Lesson 13 Britanian Rues the Waves

Paragraph 1-3

The threat British merchant navy faces

1. From the Russians and the Eastern bloc countries.

2. From the merchant fleets of the developing nations.

Paragraph 1

Britain's  merchant navy …these days Grab: to capture The headlines: titles of important news items, generally printed in large,

bold type. WAR BREAKS OUT IN EUROPE ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA PRESIDENT SHOT DEAD MAN WALKS ON MOON Hit/make/reach the headlines: become important news.Grab the headline: attract attention Britain's merchant fleet is no longer an important item of news these

days; There is very little about  the British merchant fleet in the papers

recently.

Paragraph 1

Yet shipping is the essential lifeline…economy Lifeline: anything on which one’s life depends essential Yet the merchant fleet is vital to British economy

SYNONYMS

indispensable, essential, necessary, needful, requisite. These adjectives indicate a pressing need:

foods indispensable to good nutrition; funds essential to completing the project; necessary tools and materials; provided them with all things needful; lacking the requisite qualifications.

Paragraph 2

Shipping is also a significant British success story.

success story: person's rise from poverty, etc . to fame.

big profits are made in shipping in Britain

SYNONYMS 

 expressive, eloquent, meaningful, significant. These adjectives mean effectively conveying a feeling, idea, or mood:

an expressive gesture; an eloquent speech; a meaningful look; a significant smile.

Paragraph 2

In deficit: in shortage; in debt But, today this vital British industry … in

peril In peril: in danger, dangerous

SYNONYMS 

 living, alive, live, animate, animated, vital. These adjectives mean possessed of or exhibiting life.

Living, alive, and live refer principally to organisms that are not dead: living plants; the happiest person alive; a live canary.

Animate applies to living animal as distinct from living plant life: Something animate was moving inside the box.

Animated suggests renewed life, vigor, or spirit: The argument became very animated.

Vital refers to what is characteristic of or necessary to the continuation of life: You must eat to maintain vital energy.

Paragraph 2

the British fleet…competition: risk : expose to the chance of damage or

loss stiff :strong ; great in degree ; difficult to deal with a stiff job ; stiff reading being elbowed out : a metaphor : being forced out

The British fleet faces the danger of being forced out of the trade as a result of intense foreign competition.

SYNONYMS

 endanger, hazard, imperil, jeopardize, risk. These verbs mean to subject to danger, loss, or destruction

driving that endangers lives; hazarded his health by smoking; a forest imperiled by acid rain; strikes that jeopardized company profits; wouldn't risk her financial security.

SYNONYMS stiff, rigid, inflexible, inelastic, tense. These adjectives

describe what is very firm and does not easily bend or give way.

Stiff, the least specific, refers to what can be flexed only with difficulty (a brush with stiff bristles); with reference to persons it often suggests a lack of ease, cold formality, or fixity, as of purpose: “stiff in opinions”

Rigid and inflexible apply to what cannot be bent without damage or deformation (a table of rigid plastic; an inflexible knife blade); figuratively they describe what does not relent or yield: “under the dictates of a rigid disciplinarian” “In religion the law is written, and inflexible, never to do evil” .

Inelastic refers largely to what will not stretch and spring back without marked physical change: inelastic construction materials.

Tense means stretched tight and figuratively applies to what is marked by tautness or strain: “that tense moment of expectation”

Paragraph 3

Eastern bloc countries: the countriese in Eastern Europe under Soviet influence

A massive expansion Massive: large-scale

SYNONYMS 

heavy, weighty, hefty, massive, ponderous, cumbersome. These adjectives mean having a relatively great weight.

Heavy refers to what has great physical weight (a heavy boulder) and figuratively to what is burdensome or oppressive to the spirit (heavy responsibilities).

Weighty literally denotes having considerable weight (a weighty package); figuratively, it describes what is onerous, serious, or important (a weighty decision).

SYNONYMS 

Hefty refers principally to physical heaviness or brawniness: a hefty book; a tall, hefty wrestler.

Massive describes what is bulky, heavy, solid, and strong: massive marble columns.

