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California's Landmark Vote on Taxing Billionaires
加州就征收亿万富翁税举行历史性公投
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California's Landmark Vote on Taxing Billionaires
加州就征收亿万富翁税举行历史性公投
今年11月，加利福尼亚州将就一项对全州亿万富翁征收5%一次性税款的提案进行投票。在贫富差距不断扩大的背景下，超过160万名居民联署签名，旨在为公共医疗、食品救济和学校筹集资金。然而，科技界亿万富翁们正投入巨资进行强烈反击，这次投票将成为衡量富豪政治影响力以及全球反不平等斗争的重要试金石。
In November, California will vote on a plan
今年11月，加利福尼亚州将就一项方案进行公投。vote on a plan 对方案进行投票
to place a one-off five percent tax on all billionaires in the state.
该方案提议对该州所有亿万富翁征收5%的一次性税款。place a one-off tax 征收一次性税款 / billionaires in the state 州内的亿万富翁
Supporters say this measure could raise 100 billion dollars
支持者表示，这项措施有望筹集1,000亿美元资金。Supporters say 支持者表示 / measure 措施 / raise 100 billion dollars 筹集1,000亿美元
for public healthcare, food aid, and schools.
这笔款项将用于公共医疗、食品援助以及学校教育。public healthcare 公共医疗 / food aid 食品援助
This bold proposal comes as global wealth inequality reaches historic levels.
在全球贫富差距达到历史极值之际，这一大胆提议应运而生。bold proposal 大胆提议 / wealth inequality 贫富差距 / reaches historic levels 达到历史极值
In the United States, the share of economic output going to workers
在美国，经济产出中分配给劳动者的份额share of economic output 经济产出份额 / going to workers 分配给劳动者的
dropped to a record low of 52.9 percent.
已降至52.9%的历史新低。dropped to a record low 跌至历史新低
Meanwhile, billionaire fortunes are booming,
与此同时，亿万富翁们的财富却在急剧膨胀。Meanwhile 与此同时 / billionaire fortunes 亿万富翁的财富 / booming 蓬勃增长
with Forbes reporting a global record of 3,428 billionaires.
《福布斯》数据显示，全球亿万富翁人数达到创纪录的3,428人。reporting a global record 报道创下全球新纪录
Because of this growing gap,
随着这一差距的不断扩大，growing gap 扩大的差距
similar policies targeting the ultrawealthy are spreading worldwide.
针对超级富豪的类似政策正在全球范围内蔓延。policies targeting 针对……的政策 / ultrawealthy 超级富豪 / spreading worldwide 在全球蔓延
For instance, New York proposed a two percent tax hike on top earners,
例如，纽约州提议对最高收入群体加税2%，proposed 提议 / tax hike 加税 / top earners 最高收入群体
and British millionaires launched a campaign demanding higher wealth taxes.
英国的百万富翁们也发起了一项要求提高财富税的运动。launched a campaign 发起运动 / demanding higher wealth taxes 要求提高财富税
But in California, tech billionaires are fighting back aggressively.
但在加利福尼亚州，科技巨头们正予以强烈反击。tech billionaires 科技亿万富翁 / fighting back aggressively 强烈反击
Google co-founder Sergey Brin has already spent 100 million dollars
谷歌联合创始人谢尔盖·布林已经投入了1亿美元，co-founder 联合创始人 / spent 100 million dollars 花费了1亿美元
on political donations to defeat the bill.
通过政治捐款来阻止这项法案通过。political donations 政治捐款 / defeat the bill 否决法案
For now, more than 1.6 million residents signed the petition
目前，已有超过160万名居民签署了请愿书，residents 居民 / signed the petition 签署了请愿书
to put the tax on the ballot.
以将这项税收提案推上公投选票。put the tax on the ballot 将税收提案付诸公投
This vote will serve as a crucial test of billionaire political power
这次投票将成为检验亿万富翁政治影响力的重要试金石，serve as a crucial test 成为重要试金石 / political power 政治影响力
and the global fight against inequality.
在全球反不平等的斗争中也同样至关重要。global fight 全球斗争 / against inequality 抵抗不平等
Quiz 🧠
Q1. California voters will decide whether to apply a new tax on all billionaires in the state.
