NPR 2011-01-04

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

California swears in its 39th governor today, Democrat¹ Jerry Brown.

"I take this obligation freely."

"Without any mental reservation."

"Without any mental reservation."

"or"

"Really! No mental reservation."

Brown succeeds Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger to become only the second person to serve three terms as California governor. He served from 1975 to 1983 before term limits were imposed. This time around, 72-year-old Brown finds a very different California than the one he previously² led, a state with much bigger financial troubles and partisanship³ that blocks any chance of swift compromise.

Now, it's not just politics making headlines in California, so is the weather. After a break from a spate⁴ of serious winter storms, many Californians were greeted by precipitation again for the first workday of the New Year. NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates reports that in some places roads have been closed because of snow.

Thanks to a low-pressure system and a frigid⁵ blast of air from the Gulf⁶ of Alaska, thousands of travelers driving between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area found it rough-sledding, literally⁷, in some cases. Overnight, precipitation at lower elevations⁸ resulted in snowfalls heavy enough to close several major roads and highways. Traffic backed up for miles as frustrated⁹ motorists waited for the roads to open again. The weather is expected to clear by Monday evening, but the National Weather Service has issued an advisory¹⁰ that until then travel in some parts of the state will be very hazardous¹¹ due to moderate snowfall. Karen Grigsby Bates, NPR News.

Hungary is having a rough start to its six-month rotation¹² at the helm of the European Union. Teri Schultz reports from Brussels on the criticism being leveled at Hungary's government from business, media and environmental activists¹³.

Greenpeace protesters with eyeball-shaped helmets marched outside Hungary's Foreign Ministry¹⁴, warning that Europe is watching. The environmental organization is using the spotlight¹⁵ of Hungary's EU presidency¹⁶ to demand more attention to fighting climate change. Meanwhile in Brussels, the European Commission is taking up a complaint launched by 13 large European companies, accusing Hungary of tax discrimination against foreign-owned businesses. EU spokesman Olivier Bailly says it's not yet clear whether the new tax laws break single market rules.

"We have to investigate first, and this is what we are doing now."

Bailly also confirms EU officials are questioning Hungary about new media laws, which include a special oversight¹⁷ authority run by members of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's party. The body can demand journalists reveal sources and can issue fines for what it considers a lack of fairness. For NPR News, I'm Teri Schultz in Brussels.

Upbeat economic reports bolstering¹⁸ trading today, at last check the Dow was up 115 points at 11,692; that's up around one percent; NASDAQ up 39 at 2,692.

This is NPR News.

Johnson & Johnson is working to help develop a new test that would help to test spreading cancer cells in the blood. Today, it announced a business partnership¹⁹ with scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital. Researchers hope that some day doctors will be able to more quickly identify proper treatment for cancer patients.

In France, a prominent member of the opposition²⁰ Socialist²¹ Party is suggesting the country return to the 39-hour week. Eleanor Beardsley reports politicians running for the president of France next year, and now he has angered supporters.

The comments were particularly embarrassing because the 35-hour work week put in place by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in 1998 is considered a hallmark of the Socialist Party, but Congressman²² Manuel Valls said the policy should be reversed because it had not helped the economy or improved purchasing power. The 35-hour week has allowed many people more time with their families, but studies show it has complicated things for employers and not generated the jobs that were supposed to. Valls hails from a young generation of Socialists²³ who feel the party is outdated²⁴. He said in today's world with stiff competition we can't follow ideas from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The Socialists have been in complete disarray²⁵ since Sarkozy was elected in 2007. While Sarkozy is deeply unpopular, there is no viable²⁶ Socialist candidate to oppose him in 2012. For NPR News, I'm Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.

Another Australian city's been cut off by floodwaters inundating²⁷ large portions of Queensland. Military rushed in more supplies today. Local authorities say they fear the northeastern region will remain submerged for weeks. The flooded area is the size of Germany and France combined.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 Partisanship   

n. 党派性, 党派偏见

参考例句：

• Her violent partisanship was fighting Soames's battle. 她的激烈偏袒等于替索米斯卖气力。
• There was a link of understanding between them, more important than affection or partisanship. ' 比起人间的感情，比起相同的政见，这一点都来得格外重要。 来自英汉文学

4 spate   

n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵

参考例句：

• Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.警察正在调查这一地区发生的大量盗窃案。
• Refugees crossed the border in full spate.难民大量地越过了边境。

5 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

6 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

7 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

8 elevations   

（水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升

参考例句：

• Weight of the crust changes as elevations are eroded and materials are deposited elsewhere. 当高地受到侵蚀，物质沉积到别的地方时，地壳的重量就改变。
• All deck elevations are on the top of structural beams. 所有甲板标高线均指结构梁顶线。

9 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

11 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

12 rotation   

n.旋转；循环，轮流

参考例句：

• Crop rotation helps prevent soil erosion.农作物轮作有助于防止水土流失。
• The workers in this workshop do day and night shifts in weekly rotation.这个车间的工人上白班和上夜班每周轮换一次。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

15 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

16 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

17 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

18 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

19 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

20 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

21 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

22 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

23 socialists   

社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The socialists saw themselves as true heirs of the Enlightenment. 社会主义者认为自己是启蒙运动的真正继承者。
• The Socialists junked dogma when they came to office in 1982. 社会党人1982年上台执政后，就把其政治信条弃之不顾。

24 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

25 disarray   

n.混乱，紊乱，凌乱

参考例句：

• His personal life fell into disarray when his wife left him.妻子离去后，他的个人生活一片混乱。
• Our plans were thrown into disarray by the rail strike.铁路罢工打乱了我们的计划。

26 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。

27 inundating   

v.淹没( inundate的现在分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• Floodwaters are inundating states up and down the Eastern Seaboard. 洪水淹没了东部沿海各州。 来自互联网
• Their invasion of the city effecttidal wave inundating first the immigrant colonies. 他们的涌入城市，象潮头一样首先淹没了移民地带。 来自互联网