NPR 2008-05-30

The Texas Supreme¹ Court has ruled that the removal of more than 100 children from a polygamist compound was not warranted. Nathan Bernier of member station KUT in Austin reports.

 The ruling applies to 128 of the more than 440 children taken from the Yearning² for Zion Ranch³ owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But attorneys involved with the case have said it could ultimately allow all children to be returned to the polygamist compound outside Eldorado, Texas. Attorney Rene Hass represented one of the FLDS fathers. “We’re all very, very happy and grateful that what we said from the very beginning has been vindicated⁴. Unfortunately, the department did something that was absolutely overreaching and should never have been done.” In explaining its 6-3 ruling, the Texas Supreme Court agreed with an appellate court that child protection authorities failed to prove children on the ranch faced an imminent⁵ danger of abuse. For NPR News, I’m Nathan Bernier in Austin, Texas.

 Actor and comedian⁶ Harvey Korman, a regular on "The Carol Burnett Show", who also appeared in a string of movies ranging from "Blazing Saddles" to "High Anxiety", has died. The actor reportedly died today at UCLA Medical Center. Harvey Korman was 81 years old.

 Presidential candidate Barack Obama has just issued a statement on his health history. The move by the 46-year-old senator follows last week’s release of John McCain’s medical files. NPR’s Joanne Silberner has more.

 Last week, Senator McCain released more than 11,00 pages of his health records. Senator Obama released a one-page statement. It’s from a Chicago internist who has been treating the senator for 21 years. Doctor David Scheiner says Obama, a regular jogger, is in excellent health with only minor⁷ problems, such as occasional ordinary respiratory infections. He’s not smoking cigarettes at the moment, but has in the past. At the candidate’s last check-up in January, 2007, he had exemplary blood pressure, 90/60. And all his cardiovascular measurements were quite good. His doctor concluded (此为误读include，根据句意应为conclude)that Obama’s physical and mental health are adequate for the job he’s hoping to get. Joanne Silberner, NPR News, Washington.

 US economy grew at a somewhat faster pace than first reported during the first three months of this year, appearing to counter some fears the economy is already in or heading towards a recession. The Commerce Department says the economy grew at a nine-tenths of a percent annual rate, that’s a slight improvement over the government’s initial assessment⁸ of first quarter growth, and also better than the six-tenths of one percent growth rate for the final quarter of last year. Many economists⁹ view two consecutive¹⁰ quarters of negative growth as the classic definition of a recession, though the group that actually determines recessions in the US economy isn’t likely to weigh in for some time yet.

 On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 52 points today to close at 12, 646. The NASDAQ was up 21 points. This is NPR.

 US officials say there were double-digit increases in military suicides in 2007, compared with the previous year. According to an official with the US Army, all told 115 troops took their own lives last year, with around a quarter of the deaths occurring in Iraq. The increase in suicide by military personnel marks the third straight yearly increase. Suicides among active duty military as well as National Guard and Reserve troops have been rising ever since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.

 Bear Stearns shareholders¹¹ today voted to approve the sale of the firm to JPMorgan Chase for around 2.2 billion dollars. The firm collapsed¹² in March after suffering big losses in mortgage-backed securities. NPR’s Jim Zarroli has more.

 The vote took place at Bear’s headquarters in Manhattan at a meeting attended by about 400 shareholders. Many of those present were Bear employees who had suffered big stock losses. The gathering¹³ was closed to the press, but some of those attending said Bear’s Chairman James Cayne gave an emotional speech to the crowd. He apologized for the hurricane that brought down the firm and said “words can’t describe the feelings that I feel”. Bear Stearns was forced to sell itself to JPMorgan Chase after suffering big losses in the subprime mortgage debacle. The sale valued Bear's stock at about 10 dollars a share. Fourteen months earlier, it had been selling for 173 dollars. But with bankruptcy¹⁴ looming¹⁵, company officials had little choice but to approve the deal. Jim Zarroli, NPR News, New York.

 Crude oil futures¹⁶ ended the session sharply lower today. The near-month contract for benchmark grade crude was down $4.41 a barrel to settle at $126. 62 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

3 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

4 vindicated   

v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护

参考例句：

• I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。
• Subsequent events vindicated the policy. 后来的事实证明那政策是对的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

6 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

8 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

9 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

11 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

12 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

13 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

14 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

15 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

16 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。