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The value of stock markets in Asia has fallen by their biggest amount in decades. The market in Shanghai was down by nearly 8%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped by 13.22%, Japan's Nikkei index fell 7.8%, and Taiwan's market closed more than 9.7% down. Markets in Australia also sank. An analyst told the BBC that the markets were a "bloodbath". Stock prices are reacting negatively to the trade tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on April the 2nd. He called this day "Liberation Day". He said it "will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to make America wealthy again".
Many countries are thinking about what to do about the tariffs. China's People's Daily newspaper said China could fight back. It wrote: "After eight years of trade wars with the US, we've built up a wealth of experience in this struggle." It added that China was strong enough to face "US tariff bullying". The country could increase its own tariffs on imports from the USA. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he would ask the US to reduce the 24% tariffs on Japanese goods. He will visit the US "as soon as possible". He will explain to President Trump that Japan "is not doing anything unfair". Talking about the tariffs, Trump said: "Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something."
The fall in stock values is the biggest for over a century. T / F
Japan's market fell by a bigger amount than Shanghai's. T / F
The article said stock markets in Australia also went down. T / F
President Trump said America's industry would now start to grow again. T / F
A Chinese newspaper said China would not fight back against the US. T / F
The newspaper said China has had an 8-year trade war with the USA. T / F
President Trump called April the 2nd Liberal Nation Day. T / F
President Trump said Japan was doing many unfair things to the USA. T / F
Stock market (股票市场): The marketplace where stocks are bought and sold.
Drop / fall / sink (下跌): To decrease in value. For example, "The market in Shanghai was down by nearly 8%".
Index (指数): A measurement of the value of a specific set of stocks. For example, "Japan's Nikkei index fell 7.8%".
Tariff (关税): A tax imposed on imported goods.
Bloodbath (血腥屠杀): A dramatic term used here to describe a sharp decline in the stock market.
Analyst (分析师): A person who studies and provides advice about the stock market.
The value of... has fallen (……的价值下降): Used to describe a decrease in market or asset value.
React negatively (反应负面): To respond in a way that shows disapproval or bad results.
Build up a wealth of experience (积累了大量经验): Gaining extensive experience over time.
Face something (面对某事): To confront or deal with something.
Ask someone to... (请求某人做……): Politely requesting something from someone. Example: "Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he would ask the US to reduce the 24% tariffs."
Reborn (重生): To be born again or to revive after a period of decline.
Reclaim (收回): To regain possession of something that was lost.
Bullying (欺凌): Aggressive or unfair treatment of others.
Take medicine to fix something (通过药物来修复): A metaphor for doing something harsh in order to improve a situation.
He said (他说): Used to report someone’s spoken words.
It wrote (它写道): Used to introduce a statement made by a written source.
Talking about (谈论): An introductory phrase used to shift the topic in conversation or text.
Prime Minister (首相): The head of government in some countries.
President (总统): The head of state in some countries, particularly in the US.
Liberation Day (解放日): A day celebrating freedom or a significant political event.
