"Europe is in perhaps the toughest hour since World War II."

Europe is in perhaps the toughest hour since World War II."
"There are no magic beans that you can toss in the ground and suddenly a bunch of money grows on trees."
"This is a tragedy, one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

1."Europe is in perhaps (1) the toughest hour (2) since World War II."
背景：德國總理默克爾（Angela Merkel）在評論歐洲的債務危機時說的。

2."There are no magic beans (3) that you can toss in the ground (4) and suddenly a bunch of money (5) grows on trees (6)."
背景：美國總統奧巴馬游說國會議員減少財政赤字（deficit），一年減少開支1,000億美元。

3."This is a tragedy (7), one of the great sorrows (8) of my life. With the benefit of hindsight (9), I wish I had done more (10)."
背景：美國賓州大學欖球隊教練Joe Paterno宣佈明年5月退休，因為他的一名助手涉嫌非禮自己球隊的球員。

馮強短評
好辭彙共賞:
(1) perhaps = 也許
(2) the toughest hour = 最困難的時刻
(3) magic beans = 魔術豆。Every bean has its black = 各人有各人的缺點。Full of beans = 精力充沛、興高采烈。Spill the beans = 不慎洩密、說漏嘴
(4) toss in the ground = 扔在地上。Toss = 使顛簸；給與精神上的動搖。The ship was tossed by the waves = 船被浪打得東搖西晃。Toss a pancake = 拿著鍋把裏面的班戟拋起。Victor tosses about all night = Victor整夜翻來覆去沒有睡著。Toss to and fro = 輾轉反側
(5) a bunch of money = 很多錢。Bunch = 捆成一束的鈔票。A bunch of bananas = 一串香蕉。A bunch of paper = 一束紙
(6) grows on trees = 在樹上長出來。Grow = 長大、增加、變強。Victor has grown a beard = Victor近來留了鬍子。Victor's new book grew out of a series of lectures = Victor的新書是由一系列講稿編寫而成的
(7) a tragedy = 悲劇
(8) great sorrows = 萬分悲痛。Cause much sorrow to him = 使他非常傷心。Express one's sorrow for one's mistake = 對錯誤表示遺憾
(9) hindsight = 事後才懂得。反義詞是foresight = 深謀遠慮
(10) I wish I had done more = 我希望，但願我之前做得好些。Victor wishes he were a bird! = Victor說我要是一隻鳥那多好!What do you wish me to do, Bo Bo asks = Bo Bo問：你要我怎麼做呢？
短評共賞:
在這些句子中我最欣賞是球隊教練Joe Paterno的心底話。他說："This is a tragedy, one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more." 我們可以感受到他的痛苦。雖然是他下屬涉嫌犯了罪，但他勇於承擔責任，引咎辭職。我們要向這種人生態度多多學習。

馮強
浸會大學傳理學院國際新聞和財經新聞碩士課程主任