Language Point 1
The Euro Disney Corporation, acknowledging that its elaborate theme park had not performed as strongly as expected, announced Thursday that it would sustain a net financial loss of unpredictable scale in its first financial year. (Para. 1)
Meaning: The Euro Disney Corporation admitted that its carefully planned and complicated theme park had not achieved what was expected and announced on Thursday that it would suffer an unexpectedly heavy net financial loss in its first financial year.
Language Point 2
The Euro Disney Corporation, acknowledging that its elaborate theme park had not performed as strongly as expected, … (Para. 1)
acknowledge: v. accept, admit or recognize (sth., or the truth or existence of sth.)
His influence on Margaret Thatcher has been acknowledged — particularly his insistence that many problems associated with the quality of life come from low productivity and bad management. 他对玛格丽特·撒切尔的影响已经得到承认，特别是他坚持认为很多跟生活质量相关的问题都源于生产率低下和管理不善。
The employers acknowledged that management should accept responsibility for doing everything possible to keep prices stable or reduce them. 雇主们承认，尽可能地保持价格稳定或削减价格是管理方应承担的责任。
Language Point 3
The Euro Disney Corporation, acknowledging that its elaborate theme park had not performed as strongly as expected, … (Para. 1)
elaborate: a. containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts
They're making the most elaborate preparations for the wedding. 他们正在为婚礼做极为周详的准备工作。
He came out with such an elaborate excuse that I didn't quite believe him. 他突然说了那么一大套理由，使我无法相信他。
The beauty of this kind of patterning is that you can produce really exciting and elaborate designs with the simplest machines. 这种图案结构的美就在于你可以用最简单的机器制造出令人激动的、复杂的设计。
Compare:
elaborate: v. add more information to or explain sth. that has been said
Some of these points will have to be further elaborated as we go along. 这些要点中，有些我们在往下讨论时还得作进一步的阐述。
Language Point 4
The Euro Disney Corporation, acknowledging that its elaborate theme park had not performed as strongly as expected, … (Para. 1)
as…as expected: In this structure, the second “as” introduces a clause in which there is no subject pronoun. Clauses with no subject pronouns are mainly used in a formal style.
The book was not as interesting as (had been) expected.这本书没有原来期望的那么有趣。
Language Point 5
…that it would sustain a net financial loss of unpredictable scale in its first financial year. (Para. 1)
sustain: v.
1) suffer or experience (esp. damage or loss)
Viciously beaten, he sustained serious injury leading to major brain surgery and permanent disability. 这场毒打让他受了重伤，做了很大的脑外科手术并留下了永久性的残疾。
The company sustained heavy losses this year. 公司今年遭受了严重损失。
Please examine our client and let us have a report dealing with the initial injuries sustained, treatment received, and present condition. 请对我们的顾客做个调查，然后做一个关于他们最初的受伤情况，接受治疗的情况以及现状的报告。
2) keep (sth.) in existence
A business needs sustained and balanced growth, stable exchange rates, steady and competitive interest rates and low inflation. 企业需要持续平衡的发展、稳定的汇率、稳固和有竞争力的利率以及低通货膨胀。
He seems to find it difficult to sustain relationship with them. 他似乎发觉很难和他们长期维持关系。
Language Point 6
“We were geared up for a very high level of operations,” … (Para. 3)
Meaning: “We were prepared for a very high level of operations,”…
Language Point 7
“We were geared up for a very high level of operations,”… (Para. 3)
gear up: prepare (sth. or sb.) for action
They are already geared up for the forthcoming election campaign. 他们已经为即将到来的竞选活动作好了准备。
No matter what the project, we're geared up to help you achieve your objectives. 无论是什么项目，我们都准备帮助你实现目标。
Language Point 8
“While attendance is very strong,” he said, “our cost levels do require adjustment for the current revenue level.” (Para. 4)
Meaning: He said that, although the number of the people who visited Euro Disney is great, they really needed to change their cost levels slightly for the present revenue level.
Language Point 9
The parent company, … (Para. 5)
Meaning: A parent company is a company which controls other smaller companies.