Ponderous refers to what has great mass and weight and usually implies unwieldiness: ponderous prehistoric beasts. Figuratively it describes what is complicated, involved, or lacking in grace: a book with a ponderous plot.

Something cumbersome is difficult to move, handle, or deal with because it is heavy, bulky, or clumsy: cumbersome luggage

Paragraph 3

Carving their way…by undercutting western shipping companies

Carve their way: making their way…by cutting

undercut: sell goods more cheaply or work for smaller wages than(sb ． doing the same) ； sell at lower prices or work at lower wages

Cutting their way into the international trade by charging much less than the western shipping companies

Paragraph 3

Who are bent on taking over the lion’s share of the trade

Bent on: strongly inclined or determined

the lion’s share: the whole thing, the biggest and the best portion

Who are determined to control most of the trade

Paragraph 3

In which Britain has a big stake Stake: a share or interset

at stake: at issue, in question, risked

His office is at stake in the March election

Britain has important interests in these trade routes.

Britanian Rues the Waves

Britanian Rues the Waves

Britannia: now poetic , Great Britain or the British Islands.

rue: repent of : regret having entered into ; wish nonexistent.

the waves :( poet. or rhet. ) the sea.

Britanian Rues the Waves This is a parody of Britain's proud boast, "Britania Rules the

Waves" ."Rule, Britania" is a famous naval song  much sung and played in the British Navy from the date its first performance in 1740 to the present day, and generally recognized today  as the official march of the Royal Navy. It was written by James Thomson and set to music by Dr. Thomas Arne (1740) . The song runs like this:When Britain first, at Heaven's command,Arose from out the azure main,This was the charter of her land,And guardian angels sang the strain:Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rules the waves!Britons never shall be slaves.

Britanian Rues the Waves

Britanian Rues the Waves: Britain is sorry  that she has lost her dominance on the high seas; Britain regrets that she no longer enjoys a naval supremacy.

Britanian Rules the Waves: Britain is proud of being the lord of the sea.

What the implied meaning of the title?

Learning Foci

British national traits: gentleman (Roman) pirate (Nordic)

Additional Background

Knowledge

　 1. North Sea Oil

2. Container ship

3. Iron Curtain

Rhetorical Devices

1. antithesis :opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction.

Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more

Man proposes, God disposes 2. oxymoron 3. simile 4. ridicule

Special Difficulties

1. understanding some proper names

2. paraphrasing some sentences

3. identifying figures of speech

4. making effective use of specific adjectives

Questions

1. According to the author Britain is handicapped in her attempts to counter the challenges of the developing world and the Soviet Union at an international level. What are these handicaps or problems? Does this tell us anything about the capitalist world?

2. How are the British shipping companies trying to meet the challenge? Are they confident that they can counter the challenge successfully?

3. Comment on the title of the article. What is the implied meaning?

British national traits

Gentleman (Roman/Latin influence) a. Legacy of Roman culture: AD 43 Roman Conquest

of Britain begun by Emperor Claudius. Civil Laws; Procedural Justice. Mechanisms of contracts and negotiations.

b. Unique features of British feudalism: No serfs, but yeomen. No strict social classes as in other feudal societies of Europe. System of patronization. Long Presence of Parliament (since 1265)

C. Reformation, not revolution: (only two exceptions: Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 and the Civil War in the 1640s): Glorious Revolution in 1688, passage of the Reform Bill in 1832. Marx’s prophecy not fulfilled

British national traits

D. Liberty over democracy (check and balance, sharing of power)

E. Conservatism over radicalism (e.g. not until 1971 did Britain adopt the metric system)

F. Pragmatism over idealism: reflected in its philosophy (empiricism and utilitarianism) and foreign policy (another version of check and balance

British national traits

2. Pirate (Nordic or Anglo-Saxon influence)

a. Francis Drake and the pirate tradition: acquiring fortunes from Spanish plunder, encouraged by the Crown

b. Slave trade (1564-1834) c. Opium War (1840)

North Sea

North Sea Oil

oil produced from the British sector of the Continental Shelf under the North Sea. Oil was first discovered under the bed of the North Sea in 1970 and production began in 1975

Container ship

container ship: a cargo vessel specially designed and built for the carriage of cargo prepacked in containers. With a standardized size of container, holding 18 tons of cargo, holds and deck spaces can be designed exactly to accommodate containers, leading to greater ease and efficiency in stowage and the eradication of much of the d

anger of the cargo shifting during heavy weather at sea.

