2016 FT Person of the Year (Finalist)
Narendra Modi/Indian Prime Minister Modi
FT Person of the Year Nominee No. 2: For the Indian Prime Minister, the sudden cancellation of large-value banknotes is undoubtedly a political gamble.
Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, rode to power in 2014 with promises to revive economic growth, create jobs for unemployed youth, and find and repatriate money that rich Indians had hidden abroad.Yet change had been incremental.
In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power with a promise to restore economic growth, create jobs for unemployed youth, and find and recover the funds hidden overseas by the rich in India. However, changes have always occurred gradually.
But on November 8, Mr Modi set off a “big bang” that caught most Indians totally off-guard.In a televised speech, he declared an immediate ban on the use of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes—86 per cent of India’s circulating cash supply—in a highly cash-driven economy and ordered that they be returned to banks by the end of the year.
But on November 8, Modi triggered a "big bang" that caught most Indians by surprise. In a televised speech, he announced the immediate prohibition of the use of 500 and 1,000 rupees banknotes in the highly cash-driven Indian economy-86% of the cash supply in circulation in India-and ordered the deposit of these banknotes by the end of the year. Enter the bank.
It is a big political gamble for Mr Modi, who apparently decided on the sweeping step after limited consultations and with minimal preparation.
For Modi, this is a big political gamble. He apparently decided on this extremely wide-ranging measure with limited consultations and almost no preparation.
He is betting the political pay-off for demonstrating tough resolve on black money—and, incidentally, wiping out the cash reserves of his political rivals—will outweigh the economic costs of the acute cash scarcity. Several large state elections early next year will indicate whether he is right.
He is betting that the political gains from demonstrating his firm determination to combat black money — and, incidentally, laundering the cash reserves of political opponents — will exceed the economic costs of severe cash shortages. Several major state elections to be held early next year will show whether he is right.
Nigel Farage/Farage, former leader of the British Independent Party
FT Person of the Year shortlist three: The former leader of the British Independence Party promoted the Brexit movement and is now the spokesperson for the wave of populist movements in Europe.
Nigel Farage, Eurosceptic scourge of “the political elite”, ended a remarkable 2016 appearing in the most potent and ironic picture of the year: smiling alongside a victorious Donald Trump outside the gold doors of the president-elect’s New York apartment.
The nemesis of the "political elite" and Euro-skeptic Nigel Farage put an end to the unusual 2016 with one of the most influential and ironic photos of this year. In this photo, he is smiling and standing next to Donald Trump, who won the U.S. election. Behind him is the golden gate of the president-elect's New York residence.
Leading Britain out of the EU already qualifies Mr Farage as a politician of huge significance. If Brexit leads to the unravelling of the EU project,historians will regard him as the catalyst and his role in the events of 2016 as a defining moment.
Leading Britain's withdrawal from the European Union has already qualified Farage to be called a pivotal politician. If Brexit leads to the collapse of the EU project, historians will see him as the person who facilitated the process and see his role in the events of 2016 as a decisive moment.
Masayoshi Son/SoftBank Group Sun Zhengyi
FT Person of the Year Finalist No. 4: Once the target is fancy, he will attack quickly. This Korean-Japanese has built SoftBank into a world Internet giant.
Masayoshi Son, the risk-addicted billionaire who built Japan's SoftBank into a global internet powerhouse, is a man who moves fast to seize whatever he has set his eyes on.
Once Sun Zhengyi sees a target, he will attack quickly. The adventurous billionaire built SoftBank, which he founded in Japan, into a world Internet giant.
Less than a month after Britain voted to leave the EU, Mr Son clinched a deal to acquire UK chip designer Arm Holdings for £24.3bn. It was the largest Asian takeover of a British company.But the audacious deal was not enough to satisfy the 59-year-old known as Masa, who enjoys his reputation for having big and crazy ideas.
Less than a month after Britain held a referendum to withdraw from the European Union, Sun Zhengyi finalized an agreement to acquire British chip design company Arm Holdings for £24.3 billion, making it the largest acquisition of a British company by an Asian company. . But this bold deal could not satisfy the 59-year-old entrepreneur known as "Masa". He likes people saying that he always has crazy whimsical ideas.
After the summer had passed, Mr Son was off to Riyadh to meet Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s powerful deputy crown prince, to launch a $100bn technology fund. Armed with fresh funding power, Mr Son was next spotted in New York, forging ties with President-elect Donald Trump with a $50bn pledge to invest in US start-ups.
Just after the summer, Sun Zhengyi left for Riyadh to meet with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is in power, with the purpose of initiating the establishment of a US$100 billion technology fund. With new financial strength, Sun Zhengyi appeared in New York again, established a relationship with the US President-elect Donald Trump, and promised to invest US$50 billion in US start-ups.
Omran Daqneesh/Syrian boy Omran Daqneesh
FT Person of the Year Finalist No. 5: This 5-year-old boy made the whole world aware of his insensitivity to the suffering of the Syrian people.
His tiny legs dangling from the seat of an ambulance, staring numbly and coated in dirt and blood, five-year-old Omran Daqneesh for a brief moment on August 17, 2016 reminded the world of its numbness to the tragedy ripping apart Syria’s ancient city of Aleppo—and a war that has shaken the Middle East and sent its shockwaves across the world.
