(A) 超過預期
(B)（經濟）前景
(C) 出口疲弱

India's economy outpaced all other major markets during the most recent quarter, further cementing its reputation as a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy world economy.
當全球經濟發展都處於低迷時，印度第一季的表現超越了其他的經濟體，成為全球經濟黯淡夜空裡的一個亮點。

India's gross domestic product expanded by 7.9% in the quarter ended March 31, a (A) better-than-expected performance that trumps the 6.7% growth posted by China's slowing economy over the same period.
今年第一季印度的GDP增長7.9%，遠超預期。而中國同期的GDP增長緩慢，僅為6.7%。

Yet as Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates his second anniversary (1) in office, there is growing unease over India's (B) prospects. Some have (2) called into question the validity of the country's GDP statistics, which have diverged from other indicators. Industrial production and investment spending fell at the end of 2015, and exports (C) remain weak.
印度總理莫迪上任兩周年，人們對印度經濟前景的不安情緒持續上升。有人對本季GDP數據抱持懷疑態度，認為這個數字與其他指標不符--截至去年年底，印度工業生產萎縮，投資也很慘淡，出口仍然疲弱。

Some critics argue that economic reality is being disguised by low oil prices, which have slashed India's huge energy import bill.

一些評論家說，印度的經濟看似輝煌，其實是因為全球油價下跌，大幅削減了印度巨大的能源進口成本。

Modi, leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has generated huge amounts of buzz around India's economy. As prime minister, he has spent huge amounts of political capital trying to push common sense economic reforms through parliament.
在擔任印度人民黨領袖期間，莫迪已經帶動了印度經濟活力。上任成為總理之後，他投注大筆的政府資金，試圖通過議會推動關鍵性的經濟改革。

Modi has also packed his schedule with foreign trips, during which he exhorts global companies to “Make in India.”
莫迪任職期間也對多個國家進行了國事訪問，在外交行程中，他向全球企業推銷「印度製造」。

Yet many promised reforms have failed to materialize. A proposal to establish a nationwide sales tax has languished in a divided parliament, leaving India's byzantine system of state duties in place.
然而，莫迪政府承諾的許多改革並未能實現。他曾提議改革稅制，實施全國統一的銷售稅制度，卻因議會產生分歧而擱置，印度各省長期存在的錯縱複雜的稅制依舊如故。

Another of Modi's priorities — reducing (3) red tape for small businesses — has scarcely progressed. India ranks 130th in a World Bank index measuring the regulatory burden on small firms, an improvement of just four spots from 2015. The country's infrastructure remains woefully inadequate, and will take decades to upgrade.
莫迪的另一項優化--簡化小企業的官僚程序--幾乎沒有進展。世界銀行衡量中小企業受監管負擔的指數顯示，印度排在第130位，與去年相比僅僅提高了4位。而且印度的基礎設施嚴重不足，這將花費印度數十年的時間來提高基礎設施水準。

口語字彙
1. Be in office 執政
執政有很多說法，最簡單的表達就是”in office”，相反的，如果是執政黨下台，就會用be out of office.
Which political party is in office in your country? 貴國是哪一個政黨執政？
They cannot join forces to vote her out of office. 他們不能聯合起來通過投票表決讓她下台。

2. Call into question + something （不禁讓人對某件事產生）質疑
這是比較正式的說法，意思是對某件事提出質疑。
The study calls into question how long the vaccine gives protection.這份研究讓人對這疫苗的效期產生質疑。

3. Red tape 繁文縟節
字面意思是指紅色膠帶。原來在17世紀的英格蘭，政府機關有用紅色帶子捆紮公文的習慣，政府機關辦事手續繁雜，因此人們用red tape來比喻繁文縟節、官樣文章、官僚作風。
There is way too much red tape in government. 政府有太多煩人的手續。

1. The population of this country is on decline. 這個國家的人口正在減少。
2. Would you please explain this rule to me in details? 可以請您詳細地解釋這條規則給我聽嗎？
3. These brave men are determined to fight to the last in the defense to their wives. 這些勇敢的男人決心為保護他們的太太而奮戰到底。
4. Mother’s Day is in hand. Where will you go to celebrate it? 母親節快到了，你們要去哪兒慶祝？
5. The scenery here is beautiful above description. 這裡的風景美得無以名狀。

1. The population of this country is on the decline. on the decline意指「走下坡路、日漸衰落、逐漸減少」，定冠詞the不可以省略。
2. Would you please explain this rule to me in detail? in detail表示「詳細地」，相當於一個副詞，在句中作修飾語，detail不可用複數形式。
3. These brave men are determined to fight to the last in defense of their wives. in defense of是「為保衛…、為…辯護」之意，defense前面不加冠詞，of也不可誤作其他介系詞。
4. Mother’s Day is at hand. Where will you go to celebrate it? in hand是指「在手中（持有或隨時可用）」，at hand則是「在手邊」或者「即將到來」的意思，兩者容易搞混。
5. The scenery here is beautiful beyond description. above和beyond在中文解釋中容易混淆，因此可能把固定片語beyond description誤作above description，須格外注意。

「學的快，才會想學」是AirTalk最重要的設計元素，專門為有迫切、明確需求，希望馬上展開課程的專業人士設計的。你不會在短短一、兩月裡，變成一個native speaker，但卻有可能從支支吾吾的表達，變成有邏輯、有自信的溝通者。