Iron Curtain

Iron Curtain

The Soviet Union and the eastern European countries in the capitalist press, first used by Churchill in his speech at Fulton, Missouri, 5 March 1946

“ From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent

Content

PartI(Paragraphs1-3): the threat British merchant navy faces

PartII(Paragraphs4-8): the success story despite difficulties

PartIII(Paragraphs 9-26): the plight 1. Paragraphs (9-14): general problems in the shipping i

ndustry 2. Paragraphs (15-18): threat from the Third World 3. Paragraphs (19-26): threat from the Iron Curtain count

ries ◆ Part IV( Paragraphs 27-29): problems with domestic policies

Paragraphs 4-8 the success story despite difficulties

difficulties Success story

Share has fallen Merchant navy expand

concerning tonnage

Big invest Modern fleet

Cut-throat competition Competition reduction

by shipping conference

Paragraphs 4-8

Why does the author think shipping is a major success story? What are the reasons for the success?

What stiff foreign competition threatens the British fleet?

What is a conference? What role does it play?

Paragraphs 4

In terms of tonnage…to expand

ton+age: -age (=state, cost, measurement, act v-n): tonnage, postage, wreckage, usage

in terms of: with regard to; concerning

We are better off in terms of capability Expand

synonym

 increase, expand, enlarge, extend, augment, multiply. These verbs mean to make or become greater or larger.

Increase sometimes suggests steady growth: The mayor's political influence rapidly increased. “No machines will increase the possibilities of life. They

only increase the possibilities of idleness” To expand is to increase in size, area, volume, bulk, or

range: He inhaled deeply, expanding his chest. “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its

completion”

synonym

Enlarge refers to expansion in size, extent, capacity, or scope: The landowner enlarged her property by repeated purchases. My knowledge of literature has enlarged considerably since I joined a reading group.

To extend is to lengthen in space or time or to broaden in range:

The transit authority extended the subway line to the next town.

The baseball season extends into October.

synonym

Augment usually applies to what is already developed or well under way:

She augmented her collection of books each month. His depression augments with each visit to the hospital.

To multiply is to increase in number, especially by propagation or procreation:

“As for my cats, they multiplied”

“May thy days be multiplied!”

Paragraphs 4

Almost alone among our traditional industries

Almost the only one in our traditional industries

Ship building

coal mining

textiles

Paragraphs 5

Invested big: put a great deal of money

Talk big

Think big

Paragraphs 5

In the early 1960s, …cashed in on government grants and tax concessions

cashed in on: take advantage of or profit from the shop is cashing in on temporary shortages by

raising prices Grants or loans tax concessions: a right or privilege granted by

the government to be tax exempt The shipping companies took advantage of

government grants and tax concession

Paragraphs 5

A new british ship was being launched every week.

launch: set afloat Stayed ahead of the competition by …sophisti

cated ships.

ahead of : in advance of; better than

stayed ahead of: have remained in a leading position

sophisticated or modern

Paragraphs 6

institution: –stitut- (=stand), institutionalize, institute, constitute, constituency, prostitute, restitution, destitute, substitute

Paragraphs 7

Cut-throat: intense, merciless Price-cutting ruined many long-established companies In order to beat the opponents in the competition, the

companies lowered the price so that they could do more business. Many companies which has a long history couldn’t stand the economic strain and went bankrupt

to establish a more settled system : to set up a more stable, a more fixed system.

Cartel or conference

Paragraphs 8

Shipping conferences…moving goods by sea

dodgy: risky and possibly dangerous, flakey

Shipping conferences have made sea transportation which in itself involves great danger, less risky

To make a big killing

Killing: great success

to reap big profit, to make a large amount of money

Paragraphs 8 To weather the bad times weather: come through successfully; pass safely through

(storm, difficulty) ⑴Weather the storm.

