NPR 2008-10-30

The Federal Reserve's interest rate setting arm has wrapped up a two-day meeting in Washington, putting in place another big cut in interest rates as it seeks to boost the lagging economy. Fed policymakers by unanimous vote opted¹ to cut short-term rates by another half a percent, taking a key overnight bank lending rate to one percent, its lowest level since June of 2004. Robert Crouse is an associate professor of Finance at Hofstra University and says the Fed is in a tough spot. "The problem right now is that, first of all, rates are so low that they really can't go much lower. So, cutting it now is probably too little, too late if you ask me, although they had to do it. Otherwise, markets would have been very upset. “In its end-of-meeting statement today, Fed policymakers noted² the downside risk to economic growth remained. They said they are expecting inflation to moderate in coming quarters.

US regulators are said to be putting the finishing touches on a new federal plan designed to help avert³ foreclosures. Media reports citing a source familiar with the discussion said the proposed plan could total up with 50 billion dollars and guarantee some home mortgages. With an announcement expected by as early as tomorrow, they expect it will provide guarantees for as many as three million adverse⁴ mortgage holders⁵.

The auto⁶ parts company Tenneco says it will eliminate 1, 100 jobs in response to falling demand for vehicles. From Michigan Public Radio, Dustin Dwyer reports.

Tenneco has already eliminated more than 1, 000 jobs worldwide this year because of slow vehicle sales. Now the company says it needs additional cuts because the downturn has grown more severe. Tenneco makes parts for vehicle suspensions and emissions⁷ control. The company says it will close four plants in North America that includes plants in Ohio and Indiana, plus two additional plants that have yet to be named. The cuts are expected to save the company 64 million dollars a year. In a statement, Tenneco CEO said he regrets the impact of the restructuring on the company's workers. But he says the company must react to the realities of the market. For NPR News, I'm Dustin Dwyer, in Ann Arbor⁹, Michigan.

President Bush sounded confident today in an agreement governing U. S. forces in Iraq will be improved. NPR's Giles Snyder reports.

Negotiators say they have been working on the pact⁸ for months. Previously¹⁰ the US said it has made its final offer but the Iraqis now want changes. Mr. Bush says negotiators are analyzing¹¹ the proposed amendments¹² to what's called "the Status of Forces Agreement". "We obviously want to be, uh, we want to be, uh, helpful and constructive¹³ without undermining basic principles. " Mr. Bush was speaking at the White House alongside Massud Barzani, the president of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in Northern Iraq. An Iraqi government spokesman says the agreement should include a clear ban on American forces using Iraqi territory to attack Iraq's neighbors, such as the raid along the border with Syria earlier this week. The ban is among four amendments the Iraqis are proposing. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 74 points today. This is NPR.

General Motors and the owner of Chrysler, the private equity¹⁴ firm Cerberus Capital Management are said to have resolved at least some of the key sticking points in terms of a merger¹⁵ of the two automakers. However any former deal will likely still depend on financing and some kind of government support. That's according to  sources said to be close to the discussions. Wire service reports quoting sources said today GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner would head the combined company. GM was reported to be seeking upwards¹⁶ of ten billion dollars in US government aid to support a merger with Chrysler.

One of the century's most influential¹⁷ dancers and choreographers has died. Gerald Arpino along with Robert Joffrey co-founded the Joffrey Ballet in 1956, it is now considered one of the best dance companies in the world. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

Gerald Arpino helped make American dance innovative¹⁸ and accessible. For example, in the 1990s, he asked rising choreographers to use the Music of Prince. "I thought how do I connect with my young audiences who have never, ever entered the theater to see dance, and I thought, why not attract them.” As well as resurrecting historical ballets and commissioning new work, Gerald Arpino is gently credited with rescuing the Joffrey from financial ruin by moving the company from New York to Chicago. He died there Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. Gerald Arpino was 85 years old. Neda Ulaby, NPR News.

An unexpected bump-up last month in orders for longer-lasting manufactured items. The government says durable¹⁹ goods orders which include automobiles²⁰ and airplanes rose by a larger than unexpected 8/10 of a percent in September. Most analysts²¹ expected durable goods orders to fall.

1 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

4 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

5 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

6 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

8 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

9 arbor   

n.凉亭；树木

参考例句：

• They sat in the arbor and chatted over tea.他们坐在凉亭里，边喝茶边聊天。
• You may have heard of Arbor Day at school.你可能在学校里听过植树节。

10 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

11 analyzing   

v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析

参考例句：

• Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句
• He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

12 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

13 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

14 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

15 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

16 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

17 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

18 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

19 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

20 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。