His tiny legs were drooping on the edge of the ambulance seat, his eyes were staring blankly forward, and his clothes were stained with dust and blood.-5-year-old Omran Daknesh on August 17, 2016 In an instant, the whole world realized its insensitivity to the tragedy that had fragmented the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo and the war that shook the entire Middle East and affected all parts of the world.
Newspapers in Europe and the US spread the image of the small boy,injured and alone, and Omran became the face of a war the world is unable,or unwilling, to stop. After tens of thousands of civilians managed to flee amid intense fighting this month, Omran’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
Newspapers in Europe and the United States have published photos of this bruised, single-faced little boy. Omran has become the epitome of a war that the world cannot or does not want to stop. This month, tens of thousands of civilians fled Aleppo in a fierce exchange of fire, and Omran’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
Long and difficult sentences 43~46
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 43【True Questions】Leonard Schlesinger, a Harvard academic and former chief executive of Au Bong Pain, a rapidly growing chain of bakery cafes, says that much “re-engineering” has been crude.(1998-2- 5)
Sentence structure:
a Harvard academic and former chief executive of Au Bon Pain is an apposition, explaining the previous Leonard Schlesinger.
A rapidly growing chain of bakery cafes is an apposition for Au Bon Pain.
says is a predicate.
High-frequency words:
acadamic, academic.
executive, manager.
crude.
Leonard Schlesinger, a Harvard scholar and former chief executive of Au Bon Pain, a fast-growing bakery chain, said that many "redesigns" are crude.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 44 [True Example Example] Intellect, according to Hosfstadter, is different from native intelligence, a quality we reluctantly admire.
Sentence structure:
a quality we reluctantly admire is an apposition , explaining the intelligence in front.
High-frequency words:
be diffrent from different.
native.
quality, quality.
reluctantly, reluctantly.
According to Hofstadter, intelligence is different from natural intelligence, which is a quality that we reluctantly appreciate.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 45 [True Example Example] Rather, we have a certain conception of the American citizen, a character who is incomplete if he cannot competently assess how his livelihood and happiness are affected by things outside of himself. (1999-3- 2)
Sentence structure:
a character and all the following structures are used as appositions of the previous noun citizen. who is a hook word.
assess is the predicate of the clause.
How guides the object clause.
High-frequency words:
certain, certain, certain.
citizen, citizen.
assess.
affect, affect.
On the contrary, we have a certain concept of American citizens. If he can't evaluate how his life and happiness are affected by things outside of himself, then his civic characteristics are incomplete.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 46【真题example】Such behavior is regarded as “all too human”, with the underlying assumption that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance. (2005-1-1)
Sentence structure:
is regarded as is regarded as. predicate.
that guides the apposition clause, explaining and explaining the previous assumption.
High-frequency words:
behavior, behavior.
assumpution, speculation.
develop, produce.
sense, feel.
This behavior is considered "human nature", and its underlying assumption is that other animals cannot have this highly developed dissatisfaction.
Remarks: The entire blog translation may not be accurate. If you need a high-quality translation, please check it online.
Long and difficult sentences 47~48
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 47 [True Topic
Sentences ] Online culture thinks highly of the notion that the information flowing onto the screen comes there by specific request. (1999-2-3) Sentence structure:
that guides apposition clauses.
The current participle phrase is flowing onto the screen as the attributive.
High-frequency words:
online, online.
think of think of.
notion insights.
screen, the screen.
come, appear.
specific.
request, demand.
Internet culture attaches great importance to the notion that information appears on the screen according to specific requirements.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 48 [True Questions and Examples] If good people do nothing, there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress. (2003-2-4)
Sentence structure:
that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress. It is an apposition clause to explain and explain the possibility.
High-frequency words:
possibility, possibility.
Uniformed, uninformed.
citizenry, citizen.
precious.
medical.
progress, progress.
If good people stand by and watch, a group of people who don't know the truth can really extinguish the precious fire of medical progress.
Long and difficult sentences 49~50
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 49,【真题example】In talking to some scientists, particularly younger ones, you might gather the impression that they find the “scientific method” a substitute for imaginative thought. (1999-5-3)
Sentence structure:
that guides the apposition clause to explain the impression.
High-frequency words:
1, impression, impression.
2. Substitute, instead.
When talking with some scientists, especially young scientists, you may have the impression that they think that "scientific method" can replace creative thinking.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 50,【真题例】Levin would not comment on the debate last week, but there were signs that the chairman was backing off his hard-line stand, at least to some extent. (1997-4-4)
[Reference] Levine declined to comment on last week’s debate, but there are signs that the chairman has loosened his tough stance at least to some extent.
Sentence structure: that guides apposition clauses.
Frequent words:
comment on Comment.
to some extent, to some extent.
debate.
Long and difficult sentences 51~58
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 51 [True Questions and Examples] "I think it is perhaps the case that some people associated with the company have only recently come to realize this." (1997-4-5)
Sentence structure:
that guides apposition clauses. (Not an emphatic sentence).