The little tree has weathered many bitter winters⑵ . to be able to pull through whrn thewre is a depression There is no mad, competitive scramble for the available tr

ade: scramble: rough struggle, a disorderly struggle oor rush There will not be any rush and struggle to monopolize the

dwindling trade to the exclusion of others

Paragraphs 9-14

Around corner: very near Quadrupling of oil prices

double triple quintuple sextuple

septuple octuple nonuple decuple The industrialized world had begun its slide into

the worst depression since the 1930s

slide: a downward turn; fall—to stop the slide in the living standards

Paragraphs 10

Charter rates plummeted

charter flight across Taiwan straits

The amount of money paid for chartering oil-tankers dropped drastically

The estuaries…became jammmed with moth-ball tankers

mothballs: literally, marble-sized balls of naphthalene, stored with clothes to repel moths;

Figuratively, the state of being kept, stored in existence but not used—he keeps his car in mothballs during the winter months

The number of oil tankers that were laid up was going up steadily all over the world; more and more oil tankers over the world lay idle

Paragraphs 10

By 1976, the slump had begun to bite into the bulk-carrier trade

bite into: afflict.The depression is daily biting deeper into the economic life of the nation.

By 1976, the bulk-carrier trade had gradually been affected by the slump

Bulkcarriers are ships…by far the most important

dry cargo: commodities that are not liquids by far: by a large amount or degree

Paragraphs 10

But with the world …iron ore carriers

in the doldrums : ( informal ) in a low and sad state of mind ; in a state of inactivity .

At present ( 1958 ) Nato is  in the doldrums .⑴ The President was relying heavily on his energy package ⑵

to shacke his Administration out of the doldrums. The British shipping industry now began to feel the pinch

pinch:a painful ， difficult ， or straitened circumstance

American farmers, feeling the pinch, raised loud cries of protest.

The impact of the slump now began to be felt by British shipping industry

Paragraphs 11

The British fleet was still a long way from bankruptcy

bankruptcy ：– rupt (=break): bankruptcy, erupt, disrupt, corruption

The British fleet was far from being bankrupt That is where Britain’s fleet is strongly entrench

ed

That is where Britain’s fleet is firmly and securely established

Paragraphs 12

To call at ports: to visit ports after the start of a voyage and before the end, so that cargo may be taken on or put off

The ongoing freight rate Currently accepted charge for sending the

specified goods there Parcel service: the kind of service that is

very convenient, like sending a parcel

Paragraphs 13

Plus: a welcome or favourable addition Finished goods: ready for shipment or sale Provided there is still buoyancy in other industries buoyancy: the property of maintaining a satisfactory high lev

el So long as other industries are not affected and are still devel

oping in a satisfactory manner That gives them…oil tankers or bulk carriers that puts them in a better position than…; that makes it possi

ble for them to stand a better chance than

Paragraphs 14

They are also the routes…the biggest inroads inroad: an injurious intrusion on or into;

influence of one party that undermines that of another

be out to : making a determined effort to ; to be trying to

They are also the routes on which the Third World and the Russians are making a determined effort to take over from Britain as much business as possible

Paragraphs 8-14

What sectors of the shipping industry were most affected by the depression starting from 1974?

Why could the freight liner services stand the slump better ？

Paragraphs 15-18

What are these paragraphs concerned about?

How are the Third World countries to get a big

share of  the international sea-borne shipping trade ? Do you think their demands just ?(Questions 7 in page 243)

How are the British shipping companies trying to meet the challenge ? Are they confident that they can counter the challenge successfully ? (Questions 8 in page 243)

15

18

Challenges &threats reaction

Bigger share as a status symbol

Moving up-market:

High-techonology and high-investment

A set of rules guaranteeing the share

??

15

Developing countries regard a mechant navy as…national airline

A status symbol:a sign showing one’s high social position

to go for : to try to get

Developing countries consider a merchant navy very important because it is a sigh showing that these countries have become economically strong and independent, so after they have set up a natioanl airline, the next thing they would like to have is a merchant fleet

synonym

sign, symbol, emblem, badge, mark, token, symptom, note. These nouns denote an outward indication of the existence or presence of something not immediately evident.

