：专有名词短语的使用