NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-03-01

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

 

　　The US Senate is taking procedural votes on competing bills aimed at avoiding the across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester¹, which are set to take effect tomorrow. The GOP measure has failed to get enough votes to advance. A vote is underway on a democratic bill. NPR's Craig Windham reports Senate majority leader Harry² Reid is accusing Republicans of being completely inflexible³ for refusing to consider closing tax loopholes and reducing subsidies⁴ as a part of the plan.

 

　　'Reid says polls show the vast majority of Americans, and even the majority of Republicans, favor reducing the federal deficit⁵ with the combination of spending cuts and revenue increases.'

 

　　'The only republicans in America that don't agree, are those that serving Congress.'

 

　　'But GOP Senator John Cronyn says president Obama already got all the revenue he's going to get in the deal that avoided the fiscal⁶ cliff.'

 

　　'He got a $ 600 billion in additional tax revenue from the American people. So where is the balance to that.'

 

　　'That $ 600 billion in revenue was only half of what the president thought though, and less than House Speaker John Boehner offered in the failed talks in 2011 aimed at achieving a so-called grand bargain on deficit reduction. Craig Windham NPR News, Washington.'

 

　　Today is the deadline for filing briefs in the proposition eight same-sex marriage case before the US Supreme⁷ Court. NPR's Nina Totenberg has previously⁸ reported the administration will file a brief citing with those contending the California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

 

　　'What is still unknown is what legal argument the administration makes in the brief to be filed later today. The president has sent mix signals as to whether he'll urge the court to strike down all state laws banning same-sex marriage or a limited number of laws or just California's law. Best bet is a middle ground, urging the court to take one step at a time instead of taking a giant leap. Nina Totenberg NPR News, Washington.'

 

　　Work is underway to plug a leaking oil well off Louisiana's coast. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports oil has been leaking since Tuesday night when a boat struck a sealed well head.

 

　　'The US coast guard is overseeing Swift Energy's operation to secure its well head, located in a bay about nine miles southwest of Port Sulphur, Louisiana. The shallow water well had been out of service for about five years when one of Swift crew boats crushed into it. Builds up natural gas forced an oily water mixture to spew from the damaged well. The coast guard says less than 840 gallons a day is being discharged and skimmer boats are on site to help with cleanup and containment⁹. The spill prompted the State of Louisiana to close nearby oyster¹⁰ beds in Plaquemines Parish. Debbie Elliott NPR News.'

 

　　At last check on Wall Street, Dow was up 34 points; make that 35 points, at 14,110. This is NPR.

 

　　A former executive of Massey energy claims that the defunct¹¹ company CEO was part of the conspiracy¹² to violate mine safety laws. NPR's Howard Berkes reports the alleged¹³ conspiracy precede the explosion in 2010 that killed 29 Massey coal miners.

 

　　'David C. Hughart once run a Massey coal mining sub-city area in west Virginia and implicated¹⁴ former CEO Don Blankenship as he plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges. Hughart told the court that the company's Chief Operating Officer ordered managers to illegally warn miners underground when federal inspectors¹⁵ arrived on the surface for surprise inspections¹⁶. Hughart didn’t utter Blankenship's name, but he was CEO at the time. The accusation¹⁷ implicates¹⁸ Blankenship in the conspiracy and signals for the first time publicly, that prosecutors¹⁹ have a witness against him. Blankenship has insisted he did nothing wrong in advance at the deadly upper big branch mine disaster. Howard Berkes NPR News.'

 

　　Call him pope, emeritus²⁰. Amid much fanfare²¹ in Vatican City, Benedict, the 16th, stepped down earlier today as head of the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. Observers say Benedict appeared relieved though he also seems fragile he had retired²² citing health reasons. Cardinals²³ will hold a conclave²⁴ to decide on Benedict's successor.

 

　　Story Co., the national oral history organization whose works have been heard here on NPR, is receiving a one-million dollar prize from the McArthur foundation. It's among 39 non-profit groups to be recognized. Story Co. says it will use the money to invest its technological²⁵ infrastructure²⁶ and grow its cash reserves.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

1 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。

2 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

3 inflexible   

adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的

参考例句：

• Charles was a man of settled habits and inflexible routine.查尔斯是一个恪守习惯、生活规律不容打乱的人。
• The new plastic is completely inflexible.这种新塑料是完全不可弯曲的。

4 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 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。

7 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。

8 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。

9 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

10 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

11 defunct   

adj.死亡的；已倒闭的

参考例句：

• The scheme for building an airport seems to be completely defunct now.建造新机场的计划看来整个完蛋了。
• This schema object is defunct.No modifications are allowed until it is made active again.此架构对象不起作用。在重新激活之前，不能进行任何改动。

12 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

13 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

14 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

18 implicates   

n.牵涉，涉及（某人）( implicate的名词复数 )；表明（或意指）…是起因

参考例句：

• This confession implicates numerous officials in the bribery scandal. 这一供认会使许多官员牵连到受贿的丑事中。 来自辞典例句
• Did you tell him that the recording implicates President Logan in Palmer's assassination? 你有没有告诉他录音显示洛根总统跟帕尔默被杀有关？ 来自电影对白

19 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。

20 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。

21 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

22 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。

23 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

24 conclave   

n.秘密会议，红衣主教团

参考例句：

• Signore,I ask and I prey,that you break this conclave.各位阁下，我请求，并祈祷，你们能停止这次秘密会议。
• I met my partner at that conclave and my life moved into a huge shift.我就是在那次大会上遇到了我的伴侣的，而我的生活就转向了一个巨大的改变。

25 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

26 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。