NPR边听边练178：美国医保进展

 　　NPR边听边练 第133期：美国医保进展

　　以下段落是摘自新闻里的一些重要信息,并不是一个段落的听写。空内信息可在本新闻中全部找到,大家可以根据这些信息复述新闻。

　　一、泛听建议：

　　1、完整听一遍，掌握大意。

　　2、继续听，特别注意关键信息。遇到相似的词，写下来。

　　3、复述新闻。

　　The government today _1_ some improvement in the health of the medicare program and no significant change in the outlook for social security. As NPR's John Ydstie reports the annual trustees' evaluation¹ of the two programs shows the solvency² of the Medicare Trust Fund _2_ for two years. The trustees now project that Medicare Trust Fund will not be exhausted³ until 2026, social security is expected to remain solvent⁴ until 2033. At a news conference, Trustee Robert Reischauer said the somewhat brighter outlook for medicare is partly due to implementation⁵ of the affordable⁶ care act also known as Obamacare. But he said under current law, neither medicare nor social security is on a sustainable path.

　　今天，政府报告了一些健康医疗保险项目的进展，社会保险的前景并没有明显变化。据NPR新闻的约翰·伊斯蒂报道，两个项目的年度托管人评估显示，老年医疗信托基金的偿付能力延长了两年。托管人预计老年医疗信托基金将于2026年耗尽，社会保险则可以偿付到2033年。托管人罗伯特·赖肖尔在新闻发布会上表示，医疗保险前景改善的部分原因是平价医疗法案，即奥巴马医疗改革法案的实施。但是他也表示，在现行的法律下，老年保健医疗制度和社会保险制度都没有走上可持续道路。

　　"The sooner the policy makers⁷ address these challenges that lie ahead , the less disruptive, the unavoidable adjustments will _3_ for individuals and for the economy."

　　“决策者越早解决未来面临的挑战，不可避免的调整对个人和经济造成的破坏越小。”

　　If lawmakers did not nothing, social security _4_ to pay only 77% of promised benefits in 2033. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

　　如果议员什么都不做，到2033年社会保险只能支付承诺福利的77%。NPR新闻，约翰·伊斯蒂华盛顿报道。

　　President Obama _5_ Congress to stop student loan rate from doubling on July 1st. Stafford loans will go from 3.4% to 6.8% unless Congress acts. Many lawmakers say they want to stop the increase. But they are divided over how to accomplish it.

　　奥巴马总统催促国会采取行动，避免7月1日将学生贷款利率加倍。如果国会不采取行动，斯坦福德贷款将从3.4%翻番至6.8%。许多议员表示，他们希望阻止利率上涨。但是在如何实现的问题上产生了分歧。

　　词汇解析：

　　1、solvency n. 偿付能力；溶解力

　　eg:...unsound investments that could threaten the company's solvency.

　　…可能威胁到公司偿债能力的不良投资。

　　2. lie ahead 在面前，即将发生

　　eg. Many serious challenges still lie ahead.

　　许多严峻的挑战还摆在眼前。

　　eg. Changed viewpoints and still more discoveries undoubtedly⁸ lie ahead.

　　毫无疑问将来还会有与现在不同的观点，也会有更多的发现。

　　eg. May a still brighter future for you lie ahead!

　　愿你的明天会更美!

　　参考答案：

　　1、reported 2、has been extended 3、be both

　　4、would be able to 5、is urging

1 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

2 solvency   

n.偿付能力，溶解力

参考例句：

• Fears about the solvency of the banks precipitated the great economic crash.对银行偿付能力出现恐慌更加速了经济的崩溃。
• Their targets,including profitability ratios,solvency ratios,asset management ratios.其指标包括盈利比率、偿债能力比率、资产管理比率。

3 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

4 solvent   

n.溶剂；adj.有偿付能力的

参考例句：

• Gasoline is a solvent liquid which removes grease spots.汽油是一种能去掉油污的有溶解力的液体。
• A bankrupt company is not solvent.一个破产的公司是没有偿还债务的能力的。

5 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

6 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

7 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。