Sign is the most general: “The exile of Gaveston was the sign of the barons' triu

mph” Symbol and emblem often refer to something associat

ed with and standing for, representing, or identifying something else: “There was One whose suffering changed an instrument of torture, degradation and shame, into a symbol of glory, honor, and immortal life”

“a bed of sweet-scented lillies, the emblem of France”

synonym

Badge usually refers to something that is worn as an insignia of membership, is an emblem of achievement, or is a characteristic sign: a sheriff's badge. “Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge” (Shakespeare).

Mark can refer to a visible trace or impression (a laundry mark) or to an indication of a distinctive trait or characteristic: Intolerance is the mark of a bigot.

Token usually refers to evidence or proof of something intangible: sent flowers as a token of her affection. Symptom suggests outward evidence of a process or condition,

especially an adverse condition: bad weather that showed no symptoms of improving anytime soon. Note applies to the sign of a particular quality or feature: “the eternal note of sadness”

16 …for a gradual reduction…of the third world

reduce +tion

percentage: A proportion or share in relation to a whole; a part:

The hecklers constituted only a small percentage of the audience

To let the new shipping powers of the third world gradually have a bigger share of the trade; to gradually cut down Britain’s percentage of the trade

synonym

decrease, lessen, reduce, dwindle, abate, diminish, subside. These verbs mean to become or cause to become smaller or less.

Decrease and lessen refer to steady or gradual diminution:

Lack of success decreases confidence. His appetite lessens as his illness progresses.

Reduce emphasizes bringing down in size, degree, or intensity:

The workers reduced their wage demands Dwindle suggests decreasing bit by bit to a vanishing

point:

Their savings dwindled away.

synonym

Abate stresses a decrease in amount or intensity and suggests a reduction of excess:

Toward evening the fire began to abate. Diminish implies taking away or removal: The warden's authority diminished after the

revolt. Subside implies a falling away to a more

normal level: The wild enthusiasm aroused by the team's

victory did not subside for days.

16 But P & O has no intention of throwing in

the towel P & O: Peninsular and Oriental Steam

Navigation Company, founded in 1840, world-wide passenger service

throw in the towel: to admit defeat or failure

But P&O does not want to admit defeat; is not ready to give in

16 The key tactic behind its strategy of holdin

g on to the richest slice of the trade hold on to : try to keep ; not give or sell to s

b. else ; hang on to The main methods they use tokeep the mo

st important part of the trade To move up-market-to go where the third w

orld cannot follow: into high technology investment

To spend money on those branches with advanced and complex technology so that the third world countries cannot afford and are not in a position to compete; to invest in branches with advanced and complex technology

17example

Who put up the money to pioneer the international deepsea container service

Who provided the money to start this service

18

Far from being the whole answer to the Third World threat

Far from: not at all

Your work is far from satisfactory

This strategy is not at all the complete answer to the Third World threat. This does not solve the problem entirely

They want to impose …slice of the shipping trade

Slice: share, part taken or gained

They want to pass a series of rules for all the countries to follow, hoping that in this way they will be able to get the biggest share of the trade

18

This demand has found…UNCTAD

find expression in ; be expressed by means of. At home, British outrage found expression in news ⑴

headliness. Growing mutual suspicion found its expression in in⑵

creased armaments and preparation of plans for war. UNCTAD (PAGE 245)

The UNCTAD formally put forward this demand That leaves only 20 percent to go into numerous cross

tradersOnly 20 percent remains for the numerous cross traders t

o share

18 Not enough countries have ratified …to br

ing it into force

to bring into force : to make sth. (which is in some way binding or enforceable) begin to operate

approve, endorse, sanction, certify, accredit, ratify

These verbs mean to express a favorable opinion or to signify satisfaction or acceptance.

synonym

Approve means to consider right or good, but it can also denote official consent: “The colonel or commanding officer approves the sentence of a regimental court-martial”

Endorse implies the public expression of support:

The senator endorsed the candidate by issuing a press release.

