NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-02-27

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

 

　　Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the sharp government spending cuts set to take effect Friday will create a significant headwind for the economic recovery. Bernanke has delivered the Fed semi-annual report to the Senate Banking¹ Committee. NPR's Craig Windham says Bernanke is defending the Fed's bond-buying program, which is aimed at keeping borrowing costs low.

 

　　The Fed is buying about 85 billion dollars in treasury² and mortgage-backed securities a month. Bernanke says that has been good for the economy.

 

　　"Notably³, keeping longer term interest rates low has helped spark recovery in the housing market and led to increased sales and production of automobiles⁴ and other durable⁵ goods.”

 

　　Bernanke says while the Fed is trying to stimulate⁶ the economy, the upcoming across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester⁷ would have the opposite effect, restraining growth. He says there’s a better way to bring down the deficit⁸.

 

　　"I think an appropriate balance would be to introduce these cuts more gradually and to compensate⁹ with larger and more sustained cuts in the longer run to address our long-run fiscal¹⁰ issues.”

 

　　Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.

 

　　Chuck Hagel is a crucial step closer to becoming secretary of defense¹¹. Today lawmakers voted to end the GOP filibuster¹² on the former Republican senator, clearing the way for a final up or down confirmation¹³ vote. Hagel encountered resistance after breaking with fellow Republicans on various aspects of foreign policy including Iran and nuclear arms.

 

　　Speaking of, the first day of nuclear talks in Kazakhstan has ended with Iran contemplating¹⁴ a revised offer from six world powers. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that Western officials hope the Iranians will return tomorrow with a substantive¹⁵ response.

 

　　The international side is for the first time offering some sanctions relief to the Iranians. But it's believed to be only modest economic relief in exchange for substantial concessions¹⁶ on Iran's nuclear program. EU spokesman Michael Mann says the success of the talks depends very much on how Iran responds to the latest proposal.

 

　　"The onus¹⁷ is very much on the Iranians. They are of course in breach¹⁸ of Security Council resolutions, and we are hoping that they can show some flexibility¹⁹ and that the process can continue.”

 

　　Iranian officials said they came to Kazakhstan with several possible counteroffers, but so far none has been put on the table. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Almaty, Kazakhstan.

 

　　In New York City, a bell tolled²⁰ at 12:18 PM in memory of the six people killed 20 years ago today in the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. More than 1,000 people were also hurt in the 1993 attack.

 

　　And (in) Ohio, teenagers have pleaded guilty of killing²¹ three students and wounding three others nearly a year ago at a high school in Chardon. The Associated Press reports that in return prosecutors²² have agreed to drop the possibility of the death penalty for T.J. Lane. The 18-year-old may now face life in prison.

 

　　You’re listening to NPR News.

 

　　As the Roman Catholic Church prepares for a new pope to lead the world's estimated one billion catholics, the Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has settled on what he will be called after he retires this week.

 

　　"His Holiness Benedict XVI, that name will remain with him, Emeritus²³ Pope or Pope Emeritus or the Roman Pontiff Emeritus.”

 

　　Reverend Thomas Rosica, spokesperson for the Vatican, announcing Benedict's post-retirement title. The issue fuels concern over a conflict of interest that could arise from having both the ruling and the retired²⁴ pope, something the church hasn’t experienced in hundreds of years.

 

　　Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn filed suit today to halt the publication of a book by an author sharing details of her 2012 liaison²⁵. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that “Beauty and the Beast” is set for release on Wednesday.

 

　　The book is the latest chapter in the life of the former French presidential hopeful since he was accused of sexual aggression²⁶ by a New York hotel maid in May, 2011. The author, Marcela Iacub, admits to mixing fiction with reality in her attempt to portray²⁷ Strauss-Kahn. The liaison took place in the midst of the New York hotel sex scandal when Strauss-Kahn was still married to former journalist Anne Sinclair, whose money paid for his defense. Strauss-Kahn's lawyers said they will seek the seizure²⁸ of the book after suing Iacub and her publisher for an attack on his private life. Failing that, his lawyers will demand that every copy of the book carry an insert. They have not yet said what the insert will say. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

 

　　Dow was up 116 points at 13,900, NASDAQ gaining 15 at 3,131, S&P 500 up nine at 1,497.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

3 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

4 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

6 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

7 sequester   

vt.使退隐，使隔绝

参考例句：

• Everything he owned was sequestered.他的所有财产都被扣押了。
• This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.预计这个陪审团将至少被隔离两个月。

8 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

9 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

10 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

11 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。

12 filibuster   

n.妨碍议事，阻挠；v.阻挠

参考例句：

• A senator dragged the subject in as a filibuster.一个参议员硬把这个题目拉扯进来，作为一种阻碍议事的手法。
• The democrats organized a filibuster in the senate.民主党党员在参议院上组织了阻挠议事。

13 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

14 contemplating   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
• She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

15 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

16 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

17 onus   

n.负担；责任

参考例句：

• The onus is on government departments to show cause why information cannot bedisclosed.政府部门有责任说明不能把信息公开的理由。
• The onus of proof lies with you.你有责任提供证据。

18 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

19 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

20 tolled   

鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Bells were tolled all over the country at the King's death. 全国为国王之死而鸣钟。
• The church bell tolled the hour. 教堂的钟声报时。

21 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。

22 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

23 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

24 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

25 liaison   

n.联系，（未婚男女间的）暖昧关系，私通

参考例句：

• She acts as a liaison between patients and staff.她在病人与医护人员间充当沟通的桥梁。
• She is responsible for liaison with researchers at other universities.她负责与其他大学的研究人员联系。

26 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

27 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

28 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。