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Russians Head Into Holiday Facing Economic Malaise

Russian preparations for the New Year holiday are clouded by economic recession and a tumbling currency, the ruble. Nonetheless, people in the Russian capital appear to be in a festive mood.

Despite economic worries, Moscow's residents and visitors are flocking to Christmas fairs to enjoy seasonal and amusements.

But a fiscal freeze is descending. Falling oil prices and Western sanctions have undermined the ruble, driving up prices for imported goods and pushing Russia toward a recession.

President Vladimir Putin says the economic contraction will last a couple of years at most, but that is little comfort to many Russians, including shopper Soso.

"I'm trying not to think about it. It's very bad, we'll see how it develops. It's a nightmare," said Soso.

More Russians will be enjoying winter activities this season since they cannot afford to travel abroad.

Some take a pragmatic view of holiday business, like roasted chestnuts vendor Galina.

"It seems to me that those who have money aren't going to economize on chestnuts, right? Maybe the old people, the pensioners, or people with small salaries. But people who have money, they'll always have money," said Galina.

Holiday shoppers may be changing their spending habits, but they are still buying, said Maria, who sells knitted gifts.

"In connection with our economic problems, people of course, are choosing less expensive and more practical items. But our goods are very marketable, so people are buying them as gifts despite their money problems," she said.

As Russia prepares to ring in a wallet-tightening New Year, a man portraying Grandfather Frost, the Slavic Santa Claus, gives some holiday words of advice.

"I'm neither wizard, nor warlock, nor soothsayer. I'm simply a New Year's winter magician. Your New Year's depends on you. However you want it to be, however you celebrate it, whatever your New Year's wishes will be that night -- that's how the next year will be. Everything depends on you. So, if you have the desire for a better life, then that's how things will turn out," said Grandfather Frost.

Despite the holiday magic, less optimistic voices say the Kremlin's failure to diversify the economy and its continued actions in Ukraine threaten to plunge the country into a full-fledged economic crisis.

詞匯解析

governor

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

n.統(tǒng)治者；管理者；理事；州長；總督；調(diào)節(jié)器

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The mob revolted against the governor.

暴民起來反抗統(tǒng)治者。

Heron's regulator, Drebbel's thermostat, and Watt's governor bestowed on their vessels a wisp of self-control, sensory awareness, and the awakening of anticipation.

海倫的調(diào)節(jié)器，德雷貝爾的恒溫器，還有瓦特的調(diào)控器所給予他們的機器的，是一小束自我控制能力，感官上的醒覺狀態(tài)，以及對預(yù)期能力的喚醒。

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collection

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

n.收集；收取，托收；聚集；收藏品；募捐

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The collection of these stamps took ten years.

收集這些郵票花了十年時間。

The firm contributed 10,000 to the collection.

公司拿出10,000元做為募捐。

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reality

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

n.真實；現(xiàn)實；實際

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

He describes the scene with startling reality.

他對那景象的描述逼真得令人驚訝。

It seems as if he knew everything, but in reality, he is as stupid as can be.

他似乎是個萬事通,其實他是再愚蠢不過了。

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lower

難度：5星基本詞匯，屬常用1000詞

英漢解釋

adj.低的；下級的；下層的

v.降低；減弱；跌落

參考例句

用作形容詞 (adj.)

The lower level is subordinate to the higher level.

下級服從上級。

用作動詞 (v.)

Examinations also lower the standards of teaching.

考試也使教學(xué)水平降低。

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tribe

難度：3星常用詞匯，屬常用6000詞

英漢解釋

n.部落；族；一伙人

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

A council of elders governs the tribe.

有個叫長老會的組織治理這個部落。

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oppose

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

v.反對；對抗；使對立

參考例句

用作動詞 (v.)

It was courageous of him to oppose his chief.

他敢反對他的上司，真是勇敢。

We're firmly opposed to the practice of powerpolitics between nations.

我們強烈反對在國與國之間實行強權(quán)政治。

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route

難度：4星核心詞匯，屬常用3000詞

英漢解釋

n.路線；(固定)線路；途徑

vt.為 ... 安排路線；(按路線)發(fā)送

參考例句

用作名詞 (n.)

The route was once much travelled but has fallen into disuse.

這條路線旅行的人以前常走，但是現(xiàn)在已不用了。

用作及物動詞 (vt.)

All train ferry traffic will be routed via Dover.

所有的火車輪渡交通都將經(jīng)多佛中轉(zhuǎn)。

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