Language Point 10
But it warned investors against expecting profits soon from Euro Disney, of which it owns 49 percent. (Para. 5)
warn against: advise (sb.) to avoid
He warned me against visiting those patients at night. 他告诫我夜里不要去探视那些病人。
He warned against overdependence on a single player who might be difficult to replace. 他告诫说不要过分依赖可能很难被取代的某个运动员。
Language Point 11
…the company anticipates that it will sustain a net loss for the financial year…(Para. 6)
anticipate: v. imagine or expect that sth. will happen
The police are anticipating trouble at tomorrow's football match. 警方预计明天的足球赛上将出现麻烦。
They anticipate that they will have several applicants for the job. 他们估计会有好几个人来申请这份工作。
I could anticipate that we can film the whole sequence within half an hour and that we would make every effort not to disrupt the normal running of your business. 我预计我们可以在半个小时之内拍摄完所有片段，会尽最大努力不扰乱你们的正常工作。
Language Point 12
…the company anticipates that it will sustain a net loss for the financial year…(Para. 6)
net: a. left when there is nothing else to be subtracted
My gross income is $20,000, but my net income (= income that is left after tax has been paid) is about $16,000. 我的毛收入是2万美金，净收入大约为1.6万美金。
The net weight of something excludes the weight of the packing materials. 某物的净重不包括包装材料的重量。
Language Point 13
The announcement amounted to an extraordinary reversal for Euro Disney, which opened amid immense celebration and widespread predictions of immediate success. (Para. 6)
Meaning: The announcement seemed in fact to say that Euro Disney experienced a surprising loss /failure while it was warmly welcomed and many people predicted it would succeed very soon when it opened.
Language Point 14
The announcement amounted to an extraordinary reversal for Euro Disney, … (Para. 6)
amount to:
1) seem to be in fact; be equal to
His behavior amounted to serious professional misconduct. 他的行为简直就是严重渎职。
Not only would this have amounted to abandonment of a well-established principle, but it would also have threatened the stability of contracts of sale. 这不仅等于放弃了已制定的原则，而且还会威胁到买卖契约的稳定。
2) make a total of (a figure)
The loss amounted to ten million dollars. 损失总计1,000万美元。
Allied casualties amounted to a score of airmen killed or captured. 盟军的伤亡情况是总计阵亡及被俘了20个飞行员。
Language Point 15
…extraordinary reversal for Euro Disney, which opened amid immense celebration and widespread predictions of immediate success. (Para. 6)
reversal: n.
1) a failure or other problem that prevents one from being able to do what one wants
Success rates for reversals are improving as a result of new and delicate surgical
techniques which are only available in some specialist centres. 对付病情恶化的成功率不断上升是因为使用了新的、精密的外科技术，这些技术只在一些专业医疗中心使用。
Then there was a gradual reversal, less noticeable but more pervasive, of the balance between town and country in the matter of living costs. 在城镇和乡村生活费用的平衡问题上出现了逐渐的逆转，这一趋势虽不明显但是很普遍。
2) a change to an opposite arrangement, process or course of action
He demanded a reversal of a previous decision /policy. 他要求彻底改变以前的决定/政策。
Language Point 16
…which opened amid immense celebration and widespread predictions of immediate success. (Para. 6)
amid: prep. in the middle of; among
The dollar fell sharply amid growing speculation that the President is about to declare war. 越来越多的人猜测总统就要宣战，因而美元急剧贬值。
He descended from the platform amid applause. 他在掌声中从讲台上走下来。
Language Point 17
…which opened amid immense celebration and widespread predictions of immediate success. (Para. 6)
celebration: n. celebrating or an occasion of celebrating
He said the fact that more people are using buses should be a cause for celebration among green campaigners. 他说越来越多的人坐公共汽车是环保主义者值得庆贺的事。
It called for a celebration — a double celebration, really, for such a great occasion, she decided. 这是值得庆祝的 —— 她决定为这样一个重要的时刻加倍庆祝一下。
A New Year celebration often includes a display of fireworks. 新年的庆祝活动常包括放烟火。
The celebration of our victory will last for a week. 我们庆祝胜利的活动将持续一周。
Language Point 18
Mr. Forsgren said he thought the market had “reacted a bit emotionally to preliminary information.” He added that “by all objective standards the park is very successful. The long-term acceptance is strong, the rest is just details.” (Para. 7)
Meaning: Mr. Forsgren said he thought the dropping of the company's share price in the stock market was, to some extent, the result of the emotional, not sensible, reaction to preliminary information.
Language Point 19
Mr. Forsgren said he thought the market had “reacted a bit emotionally to preliminary information”. (Para. 7)
preliminary: a. coming before a more important action or event, esp. introducing or preparing for it
Police say two men have appeared in a preliminary court hearing. 警方说已有两人出席了法院预备听证会。
Preliminary results show the tank is not leaking, but this has to be confirmed by detailed tests. 初步结果表明油舱没有漏，但这还有待于详细测试的证明。
Our team got beaten in the preliminary rounds of the competition. 我队在比赛的几轮预赛中就被打败了。
Language Point 20
…a performance superior to that of comparable start-up periods at other Disney theme parks. (Para. 8)
Meaning: …a performance the company said was better than the performance of any other Disney theme parks in similar start-up periods.
