PBS高端访谈:新闻回顾:上海努力应对创纪录的雾霾

 　　JUDY WOODRUFF: Unemployment in the U.S. dipped to 7 percent in November, the lowest rate since 2008. And employers added 203,000 jobs. But the number of people actively¹ looking for work remained near a 35-year low. Paul Solman explores the data and the debate over long-term jobless benefits right after this news summary.

　　The jobs numbers touched off a rally on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average gained more than198 points to close at 16,020, breaking a five-day losing streak². The Nasdaq rose 29 points to close at 4,062. For the week, the Dow lost just under 0.5 percent; the Nasdaq rose 0.1 percent.

　　Snow and freezing rain fell from Texas up to Indiana today, posing an icy threat across the central U.S. Roads in North Texas and Arkansas starting icing over late last night and continued today. And someparts of the Midwest were forecast to get several inches of snow. American Airlines, whose major hub is in Dallas, canceled 1,000 flights by this morning.

　　Britain and Northern Europe spent a second day coping with flooding and other damage from a powerful storm. It triggered the biggest tidal surge in 60 years on the eastern English coast. The surge pulled cliff-top homes into the North Sea, and caused severe flooding in many coastal³ communities. In London,the River Thames Barrier was closed for the second time in as many days to protect against the flood.

　　Heavy smog descended⁴ on Shanghai, China, today, one of the worst bouts⁵ of pollution to hit the city since records were started last December. Authorities reacted by pulling 30 percent of government vehicles off the road and banning fireworks and public sporting events. Visibility was down to just 160 feetin some places, as people struggled to cope.

　　XUE ZHIYU, China (through translator): I have difficulty in breathing. I feel uncomfortable. My throatfelt funny after I went home. I hate going outside. It was fine in the subway, but the air qualityis terrible outdoors. Visibility is also bad, and so is my mood.

　　JUDY WOODRUFF: The dirty air is being blamed on coal burning, car exhausts, factory pollution, and shifting weather patterns.

　　The international chemical weapons watchdog now says that all of Syria's unfilled chemical munitions⁶ have been destroyed. The Organization for the Prohibition⁷ of Chemical Weapons announced that it has verified that the Assad regime did indeed destroy the empty weapons. It also confirmed destruction of buildings at production facilities.

　　There was relative quiet across the capital city of the Central African Republic today, as hundreds ofFrench troops began arriving. A day earlier, at least 280 people died in heavy fighting between Christian⁸ militias⁹ and Muslim rebels. Soldiers reached the city this morning, with the permission of the U.N. Security Council to use force. The French contingent¹⁰ will eventually reach 1,200.

　　The embattled president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, met today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the face of ongoing¹¹ protests back home. The demonstrations¹² erupted after Ukraine's leaders backedaway from improving ties with the European Union. Moscow wants Ukraine to join a trade bloc¹³ dominated by Russia instead.

1 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

2 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

5 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 munitions   

n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品

参考例句：

• The army used precision-guided munitions to blow up enemy targets.军队用精确瞄准的枪炮炸掉敌方目标。
• He rose [made a career for himself] by dealing in munitions.他是靠贩卖军火发迹的。

7 prohibition   

n.禁止；禁令，禁律

参考例句：

• The prohibition against drunken driving will save many lives.禁止酒后开车将会减少许多死亡事故。
• They voted in favour of the prohibition of smoking in public areas.他们投票赞成禁止在公共场所吸烟。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

10 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

11 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

12 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

13 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。