The past participle phrase associated with the company is used as the attributive.
High-frequency words:
case, case.
associate, and related.
realize, realize.
I think some people related to the company just realized this recently
Grammar and Long Difficult
Sentences 52 [True Question Example] Yet the fact remains that the merger movement must be watched. (2001-4-5) Sentence structure:
that guides the apposition clause and explains the previous fact.
High-frequency words:
remain, maintain.
movement.
But one fact still exists: merger activities must be closely monitored.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 53 [True Questions] The panel has not yet reached agreement on a crucial question, however, whether to recommend legislation that would make it a crime for private funding to be used for human cloning. (1999-4-2 )
Sentence structure: however should be placed at the beginning of the sentence.
Whether to guide the apposition clause, be the apposition of the question.
That guide attributive clause modifies legislation.
it refers to for private funding to be used for human cloning.
High-frequency words:
panel, expert group.
crucial.
legislation.
crime.
However, the committee has not yet reached an agreement on a key issue, namely whether to recommend legislation to criminalize the use of private funds for human cloning.
Grammar and long sentences at The FACT that Naturale does 54 SO with subtle Snark Makes Merriam-Webster's Posts All at The More Engaging.
Naturale looking for subtle little trouble, so Webster's dictionary tweets more popular
all the more adv. More
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 55【真题example】Thus, in the nineteenth century, local geological studies represented worthwhile research in their own right; but, in the twentieth century, local studies have increasingly become acceptable to professionals only if they incorporate, and reflect on, the wider geological picture. (2001-1-3)
Sentence structure: but connect two parallel sentences.
and connect the two parts of include and reflect on.
High-frequency words:
local, local.
study, research.
Increasingly, gradually.
reflect on reflect.
professional, professional.
[Reference Translation] Therefore, in the 19th century, local geological research itself demonstrated its research value; by the 20th century, local research was increasingly accepted by professionals, as long as they were included and reflected in a broader On the geological features.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 56【真题example】As a result, the support for ambition as a healthy impulse, a quality to be admired and fixed in the mind of the young, is probably lower than it has ever been in the United States. (2000-5-3)
Sentence structure:
a quality to be admired and fixed in the mind of the young, which is an apposition to explain and explain ambition.
to be admired and fixed in the mind of the young is the infinitive of the verb as the attributive, which modifies a quality.
High-frequency words:
support, support.
impulse, impulse.
quality, quality.
admire, worship.
Therefore, in the United States, as a healthy impulse, a quality that should be admirable and rooted in the hearts of young people, the support for ambition may be lower than in any previous period.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 57 [True Questions and Examples] Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months. (2007-3-1)
Sentence structure: or Connect 3 nouns as the subject.
High-frequency words:
spouse, spouse.
reduce, reduce.
middle class, middle class.
disappear, disappear.
Today, a dismissal notice, a serious illness certificate, or the death of a spouse may turn a stable middle-class family into a new impoverished household within a few months.
Grammar and Long Difficult Sentences 58 [Exemplary real questions] With thousands of career-related sites on the Internet, finding promising openings can be time-consuming and inefficient. (2004-1-2)
Sentence structure: finding promising openings is a gerund phrase. subject.
High-frequency words:
site, website.
promising adj. promising; promising; promising
time-consuming, wasting time.
There are thousands of job search-related websites on the Internet, and finding promising positions is time-consuming and inefficient.
Key sentence
It is not simply to raise everyone’s job prospects that all children are legally required to attend school into their teens.
Vocabulary summary
demographics [demə'græfɪks]
n. Demographic characteristics; demographic data
. The older, whiter, non- urban and heavily male coalition that helped to elect him is strikingly similar to populist demographics in Europe
to help Trump victory of the crowd - older, white males and non-city resident based - It is strikingly similar in demographic structure to populists in Europe.
special interest
Special interest group
Mr Trump was happy to admit he was one of those special interests. Trump was happy to admit he was one of those special interests
.
brag [bræg]
v. Bragging, boasting
He also bragged of having avoided taxes
.
nimble ['nɪmb (ə) l]
adj.Slick; Agile; Smart; Sensitive
Yet the thrice-married Mr Trump is nothing if not nimble.
However, Trump, who has been married three times, is extremely slippery.
revive economic growth
Restore economic growth
Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, rode to power in 2014 with promises to revive economic growth, create jobs for unemployed youth, and find and repatriate money that rich Indians had hidden abroad.
In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Come to power with a promise to restore economic growth, create jobs for unemployed youth, and find and recover the funds hidden overseas by the rich in India.
off-guard
Caught off guard
On November 8, Mr Modi set off a "big bang" that caught most Indians totally off-guard. On November 8, Modi set off a "big bang" that caught most Indians
completely off guard.
Eurosceptic [jʊərəʊ’skeptɪk]
n.Euroskeptic; European unity skeptic
Nigel Farage, Eurosceptic scourge of “the political elite”, ended a remarkable 2016 appearing in the most potent and ironic picture of the year.
The nemesis of the "political elite" and Euro-skeptic Nigel Farage put an end to the unusual 2016 with one of the most influential and ironic photos of this year.