NPR 2009-01-28

Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates says Afghanistan has emerged as the greatest military challenge. And more American troops could be headed there as earlier as this spring. NPR's Tom Bowman has more.

Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee there is a vacuum in Afghanistan that is increasingly being filled by Taliban forces, there will be a long and difficult fight. The Pentagon is considering doubling the number of US forces in Afghanistan over the next year, there are now about 32, 000 troops there. Gates says there is no pure military solution in Afghanistan and more must be done to help develop the country through international aid. Still Gates told the Senate he believes the United States can achieve its strategic objectives in Afghanistan. They include denying a safe haven² for al-Qaida and rejecting a return to power by the Taliban. On Iraq, Gates says American military presence is winding³ down, but he says the US will be involved in Iraq on some level for many years to come. Tom Bowman, NPR News, Washington.

President Barack Obama today called on Congress to, in his words, "keep politics to a minimum" in terms of moving quickly to act on his proposed 825-billion-dollar economic stimulus⁴ package. The president spent more than two hours today in closed-door meetings with Congressional Republicans seeking to reduce some arm-twisting as he continues to try to convince Congress to move on the package. However, some GOP lawmakers have complained the current initiative includes too much spending and not enough money for tax cuts. Democratic-led House and Senate are expected to approve the package by the middle of next month. The House is expected to vote on its version of the plan tomorrow.

A report out today suggests 2009 would be a rough year for the nation's retailers⁶ and the weak US economy worries about job security. NPR's Dave Mattingly has more.

The National Retail⁵ Federation⁷ projects retailers will see a drop in annual revenue. The NRF's Chief Economist⁸ says consumers will continue to rein⁹ in spending in 2009 amid ongoing¹⁰ job losses, lower home prices and tight credit. More than 50, 000 corporate¹¹ layoffs¹² have been announced this week alone. The report says retailers will see weak sales through most of the year, but then a rebound¹³ should occur in the final quarter, helped in part by economic stimulus from the federal government. It forecasts a 3.6% jump in retail sales in the final three months of the year. Dave Mattingly, NPR News, Washington.

The interest rate setting arm of the Federal Reserve has begun a two-day meeting today with one of its traditional avenues for boosting the lagging economy now largely unavailable. In its last meeting, the Fed's powerful Open Market Committee moves to essentially¹⁴ take short-term interest rate targets to zero, meaning there is no room for more rate cuts. However, Federal policymakers have said they have other options to stimulate¹⁵ the economy. It's expected the Fed will issue the statement tomorrow afternoon.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 58 points, ending the session at 8, 189. The NASDAQ gained 15 points. The S&P 500 rose nine points today.

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Illinois senators for the first time have been listening to FBI wiretap recordings¹⁶ of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Those recordings are part of the government's case against Blagojevich at his impeachment¹⁷ trial being held in Springfield. Prosecutor¹⁸ in the case today said the tape conversations revealed the governor talking with a lobbyist about how to exchange campaign contributions for a legislation being pushed by the horse racing¹⁹ industry. Blagojevich is accused of seeking to sell President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder²⁰. The government meanwhile is boycotting²¹ his trial. Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.

Novelist, short story writer, poet and critic John Updike's died. The author won just about every major literary prize including two Pulitzers. Updike died this morning. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports.

John Updike was known for his often lyrical descriptions of middle-class America. His works were first published in 1950s. He modeled the fictional²² small town in his early short stories after his own hometown of Shillington, Pennsylvania. The town provided the backdrop for Updike's most famous character. Harry²³ "Rabbit" Angstrom is the Swedish-American protagonist²⁴ of four novels. The author followed Rabbit from his days as a young star athlete into adulthood²⁵. Updike once said that Rabbit was a kind of every man who had glimpsed great success early in life and wasn't gonna find that type of success ever again. John Updike died of lung cancer near his home in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. His last work "My Father's Tears and Other Stories" will be published this summer. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

John Updike was 76 years old.

Crude oil futures²⁶ fell $4.15 a barrel, closing at $41.58 a barrel in New York.

1 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。

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

4 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

7 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

8 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

9 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

12 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

13 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

14 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

15 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

16 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

17 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

18 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

19 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

20 bidder   

n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
• The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。

21 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

22 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

23 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

24 protagonist   

n.(思想观念的)倡导者；主角，主人公

参考例句：

• The protagonist reforms in the end and avoids his proper punishment.戏剧主角最后改过自新并避免了他应受的惩罚。
• He is the model for the protagonist in the play.剧本中的主人公就是以他为模特儿创作的！

25 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

26 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。