英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-11-06

 To finance. And as the Federal Government contemplates¹ further assistance for the car industry, a new report out today is calling for an end to industry subsidies². 

 

The Committee for Economic Development of Australia says there needs to be an urgent overhaul³ of the tax system to boost productivity. 

 

“We need a national productivity policy that covers not only tax reform, but also looks at things like infrastructure⁴ and education. I mean we are saying as well, but there needs to be a very careful examination as to whether subsidies for those industries are not contributing to Australia's economic well-being⁵, should in fact continue into the future. But these are big picture issues. These are issues which the Commonwealth⁶ government needs to display some leadership on. "

 

Steve Martin there. 

 

To the markets. 

 

And the Dow has dropped 15 points. The Nasdaq has risen 6. The S&P 500 is steady. In London, the FTSE is 17 points lower. 

 

Look at commodity prices. 

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 93 US dollars a barrel. Tapis is at 114. Gold is worth 1311 US dollars an ounce. 

 

The Australian dollar is buying 95 US cents, 71 Euro cents and 59 pence sterling⁷.

 

1 contemplates   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的第三人称单数 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• She contemplates leaving for the sake of the kids. 她考虑为了孩子而离开。
• Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them. 事物的美存在于细心观察它的人的头脑中。

2 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

6 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

7 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。