Someone else but Me!

Yeah yeah it's been a long while I didn't study English or read any english papers or articles which explains why my English is so limited compared to couple of years ago. And today I saw an article on Robin's wall. It's from The Economist talking about an issue that I've been confused and trying to find out since I was a freshman. That is , why could Europeans keep their high-standard living while do not have to work much. To some extent I feel a bit unfair. People in Asia work so hard but still couldn't make as much money as Europeans make. The Europeans here I mean are mostly French,Italian and Spanish ( in my stereotype ). Ha~ Taiwan also develops high-techs and people work way much longer than that in many other countries, but why is our GDP still lingering around USD 17000?? Some say that's because we don't work efficiently. Seriously I doubt it...

Anyway,this article to some degrees shed some light on my question. The real purpose of my post is to note down some vocabs I've never learned or those I could barely recall~:P   But if  you're interested in the article, then just click the link below:

http://www.economist.com/node/16595334

Vocab:

1.complacent 自滿的；自鳴得意的。

2.squeal（尤指激動或緊張時）尖聲說，高聲嚷着說。

3.plaything 玩物；玩樂對象;玩具。

4.in the wake of 在~~之後(通常是災難)。

5.a wail of indignation 憤怒的嚎叫。

6.ring out 清晰可聞；發出清脆的響聲。

7.unbridled 無節制的；奔放的；極端的。

8.dismantle 拆開，拆卸(機器或結構);（逐漸）廢除，取消。

9.writhe （常指因劇痛不停地）扭動，翻滾 。

10.profligate 揮霍的；浪費的。

11.perk （工資之外的）補貼，津貼，額外待遇。   *perk sb. up  *perk sth. up

12.finger-wagging

13.sprightly (尤指年長者)精力充沛的 (adj.)

14.disgorge 大量湧出;（從交通工具、建築物裏）湧出 。