NPR 2010-11-24

President Obama told workers at a Chrysler plant in Kokomo, Indiana today their success is a sign of confidence in the country’s future.
"But even as we continue to face serious challenges, what’s happening here at this plant - the changes we’re seeing throughout Kokomo - are signs of hope and confidence in the future."Mr. Obama and the vice¹ president are in Kokomo today, hailing the auto² industry's success, since both Chrysler and GM were rescued by the federal government. Chrysler says it will pump (in) $840 million into the plant, contingent³ on the city offering tax breaks. The company says that money will keep 2,200 employees on the job.
The Pentagon isn't saying whether the US will consider any response in today's exchange of gunfire between the North and South of Korea, but the White House is demanding that North Korea stop its "belligerent⁴ action". At least two South Korean marines were killed, more than a dozen people wounded. From Seoul, Doualy Xaykaothao reports North Korea is threatening more military attacks.
While homes on the island are still burning and the wounded are being cared for at local hospitals, the North in an official communique said its military will take "merciless military actions" against the South if Seoul violates territorial⁵ waters. The North reportedly sent the South a protest letter earlier, warning of a response if they didn't end naval⁶ exercises that began in the Yellow Sea Monday. The South describes those naval exercises as defense⁷ drills, but the North views them as war exercises. President Lee Myung-bak, according to a spokeswoman, ordered his military to strike North Korea if there is another provocation⁸. For NPR News, I'm Doualy Xaykaothao in Seoul.
After two months of gains, the National Association of Realtors says existing home sales fell 2.2 percent last month in the US. Danielle Karson reports, some analysts⁹ say the foreclosure freezes across the country could be discouraging buyers.
Last month's sales were almost 40 percent below their peak five years ago, when more than seven million homes were sold. Even though mortgage interest rates and prices are at record lows, would-be buyers are staying on the sidelines. Kathy Fettke, CEO of Real Wealth Network, says credit is tight and the foreclosure moratoriums¹⁰ have people spooked.
"When they see headline news: 'Hay, you'd better not buy a foreclosure 'cause you might have to give it back,' that's gonna scare a lot of people, especially some 34 percent of sales are distressed¹¹ right now. So, I think it did have an impact."Analysts expect the housing market will be choppy in the coming months, depending on the duration and impact of the foreclosure freezes. All 50 states are investigating whether mortgage companies kicked people out of their homes, based on sloppy¹² paperwork. For NPR News, I'm Danielle Karson in Washington.
Stocks are trading lower on Wall Street just ahead of the close. The Dow is down 151 points at 11,027; the NASDAQ is down 38 at 2,493; the S&P 500 down 17 at 1,180.
This is NPR News.
Rescue efforts have resumed, trying to reach 29 New Zealand coal miners missing after a massive explosion. A bomb-disposal robot has been restarted and sent further into the tunnel, checking the safety of that tunnel and the toxic¹³ gas levels, but officials still say they have no viable¹⁴ way to reach the trapped men when they find them.
Scientists are reporting a breakthrough in the fight against AIDS. A pill already in use to treat HIV infection turns out to be a powerful weapon in preventing its spread. NPR's Richard Knox has more on the research.
This is the first time anybody's shown that a pill can prevent HIV infection. The researchers gave the pill to 2,500 men who have sex with men. They were men who didn't use condoms consistently. After more than a year, there were 44 percent fewer HIV infections among those who took the pill even when they missed doses. Those who took the pill almost every day have 73 percent less risk of HIV infection. The pill's success raises difficult questions. Researchers have to figure out if it makes sense to give it to some high-risk people who're not infected yet. It's already sold under the brand name Truvada to treat existing HIV infections, but it's really expensive - around $36 a pill - and that's more than $13,000 a year. Richard Knox, NPR News.
Flight attendants can now skip the intrusive¹⁵ security scans in airports just like pilots by being in uniform and showing two IDs. They still have to go through a metal detector¹⁶. TSA officials say pilots and flight attendants will now be treated the same.
Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton are set to be playing a very hands-on role on their upcoming nuptials¹⁷. They've chosen April 29th as the wedding day. It will be held at Westminster Abbey. British Prime Minister David Cameron says the wedding day will be a public holiday.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

3 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

4 belligerent   

adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者

参考例句：

• He had a belligerent aspect.他有种好斗的神色。
• Our government has forbidden exporting the petroleum to the belligerent countries.我们政府已经禁止向交战国输出石油。

5 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

6 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

7 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。

8 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

9 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。

10 moratoriums   

正式的延缓，暂停( moratorium的名词复数 )

参考例句：

11 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

12 sloppy   

adj.邋遢的，不整洁的

参考例句：

• If you do such sloppy work again,I promise I'll fail you.要是下次作业你再马马虎虎，我话说在头里，可要给你打不及格了。
• Mother constantly picked at him for being sloppy.母亲不断地批评他懒散。

13 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

14 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

15 intrusive   

adj.打搅的；侵扰的

参考例句：

• The cameras were not an intrusive presence.那些摄像机的存在并不令人反感。
• Staffs are courteous but never intrusive.员工谦恭有礼却从不让人感到唐突。

16 detector   

n.发觉者，探测器

参考例句：

• The detector is housed in a streamlined cylindrical container.探测器安装在流线型圆柱形容器内。
• Please walk through the metal detector.请走过金属检测器。

17 nuptials   

n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Their nuptials were performed by the local priest. 他们的婚礼由当地牧师主持。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• If he married, when the nuptials would take place, and under what circumstances? 如果他结婚，那么什么时候举行婚礼？在什么情况下举行婚礼？ 来自辞典例句