欧盟这个有28个国家的大家庭度过了一个艰难的十年，多次近乎离异。最近的一记打击是意大利的大选。反欧盟的党派获胜。在欧洲其他地方，类似的政党亦有发展。英国则完全想退出这个整合欧洲大陆的工程。而希腊呢，它也许是浪子回头的模范国家。我们来看看过去的希腊是什么样子的。

今天的句子：

In 2009, the country nearly brought down the eurozone and came close to exiting the EU after admitting it had lied about the size of its deficit. The official dishonesty, coupled with deep-seated corruption, spooked foreign lenders and defied core EU values of integrity in governance.

词汇突破：

1. bring down 拖垮

2. the size of deficit 赤字规模

3. deep-seated 根深蒂固

4. spook （动词）吓；（名词）间谍

5. defy 反对，对…提出挑战

6. integrity 正直；廉洁

7. coupled with= and

8. come close to 接近

第一句：

In 2009, the country nearly brought down the eurozone and came close to exiting the EU after admitting it had lied about the size of its deficit.

主干识别：

the country nearly brought down the eurozone and came close to exiting the EU

切分成分：

状语1：In 2009,

状语2：after admitting it had lied about the size of its deficit

这里admitting 的主语是句子主语：the country; after 就是连接作用；

在十五句中的：

all while being assured that…being 的主语也是句子主语；

（all while = at the same time）起连接作用。

之前不理解的同学是不是理解的更深刻一点了。

参考译文：2009年希腊承认就赤字规模撒谎之后，几乎带垮欧元区，而且差点退出欧盟。

第二句：

The official dishonesty, coupled with deep-seated corruption, spooked foreign lenders and defied core EU values of integrity in governance.

主干识别：

The official dishonesty, coupled with deep-seated corruption, 主语

Spooked and defied 并列动词

foreign lenders 宾语一； core EU values of integrity in governance 宾语二

参考译文：官方不诚信加上根深蒂固的腐败，吓坏了外国放贷人，并挑衅了欧盟廉正治理的价值观。