CNN 2010-09-25

AZUZ: The General Assembly is getting together at U.N. headquarters in New York this week. On Thursday, the group will start its annual debate. That's when member nations discuss global issues and what they might do about them. Before that starts, though, the U.N. is having another meeting. This one is about the organization's Millennium¹ Development Goals. The man speaking at the podium is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the leader of the U.N. He wants the member countries to keep pushing toward the development goals they set for themselves a decade ago. Those include finding ways to fight poverty, hunger and disease. The concern is that, because of the global economic crisis, countries haven't been able to put as much money toward fighting those issues.

 

AZUZ: The recession affected² how we spend money. According to a new survey, it affected what we use to spend money. Talking about credit cards. In 2007, 87 percent of the things we bought -- our purchases -- were made with plastic on credit cards. In 2009, it was down to 56 percent. Some experts think it could drop to 45 percent this year. Analysts³ have a few different reasons why. One: People aren't spending as much. Two: More people are using debit⁴ cards. Those usually don't let you spend what you don't have. And three: New laws are making it harder for young people to get credit cards.
 

1 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 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。

4 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。