查看答案
✅ True
加利福尼亚州将对是否向该州所有亿万富翁征收5%的税款进行公投，因此'True'为正确答案。
'True' is correct because the article explains that California will vote on a proposal to place a five percent tax on billionaires. 'False' contradicts the main topic of the text.
Q2. What is the closest meaning of the word 'booming' as used in the article?
查看答案
✅ Growing rapidly
从语境来看，'booming'表示财富急剧增长、蓬勃发展。因此'Growing rapidly'为正确答案，表示减少或停滞的其他选项均不符合文意。
'Growing rapidly' is correct because 'booming' describes fortunes that are increasing very fast and reaching record levels. The other options describe decline, loss, or lack of change.
Q3. Why did Sergey Brin spend 100 million dollars on political donations?
查看答案
✅ To stop the new tax
谢尔盖·布林进行政治捐款是为了阻止富豪税法案的通过，因此'To stop the new tax'为正确答案。其余选项属于该税收支持者的使用目的。
'To stop the new tax' is correct because the text notes he spent money to defeat the billionaire tax bill. The other options represent goals of the tax supporters rather than his intention.
Dialogue 🎧
Michael: Did you see what California is voting on this November?
Michael: 你看到加州今年11月要就什么进行投票了吗？
Sophia: The one-off five percent tax on all billionaires?
Sophia: 是对所有亿万富翁征收5%的一次性税款吗？
Sophia: It could raise one hundred billion dollars.
Sophia: 据说能筹集1,000亿美元呢。
Michael: One hundred billion? That sounds crazy! For what, space rockets?
Michael: 1,000亿？太不可思议了！这笔钱要用来干嘛，造太空火箭吗？
Sophia: No, silly. For public healthcare, food aid, and schools.
Sophia: 才不是呢。是用来支持公共医疗、食品援助和学校教育的。
Michael: Wow, that would be huge for regular families who are struggling.
Michael: 哇，那对生活困难的普通家庭来说可是个巨大的帮助。
Sophia: Definitely. Wealth inequality is at historic levels now.
Sophia: 确实。现在的贫富差距已经达到历史最高水平了。
Sophia: Forbes even reported a record of 3,428 billionaires.
Sophia: 《福布斯》甚至报道称，亿万富翁人数创下了3,428人的历史纪录。
Michael: Meanwhile, the workers' share of the economy dropped to a record low of 52.9 percent.
Michael: 与此同时，劳动者在经济产出中所占的份额却跌到了52.9%的历史新低。
Sophia: It is scary how wide that gap has become.
Sophia: 想想贫富差距拉大到了这种地步，真的很让人担忧。
Michael: Is that why New York proposed a two percent tax hike on top earners?
Michael: 纽约提议对高收入群体增税2%，也是因为这个原因吗？
Sophia: Yes! And even British millionaires launched a campaign demanding higher wealth taxes.
Sophia: 是的！甚至英国的百万富翁们都发起运动，主动要求对自己多征收财富税呢。
Michael: Wait, millionaires asking for taxes on themselves? That is rare!
Michael: 等等，百万富翁主动要求给自己加税？这可太罕见了！
Sophia: Very rare. But in California, tech billionaires are fighting back aggressively.
Sophia: 确实非常罕见。但加州的科技富豪们正在猛烈反击呢。
Michael: I saw that!
Michael: 我也看到那条新闻了！
Michael: Google co-founder Sergey Brin spent one hundred million dollars to defeat the bill.
Michael: 听说谷歌联合创始人谢尔盖·布林花了1亿美元，试图阻止这项法案通过。
Sophia: Spending that much just to protect his fortune is tense. But voters are ready.
Sophia: 为了保住自己的财产不惜砸下重金，局势真是剑拔弩张。不过选民们也准备好了。
Michael: More than 1.6 million residents signed the petition to put it on the ballot.
Michael: 已经有超过160万居民签署了请愿书，成功将其推上了选票。
Sophia: This vote will be a crucial test of billionaire political power.
Sophia: 这次投票将成为衡量亿万富翁政治影响力的关键考验。
Sophia: Let's see what happens.
Sophia: 让我们拭目以待吧。