一國兩時區
In March, residents of Lebanon were faced with yet another problem to add to their already massive list of ongoing problems – not knowing what time it was.
在三月份，黎巴嫩民眾得以將「不知道現在幾點」這個問題加入他們一直以來所面臨的龐大問題清單中。
resident (n.)居民、住民ongoing (adj.)進行中的
While this may seem like a ridiculous scenario, the country’s government managed to “break time” by postponing daylight savings time at the last minute, effectively splitting the country into two different time zones.
雖然這似乎是一個荒謬的情況，但該國政府在最後一刻推遲夏令時間，成功地「分割」了時間——將國家分為兩個不同的時區。
scenario (n.)局面、情況worst-case scenario 最糟情況best-case scenario 最好情況postpone (v.)延遲、延後split (v.)使分裂、使分開split the bill 分攤費用
Like many countries in Europe, Lebanon was supposed to “spring forward” at midnight on March 25.
和歐洲許多國家一樣，黎巴嫩原本預計在3月25日午夜「撥快時間」。
spring forward （時間）往前調快fall back （時間）往後調慢
However, several days before this was to happen, the government announced that the country’s clocks would not be adjusted until April 21.
然而，在這之前的幾天，政府宣布國內的時鐘要到4月21日才會增加一個小時。
not...until 直到……才……adjust (v.)調整adjust to 適應
Although no official reason was given, many people speculated that the decision was motivated by the holy month of Ramadan, during which many Muslims fast for daylight hours.
儘管沒有給出官方原因，許多人推測，這個變動的動機是因為穆斯林神聖的齋戒月，在齋戒月，許多穆斯林會在白天禁食。
speculate (v.)推測、猜測motivate (v.)使產生動機、驅使fast (v.)齋戒、禁食
This suspicion was quickly confirmed by a leaked video of the country’s caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri discussing the change to allow Muslims to break their fast an hour earlier.
這一猜測很快就被一段流出的影片所證實，影片中黎巴嫩看守總理米卡提和國會議長貝里討論到讓穆斯林可以提前一小時結束禁食。
parliament (n.)國會parliamentary (adj.)國會的Speaker of the House 眾議院議長
Named after the two political leaders, “Berri Mikati Time”, this decision caused confusion across the country, affecting everything from appointments and meetings to airline flights.
以這兩位政治領袖命名的「貝里-米卡蒂時間」在全國引發混亂，影響到從約會、會議到航空公司航班等時間。
name after 以……命名appointment (n.)約會
The change was met with ridicule for its absurdity as well as harsh criticism, particularly from Lebanon’s Christian community, for the religious motivation behind the leaders’ decision.
這項改變既引來了對其荒謬性的嘲笑，也受到了嚴厲批評，尤其是來自黎巴嫩的基督教徒，他們對領導人決策背後的宗教動機表示強烈不滿。
be met with(by) 引起……反應ridicule (n.)嘲笑absurdity (n.) 荒謬、荒唐community (n.)社區、群體
For many in the country, this may be the last straw.
對許多國內民眾來說，這可能是最後一根稻草。
the last straw （壓垮駱駝的）最後一根稻草、令人最終崩潰的一擊
In recent years, Lebanon’s government has failed to serve the nation’s people, plunging nearly three-quarters of the country’s population into poverty.
近年來，黎巴嫩政府失職，使近四分之三的人口陷入貧困。
plunge sb. into sth. 使某人陷入或經歷某事
Although Mikati eventually reversed the government’s decision not to adjust the clocks on Monday, March 26, the initial decision has already added to the public’s growing mistrust of the government.
雖然米卡提撤回了政府不在3月26日星期一撥快時間的決定，但最初的決策已經加劇了民眾對政府日益增加的不信任感。
reverse (v.)反轉、逆轉