Gasoline Prices Higher, But Vary Widely By Country

 　　U.S. motorists have long had an infatuation with cars and the freedom to travel far and wide on the country’s open highways. But now drivers are getting squeezed by higher prices at the gas pumps.

　　American gas prices are still low compared to those in numerous other countries across the globe, but that may be small consolation¹ for U.S. motorists. For this time of year in the United States, gas prices are the highest ever - about $1 a liter - and threaten to head even higher as many families embark² on vacations once schools recess³ for the summer months.

　　The steep prices at the pump have become a focal point in the national presidential campaign, with one pre-election survey showing that voters' disapproval⁴ of President Barack Obama's handling of the U.S. economy is growing as they pay increasing prices at the pump.

　　Mr. Obama, a Democrat⁵ running for another four-year term, says there is no quick solution to the rising prices but notes that the country has cut its dependency on importing foreign oil. He says the country still needs to increase its use of clean energy technology to reduce the demand for oil even further. Republican presidential contenders seeking to oust⁶ him say Mr. Obama has mishandled the American economy and that their policies would reduce the cost of gas for motorists.

　　About three-fourths of the cost of gas that motorists pay is influenced by the price of oil on the world market.  As a result, prices at service station pumps tend to rise or fall according to the fluctuations⁷ in the price of crude oil.

　　In recent months, the price of oil has steadily⁸ risen, in part because of the West’s contentious⁹ standoff with oil-producing Iran over development of its nuclear program and fears that Iran could cut off its oil exports. In some countries, taxes also play a key role in the cost of gasoline, as well as whether a country has to import oil for refining because it has no ready source of its own.

　　Here are some current gasoline prices - in U.S. currency per liter - from around the globe, as compiled by the Internet travel web site mytravelcost.

1 consolation   

n.安慰，慰问

参考例句：

• The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
• This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。

2 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

3 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

4 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

5 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

6 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

7 fluctuations   

波动，涨落，起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table. 他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• There were so many unpredictable fluctuations on the Stock Exchange. 股票市场瞬息万变。

8 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

9 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。