Sanction usually implies official authorization:

The privilege of voting is a right sanctioned by law.

synonym

Certify and accredit imply official approval based on compliance with requirements or standards:

“The proper officers, comparing every article with its voucher, certified them to be right”

The board of education will accredit only institutions that have a sufficiently rigorous curriculum.

To ratify is to invest officially with legal authority:

“Amendments . . . shall be valid . . . when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States”

15

18

How are the Third World countries to get a big share of  the international sea-borne shipping trade ? Do you think their demands just ?

How are the British shipping companies trying to meet the challenge ? Are they confident that they can counter the challenge successfully ?

19

24

Russia has expanded …would justify justify : show a satisfactory reason or excuse for sth

. do. A far more serious view was taken of the situation ⑴

than was justified.. The results fully justified my faith.⑵ He had justified every expectation ⑶

Neither the growth in Russia’s trade nor that in the world trade would require such a rapid development of Russia’s cargo-liner fleet; would make it necessary for the fleet to develop so rapidly?come into service : begin to serve the public ; begin to be used ; available.

The new type of bus comes into service  later this⑴  month.

The newly-built railway will come into service in a ⑵month's time.

20

…has already made major inroads into western trade

Has already penetrated deeply into Western trade, that is, has taken over a large part of the trade carried by the western fleet

21

Some facts about the inroads

1) 95% of its seaborne trade with EEC

2)20% of the cargo traffica along North Atlantic

3) 25% of the trade between Europe and South America

4) 25% of the trade between Europe and Africa

22 How can the Russians afford to undercut by up to

40%?

How it is possible for the Russians to stand the loss od lowering the freight rate by 40%?

in our sense of the word : how we understand the word ; our understanding of the word

The name of the game, for Russian ships, is hard currency

The name of the game: the things that really counts; purpose or essence of action

The name of the game is trust: you’ve got to trust things

The things that matters for Russian ships is foreign currency

22

That can be made up by Soviet government in roubles Made up: do or provide ; do or supply The loss can be supplied/compensated by Soviet gove

rnment in roubles

23 Which would certainly expand the Soviet reach well b

eyond its perimeters Reach: range of effective action, power of capability Well: to a considerable extent, degree or distance Perimeter: the outer boundary of an areaThese ships would certainly help make soviet influence f

elt at places far away from Soviet boundaries So this mercantile marine capability…at some from th

eir own frontiers Capability: power of, potential ability Advance : progress Project: get (ideas, feelings, one’s presence) across t

o other effectivelyTo project their power at some diatance from their own f

rontiers to cause their influence to be felt at places far away from their own territory

Paragraph 19-24

Russia’s 40% undercutting—bigger share--threat

Hard currency

To widen its influence

Hydrographic policy to map the oceans of the world

To deepen contacts with allied countries

Paragraph 25-29

reaction

At an international level

Challenges of the developing countries—French’s oppositon to UNCTAD code

Challenges of eastern bloc countries—French’s block

domestic Disputes between Shipowners and shipbuilders

Paragraph 25

How can Western shipowners react…drive them out of business if they did the same?

Paragraph 26

There is a limit, of course, to what any British government can do on its own

Limit:The point, edge, or line beyond which something cannot or may not proceed; The greatest or least amount, number, or extent allowed or possible: a withdrawal limit of $200; no minimum age limit.

1) We must set a limit to the expense of the trip 2) His greeds knows no limit 3) They would surely fight if pushed to the limit

synonym

limit, restrict, confine, circumscribe. These verbs mean to establish or keep within specified bounds.

Limit refers principally to the establishment of a maximum beyond which a person or thing cannot or may not go:

The Constitution limits the President's term of office to four years. To restrict is to keep within prescribed limits, as of choice or

action: The sale of alcoholic beverages is restricted to those over 21.