Language Point 21
…a performance superior to that of comparable start-up periods at other Disney theme parks. (Para. 8)
(be) superior to: (be) better than
Never again will they imagine that being an administrator is to be superior to being a cleaner. 他们再也不会认为做一个管理者比做一个清洁工强。
It makes her very angry when he says that men are intrinsically superior to women. 当他说男人天生就比女人强时，她非常生气。
Compare:
be inferior to, be junior to, be senior to, prior to
Language Point 22
…a performance superior to that of comparable start-up periods at other Disney theme parks. (Para. 8)
comparable: a. able or suitable to be compared with sb. or sth. else
It was not comparable to cycling; in fact it was so different that comparison was nonsense. 这和骑自行车没有可比性，事实上他们是很不同的，所谓的比较也就毫无意义。
The achievements of an athlete and a writer are not comparable. 运动员的成就和作家的成就不能相互比较。
It was a pleasant beach resort but it wasn't comparable with the one we stayed at in the Bahamas. 这是个令人愉快的海滨度假胜地，但不能与巴哈马群岛上我们住的那个相比。
Language Point 23
But it warned that, given the likely strong seasonal variation in attendance, it was not possible to predict future attendance or profits. (Para. 8)
Meaning: But the company warned that considering the possible strong seasonal changes in attendance, it was hard to say in advance how many people would visit Euro Disney and how much money it would earn.
Language Point 24
But it warned that, given the likely strong seasonal variation in attendance, it was not possible to predict future attendance or profits. (Para. 8)
given: prep. knowing about, considering
Given his concern with the exchange rate, the argument does not stand up to analysis. 就他对汇率的关注，这个观点经不起推敲。
Given the time available to us, we'll have to submit the report in draft form. 考虑到我们的时间限度，我们不得不以草稿形式将报告递交上去。
Language Point 25
Reacting to the announcement, stock market experts Paribas Capital Markets Group issued a “sell” recommendation on Euro Disney stock, saying that attendance levels for the period were 15 percent below its expectations and spending on food and other goods was 10 percent below. (Para. 9)
Meaning: Reacting to the announcement, stock market experts Paribas Capital Markets Group made known publicly a recommendation, asking people to sell Euro Disney stock and said that the number of people visiting Euro Disney for the period was 15 percent less than it had expected and tourists' spending on food and other goods was 10 percent less than it had expected.
Language Point 26
Reacting to the announcement, … (Para. 9)
react to: feel and express the effect of; respond to (sth. or sb.); act in a particular way as a direct result of sth. else
The assistants observed carefully how the bacteria would react to this stimulus. 助手们仔细观察细菌对这种刺激物会产生什么反应。
How do you react to this modern artist's paintings? 您对这位现代艺术家的画有何反应？
Language Point 27
Clearly, costs have been geared to a revenue level that has not been achieved, and the company is beginning to drop hotel prices that have been widely described as excessive. (Para. 10)
Meaning: It is clear that costs to run Euro Disney have been estimated and planned in line with a revenue level that has not been achieved, meaning that their cost levels have surpassed the current revenue level, and the company is beginning to reduce hotel prices that most people have considered too high.
Language Point 28
Mr. Forsgren said the number of staff, now at 17,000, would “come down significantly in the next two months, mainly through the loss of seasonal employees”. Of the current staff, 5,000 are employed on a temporary basis, he said. (Para. 11)
Meaning: Mr. Forsgren said the total number of staff was 17,000 now and would be reduced greatly in the next two months, mainly through laying off seasonal employees. He said that of the 17,000 employees, 5,000 are seasonal ones.
Language Point 29
Of the current staff, 5,000 are employed on a temporary basis, he said. (Para. 11)
on a …basis: in a way in which sth. is arranged or organized
You may find you have a room or rooms in your own house which can easily be converted on a temporary basis for an exhibition. 你会发现你家中的某个或某些房间可以很容易地改成暂时的展览厅。
Both sides agreed to exchange information on a weekly basis between senior military commanders on troop movements. 双方都同意每个星期在高层军官之间交流关于部队行动的信息。
Do you have to travel on a regular basis or only occasionally? 你是经常旅行呢，还是偶尔去旅行？
Sharing accommodation with relatives on a permanent basis is not regarded as a desirable option in contemporary British culture. 在当代英国文化中，与亲属长久地住在一起不是一个明智的选择。
Language Point 30
Analysts believe hotel use has been running at about 68 percent of capacity, although it is currently over 90 percent. (Para. 12)
Meaning: Analysts believe the hotel has not been used to its full capacity in spite of the fact that more than 90 percent of it is used now.
