NPR 2011-01-21

The number of people putting in for unemployment for the first time is still hovering¹ near two-year lows, first reported over the winter holidays, raising hopes of job growth this year. Last week, the Labor² Department found applications dropped by 37,000 to just over 400,000. But analysts³ say the country has to see the level drop to 375,000 less to put a significant dent⁴ in the unemployment rate. Housing is also showing signs of picking up in December, existing homes sold faster than any other time in the previous seven months. However, that's coming off an overall dismal⁵ year for selling a home, the weakest performance in more than a decade. The Conference Board reports that leading economic indicators⁶ rose more than expected in December and point to a strengthening recovery. More on this from NPR's Wendy Kaufman.

The Conference Board says overall economic activity is likely to continue to gain momentum⁷ in 2011, though it faces what the group called some strong headpins. The board's index, which measures things from housing permits to interest rates and manufacturing orders, has now increased for six straight months. And in the past two months, the pace has quickened. The rising number of housing permits issued in December suggests home building could be improving and low interest rates remain conducive⁸ to expansion. Also on the plus side, a strong stock market and fewer claims for unemployment. But the independent research group also noted⁹ that not all ten components¹⁰ in the index were positive. In fact, supplier deliveries and manufacturing orders for consumer goods fell in December. Wendy Kaufman, NPR News.

We're seeing mixed economic reports out today, also seeing mixed results on Wall Street. At last check, the Dow was up four points at 11,829, but the NASDAQ was down 15 at 2,710.

In other news, another wave of bombings is undermining Iraq's struggle to secure some measure of security before American combat forces leave this year. NPR's Kelly McEvers says suicide bombers¹¹ killed at least 45 people today when they struck a crowd of Shiite pilgrims, who were on their way to Karbala.

The pilgrims were marching to Karbala to commemorate¹² the end of a 40-day mourning period that honors the death of Imam Hussein in the year 680. At least two car bombs detonated along the road where they were marching. Millions of Shiite pilgrims make the trip each year. Sunni insurgents¹³ regularly target them. The attacks mark a third day of increased violence here. In three separate attacks, suicide bombers have targeted police buildings, killing¹⁴ scores and wounding hundreds. Iraq has seen a slowdown in violence recently. The latest attacks are cause for concern as US troops prepare to withdraw by the end of this year. Kelly McEvers, NPR News.

From Washington, this is NPR.

In Miami, two police officers were killed today in a gunfight while attempting to arrest a murder suspect. From Miami, NPR's Greg Allen has details.

The incident happened as members of a multiagency task force that's in a Miami neighborhood served a homicide arrest warrant on a man described as a violent fugitive¹⁵. It led to a shootout. A police officer and the suspect were declared dead at the scene. Another police officer was shot several times and airlifted to a nearby hospital. She died while undergoing surgery. Dozens of officers as well as Miami Dade's mayor and police chief were on the scene. The confrontation¹⁶ led to a lockdown of area schools and a brief shutdown of Interstate 85. It's the first time in more than 20 years two law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in Miami. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

The FBI is charging 127 people tied to the Mob in one of the biggest crackdowns of organized crime in the bureau's history. Attorney General Eric Holder¹⁷ says the suspects include top-level members of the Colombo and Gambino families, who are accused of crimes that authorities say date back decades.

Floodwaters are spreading across Australia's northern and western Victoria state after weeks of record downpours. In the Grand Region, more than 3,500 people have fled what they believe is the worst flood the area has seen in more than a century. The deluge¹⁸ is also blamed in another death. Authorities say the body of a three-year-old boy was found yesterday near his family's home in New South Wales state. Weeks of floods have killed more than 30 people.

1 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

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 dent   

n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展

参考例句：

• I don't know how it came about but I've got a dent in the rear of my car.我不知道是怎么回事，但我的汽车后部有了一个凹痕。
• That dent is not big enough to be worth hammering out.那个凹陷不大，用不着把它锤平。

5 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

6 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

7 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

8 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

11 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

13 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

14 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

15 fugitive   

adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者

参考例句：

• The police were able to deduce where the fugitive was hiding.警方成功地推断出那逃亡者躲藏的地方。
• The fugitive is believed to be headed for the border.逃犯被认为在向国境线逃窜。

16 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

17 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

18 deluge   

n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥

参考例句：

• This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily.雨大的时候，这条小溪能变作洪流。
• I got caught in the deluge on the way home.我在回家的路上遇到倾盆大雨。