NPR 2008-04-03

Transcript¹

 From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack² Speer.

 Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Congress today, the economy may contract in the first half of 2008. He largely stayed away from using the term recession however, he did not rule out the possibility. Bernanke also said it's not up to the Fed to bail³ out homeowners facing foreclosure. NPR's Paul Brown has more.

 Bernanke told the Joint⁴ Economic Committee that it appears the economy is growing modestly right now. But he said for the first half of 2008 it could contract slightly. Bernanke said he's not ready to use the word recession to describe what's happening because that's a technical term that depends on data not yet available. The Fed has got involved in helping⁵ troubled investment banks stabilize⁶ their finances and Democratic Senator Charles Schumer asked if it's appropriate for the Fed to do that while not helping homeowners struggling to make payments on subprime mortgages. Bernanke replied, "I think housing is very important and we need to address it but of course that's the Congress' sphere of influence not the Fed's." He did say the concerns about the housing market and credit now appeared to be dragging down overall economic activity. Paul Brown, NPR News, Washington.

 The Federal Aviation Administration says four US airlines are under investigation⁷ for failing to comply with inspection⁸ and maintenance regulations. FAA officials would not name the airlines under investigation but Southwest, American, Delta⁹ and US Airways¹⁰ have all taken aircraft out of service in recent weeks for maintenance and inspection related issues. And today United Airlines grounded its entire fleet of Boeing 777 jetliners and cancelled several long haul flights while a fire suppression system on the plane is checked. NPR's David Schaper reports.

 Chicago based United says it's taken all 52 of its long haul 777s out of service so that inspectors¹¹ can conduct new tests of the aircraft's cargo¹² hold fire suppression systems to make sure that they operate properly. In a statement United Airlines says a regular review of its maintenance records found that tests on one cargo hold fire suppression system had not been thorough enough. The airline says it voluntarily disclosed the problem to the FAA and that it will not fly any of its 777s until new tests are complete. United cancelled more than a third of its daily 777 departures, many of them to Europe and Asia. A congressional hearing on questionable¹³ airline maintenance, inspections¹⁴ and FAA oversight¹⁵ is scheduled for Thursday. David Schaper, NPR News, Chicago.

 President Bush attending a NATO summit meeting in Bucharest said today he expects several major US goals will be addressed at the meeting. The president said he is optimistic a decision to beef up combat forces in Afghanistan will be approved. He said he also expects a US missile defense¹⁶ system to be endorsed¹⁷ by the body.

 Orders to US factories were down for a second straight month in February. The Commerce Department reported today orders to the nation's mines, factories and utilities declined by 1.3%.

 On Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 45 points to end the session at 12,608. This is NPR.

 Republican presidential candidate John McCain said those who are disappointed with the mistakes of government need to join its ranks and work to fix things. Addressing an audience at the US Naval¹⁸ Academy in Annapolis, the Vietnam veteran said more Americans should enlist¹⁹ in the military or run for office. McCain also encouraged those in attendance to seek out public service work. Earlier in the day, McCain said he's begun looking a list of names of possible running mates but offered no details. He said he plans to make his choice for running mate before the Republican convention.

 All 50 states have now been granted an extension until next year for new federal driver's license²⁰ law called Real ID. The last state Maine received its extension today after its governor pledged to seek a legislation limiting drivers licenses²¹ to citizens and legal residents. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

 If states didn't get extensions, their residents would not be allowed to use their driver's licenses for boarding airplanes or entering federal office buildings. Maine was the last holdout but it received an extension from the Homeland Security Department after it agreed to a number of changes to make its driver's licenses more secure. Many states have concerns about Real ID. They say it's too costly²² and could cause privacy and management problems. Several have said they have no plans to implement²³ the law, but they were given extensions anyway when they listed security measures they've already taken. Homeland Security says secure driver's licenses are needed to help prevent criminals and terrorists from using fake IDs. Pam Fessler, NPR News, Washington.

 Crude oil prices ended the session higher today. The near month contract for benchmark crude was up $3.85 a barrel to close at $104.83 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

9 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

10 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

11 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

13 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。

14 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

16 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

17 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

19 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

20 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

21 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

22 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

23 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。