NPR 2010-11-13

President Obama's spending the last two days of his Asia tour in Japan, shoring up trade support at a regional summit after suffering a few setbacks. Earlier at the G20 meeting in Seoul, the president was unable to secure a free trade pact¹ with South Korea. He also didn't get much support for his get-tough policy on China to raise its currency value. As world leaders debate China's currency, investors² are increasingly shaken by speculation³ that China will increase its interest rate in a bid to combat inflation. Bernard Baumohl, chief economist⁴ for the Economic Outlook Group, explains how a move in China can affect other world markets.
"If there is the expectation that China will be beginning a round of interest rate increases because of rising inflation pressures, that can increase speculation that the Chinese economy would slow. Well, obviously, that can cause problems for the rest of the global economy."The Dow's down more than 100 points at 11,179 with NASDAQ down 34 at 2,522.
Confidence among US consumers was more upbeat this month. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index came in at a reading of 69, up from 67 last month. As Danielle Karson reports, analysts⁵ say the uptick should please retailers⁶ who're getting ready for the holiday shopping season.
Retailers are keeping a close eye on peoples' moods between now and Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and the official start of the all-important holiday shopping season. Analysts say this should be the best year for retailers in four years. Unfortunately, Mesirow Financial chief economist Diane Swonk cautions that's not saying much so long as most shoppers keep a tight rein⁷ on their spending.
"People are sticking to necessities. They're using layaway because they don't have the credit they once did. And they're willing to spend for themselves as well as their families during the holiday season. But they don't have a lot of means to go very far."So, some major retailers have already begun rolling out promotions⁸ and discounts to attract budget-cautious shoppers. For NPR News, I'm Danielle Karson in Washington.
The Supreme⁹ Court is denying a request to block the Pentagon from enforcing its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bars gays from serving openly in the military. A gay rights group asked the court to intervene while a lower court reviews the policy, but the Obama administration said the Supreme Court should not be involved at this time.
A prominent Michigan Republican is challenging Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele for his job. Saul Anuzis made the announcement today in an e-mail. He says the GOP can win in the 2012 election, if the party chairman allows the candidates to get the public attention. Anuzis refers Steele's very public controversies¹⁰ as party chairman, the critics say, hurt Republicans.
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The United Nations is appealing for nearly $164 million to swiftly scale up its aid efforts for Haiti's worsening cholera¹¹ epidemic¹². More from Lisa Schlein in Geneva.
UN aid agencies anticipate up to 200,000 Haitians could show cholera symptoms, ranging from mild diarrhea to severe dehydration¹³ over the next six to 12 months. WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl says this shows the amplitude¹⁴ of what can be expected.
"No one alive in Haiti has experienced cholera before, so it's a population which is very susceptible¹⁵ to the bacteria."Hartl says the current fatality¹⁶ rate of 6.5 percent is far higher than it should be. Money from the appeal will be used to bring in more doctors, provide essential medical equipment and ensure clean water and safe sanitation¹⁷. For NPR News, I'm Lisa Schlein in Geneva.
Three months after authorities ramped¹⁸ up security in the Afghan capital, a suicide car bomber¹⁹ has struck again. He attacked a NATO convoy²⁰ near the new parliament building in Kabul. The military alliance says an Afghan soldier and a NATO service member were hurt in the outskirts²¹ of the city.
US stocks still down with investors' worry that China will try to slow its surging economy. At last check, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 104 points at 11,179; NASDAQ Composite Index off 34 points at 2,522; and the S&P 500 is down 15. It's at 1,199.

1 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

4 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。

5 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。

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 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。

8 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

9 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。

10 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句

11 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

12 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

13 dehydration   

n.脱水，干燥

参考例句：

• He died from severe dehydration.他死于严重脱水。
• The eyes are often retracted from dehydration.眼睛常因脱水而凹陷。

14 amplitude   

n.广大；充足；振幅

参考例句：

• The amplitude of the vibration determines the loudness of the sound.振动幅度的大小决定声音的大小。
• The amplitude at the driven end is fixed by the driving mechanism.由于驱动机构的作用,使驱动端的振幅保持不变。

15 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

16 fatality   

n.不幸，灾祸，天命

参考例句：

• She struggle against fatality in vain.她徒然奋斗反抗宿命。
• He began to have a growing sense of fatality.他开始有一种越来越强烈的宿命感。

17 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

18 ramped   

土堤斜坡( ramp的过去式和过去分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯

参考例句：

• With the arrival of George Lucas, the pace has ramped up. 随着乔治·卢卡斯的到来，速度大大加快。
• They also sold corporate bonds as the global financial crisis ramped up. 在全球金融危机加剧之际，他们还抛售了公司债券。

19 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

20 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

21 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。