Confine suggests imprisonment, restraint, or impediment: The children were confined to the nursery. Circumscribe connotes an encircling or surrounding line that

confines, especially narrowly: “A man . . . should not circumscribe his activity by any inflexible

fence of rigid rules”

Paragraph 26

On its own: by one’s own effort or on one’s own initiative; by itself

She lives on her own

He is working on his own The British government cannot possibly do

everything by its own effort; When the British government comes to a certain point, it can no longer do anything on its own initiative

Paragraph 26

Britain can only counter…at an international level

Only by concerted action with other maritime countries can Britain deal with the challenges of the developing world and the Russians

Paragraph 26

The French do not mind the UNCTAD code Mind: be troubled by; feel objection to Code:A systematically arranged and omprehensi

ve collection of laws; A systematic collection of regulations and rules of procedure or conduct: a traffic code.

Paragraph 26

…has been calling for a coordinated response

Britain, West Germany and Demark have asked other EEC member countries to take joint action to meet the Russian challenge

Paragraph 26

The monitoring of Russian ship movement The watching, following and checking on

Russian ship movement In Nov. 1978, EEC Ministers of Transportation

decided that from Jan, 1, 1979 on, the ECC would monitor, for a term of two years, Russian ship movements on the following two trade routes: between EEC and China and the U.S.; between EEC and East Africa

Paragraph 26

The French…blocked plans along these lines

The French, because of their close connections with Russia, created all kinds of difficulities to prevent the adoption of plans that could put into effect countermeasures to offset the Russian challenge

synonym

hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct, block, dam, bar. These verbs mean to slow or prevent progress or movement.

To hinder is to hold back and often implies stopping or prevention:

The travelers were hindered by storms. To hamper is to hinder by or as if by fastening or

entangling: His clothes hampered his efforts to swim to safety. To impede is to slow by making action or movement

difficult: “Our journey was impeded by a thousand obstacles” .

synonym

Obstruct implies the presence of obstacles: A building obstructed our view of the mountains. Block refers to complete obstruction that prevents progress,

passage, or action: “Do not block the way of inquiry” Dam suggests obstruction of the flow, progress, or release o

f something: She dammed the brook to form a pool. He dammed up his emotions. To bar is to prevent entry or exit or prohibit a course of acti

on: The legislature passed laws that bar price fixing

Paragraph 27

British shipowners are so far happy… Up till now British ship owners are satisfied that the British

government is doing its best to make the EEC take action Shipowners fear that saving jobs in Britain’s ailing shipyard

s comes well before saving its merchant fleet

Ailing: ill, esp. often ill; in bad straits Shipowners fear that those people might be more concerned

about employment in the shipyards than about saving the British merchant fleet

Paragraph 28

Churn out: produce a large quantity of sth; produce in quantity without qaulity

This factory churns out lots and lots of cars a day

The Poles were lured to Britain by the gift of a 28 million pounds subsidy

synonym

lure, entice, inveigle, decoy, tempt, seduce. These verbs mean to lead or attempt to lead into a wrong or foolish course:

Lure suggests the use of something that attracts like bait: Industry often lures scientists from universities by offering

them huge salaries. To entice is to draw on skillfully, as by arousing hopes or

desires: The teacher tried to entice the shy child into entering the

classroom. Inveigle implies winning over by coaxing, flattery, or artful

talk: He inveigled a friend into becoming his law partner.

synonym

To decoy is to trap or ensnare by cunning or deception:Partisans dressed as simple farmers decoyed the soldiers into

the crossfire. Tempt implies an encouragement or an attraction to do

something, especially something immoral, unwise, or contrary to one's better judgment:

I am tempted to tell him what I really think of him. To seduce is to entice away and usually suggests the

overcoming of moral resistance: “The French King attempted by splendid offers to seduce him

from the cause of the Republic”

Paragraph 28

British shipbuilders would raise all the credit British shipbuilders would be responsible for

securing loans for the Poles Yet Britain is to build six ships for the Indians—

for nothing Yet plans have been made for Britain to build

six ships for the Indians and Britain will not get anything in return

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Smaller shipping lines do not have the resources to diversify

Diversify:expand by increasing the variety of things produced or of operations undertaken

Smaller shipping companies cannot afford to invest in several trades so as to make sure they won’t suffer great losses

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When they go…of the few traditional industries worth keeping

When these smaller shipping companies go bankrupt, a big part of the few old industries that have been doing well and bringing in huge profits will also colse down