Language Point 31
The stock's still too expensive, but I think in the long term they'll get it right. (Para. 13)
Meaning: The share price of Euro Disney on the stock market is still too high, but I think eventually in the future, the price will be reasonable.
Language Point 32
…but I think in the long term they'll get it right. (Para. 13)
in the long term: over a long period of time (in the future)
In the short term we expect to lose money on the book, but in the long term we hope to make large profits. 就眼下来说，我们准备在这本书上亏本，但从长远来说，我们希望赚大钱。
Taking this decision will cost us more in the short term, but will be beneficial in the long term. 接受这个决定在短期内我们要付出更多的代价，不过从长远来看是有益的。
It pays in the long term to buy goods of high quality. 从长远观点来看，还是买高质量的商品合算。
Language Point 33
Still, huge doubt hangs over the company's plans to keep the theme park open through the cold European winter — something no other theme park in Europe has ever attempted. (Para. 14)
Meaning: There still exists uncertainty about the company's plans to keep the theme park open through the cold European winter — this is something no other theme park in Europe has ever tried.
Language Point 34
Still, huge doubt hangs over the company's plans…(Para. 14)
hang over: threaten or be the fate of (sth. or sb.); be likely soon to have an effect on (sb.); surround (sth.), as with fear, doubt, etc.
The uncertainty of war hung over Europe for twenty-one years. 战争的疑云在欧洲的上空笼罩了21年。
The prospect of famine hangs over many areas of the world. 饥荒的前景威胁着世界上许多地区。
An awkward atmosphere hung over the normally happy room. 一种令人尴尬的气氛笼罩在通常充满快乐的房间里。
Language Point 35
Mr. Forsgren said that French attendance was improving and accounted for 1 million of the 3.6 million visitors, with most of the rest coming from Britain and Germany. (Para. 14)
Meaning: Mr. Forsgren said the number of French visitors was growing and amounted to a total number of 1 million and the rest, 2.6 million visitors, mostly came from Britain and Germany.
Language Point 36
…and accounted for 1 million of the 3.6 million visitors, … (Para. 14)
account for:
1) form the total of; be
North Sea oil accounts for a high proportion of export earnings of this country. 北海石油占这个国家出口收入的很大一部分。
Students account for the vast majority of our customers. 学生占我们顾客的绝大多数。
2) explain
This may account for people's relatively high level of interest in the issue. 这也许可以解释为什么人们对这一问题有较高的兴趣。
In short, the government is being called to account for the economic disaster in present-day Nicaragua. 简而言之，政府正被要求为当前尼加拉瓜遭受的经济灾难做出解释。
Language Point 37
…the company announced revenues of 2.47 billion francs ($492 million), … (Para. 15)
revenue: n. the income that a government or company receives regularly
Taxes provide most of the government's revenue. 政府的大部分收入由税款提供。
In return, the government hopes to earn annual revenue in the form of royalties of around $20 million. 作为回报，政府希望能以版税的形式每年获取2,000万美元的收入．
The loss of tax revenues in many towns is as high as 70%.许多城镇的税收损失高达70%。
annual /yearly revenue 年收入
Language Point 38
…but gave no profit or loss figures in line with the French practice of only giving such figures at year's end. (Para. 15)
Meaning: …but did not make known profit figures nor did it make known loss figures. The practice of only giving such figures at year's end is very popular in France.
Language Point 39
…but gave no profit or loss figures in line with the French practice of only giving such figures at year's end. (Para. 15)
in line with: if one thing is in line with another, the first thing is or becomes similar to the second, esp. in a way that has been agreed, planned, or expected
Denmark has made cuts in employment and sickness benefits in line with current inflation rather than the higher level of the previous year. 为了与当前的通货膨胀率保持一致而不再顺应去年的高通货膨胀率，丹麦政府削减了就业和疾病补助费。
His ideas on politics are exactly in line with mine. 他的政治见解跟我的完全一致。
The salaries of temporary employees ought to be in line with those of permanent staff. 临时员工的薪水应与正式员工的一样。
We're trying very hard to keep our prices in line with what our customers expect. 我们尽力使我们的价格与顾客的期望值相一致。
In line with the request of the school authorities, we have drawn up a plan to teach a second foreign language to every student. 按照学校领导的要求，我们制定了一项教每个学生学一门第二外语的计划。
