Ready yet? The EU and Brexit
① Last week Theresa May's government published its first detailed proposal for a post-Brexit trading relationship with the European Union.
② Better late than never, thought the rest of the EU.
③ But after another week of chaos in British politics, representatives from the 27 remaining governments meeting in Brussels today may wonder how much there is to discuss.
④ It is far from clear whether Mrs May's white paper can command majority support in Parliament.
⑤ Unhappy that its provisions would bind Britain into some EU laws forever, a string of ministers have quit the front bench.
⑥ The government has had to rely on opposition defectors to win key votes.
⑦ Yet many EU countries believe Britain will have to make further concessions on matters like customs and immigration before a final deal can be struck.
⑧ Their main challenge will be how to break the news to Mrs May without weakening her further at home.
词和词组
proposal n. 提议，建议；求婚
research proposal: 研究计划
post-Brexit 后脱欧时代
chaos n. 混乱
front bench: (英国议会中供执政党和反对党领导人就座的) 前座；前座议员
representative n. 代表代理人adj. 有代表性的, 典型的
discuss vt. 讨论；论述，辩论
command vi. 命令，指挥；控制n. 命令；司令部；
parliament n. 议会, 国会
provision n. 供应, 提供, 供给 规定, 条款, 条件
opposition n. 反对,敌对 对手,对抗者 n. 反对党人 (尤指执政党最主要的)反对党,在野党
defector n. 背叛者；逃兵；叛离者
concession n. 承认, 允许妥协, 让步特许权
customs n. 海关
strike vi. 罢工；打，打击；vt. 罢工；打，击；n. 罢工；打击；殴打
weaken vt. 减少；使变弱；使变淡vi. 变弱；畏缩；变软弱
further adv. 更远地；进一步地；vt. 增进；促进，助长 adj. 更远的；深一层的
补充
a string of ministers have quit the front bench
几名大臣辞职
quit the front bench放弃了前排的位置，在这里指辞职
break the news to sb.: 告诉某人…… (通常是不好的消息)
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