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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.

词汇解析

governor

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.统治者；管理者；理事；州长；总督；调节器

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The mob revolted against the governor.

暴民起来反抗统治者。

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.

海伦的调节器，德雷贝尔的恒温器，还有瓦特的调控器所给予他们的机器的，是一小束自我控制能力，感官上的醒觉状态，以及对预期能力的唤醒。

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collection

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.收集；收取，托收；聚集；收藏品；募捐

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The collection of these stamps took ten years.

收集这些邮票花了十年时间。

The firm contributed 10,000 to the collection.

公司拿出10,000元做为募捐。

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reality

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.真实；现实；实际

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

He describes the scene with startling reality.

他对那景象的描述逼真得令人惊讶。

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

他似乎是个万事通,其实他是再愚蠢不过了。

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lower

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.低的；下级的；下层的

v.降低；减弱；跌落

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The lower level is subordinate to the higher level.

下级服从上级。

用作动词 (v.)

Examinations also lower the standards of teaching.

考试也使教学水平降低。

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tribe

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.部落；族；一伙人

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

A council of elders governs the tribe.

有个叫长老会的组织治理这个部落。

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oppose

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.反对；对抗；使对立

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

It was courageous of him to oppose his chief.

他敢反对他的上司，真是勇敢。

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

我们强烈反对在国与国之间实行强权政治。

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route

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.路线；(固定)线路；途径

vt.为 ... 安排路线；(按路线)发送

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

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

这条路线旅行的人以前常走，但是现在已不用了。

用作及物动词 (vt.)

All train ferry traffic will be routed via Dover.

所有的火车轮渡交通都将经多佛中转。

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