CNN Marketplace 2006-04-23

Michelle Wright : In CNN's Gas Price Watch, crude oil prices have reached a record of more than $75 a barrel today amid concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions and declining US gasoline stocks.

John Felmy : The oil market is very tight, because of supply issues in Nigeria, Iraq, Venezuela, Russia and even Chad and even Unite States because of the hurricanes. And we've also seen demand continue to grow internationally, and so the market remains¹ fairly tight.

Michelle Wright : American Petroleum² Institute chief economist³ John Felmy.

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Michelle Wright : Now, we are not only dealing⁴ with higher oil and gas prices, but with supply shortages as well all on the east coast as stations change from the gas additive⁵ ethanol to NTBE, according to National Association of Convenience Stores spokesman John Eichberger, getting rid of ethanol is a bit of a challenge.

John Eichberger : Ethanol is a solvent⁶. So any type of mineral deposits that might be on the side of our tank, if we don't get those off before the ethanol is introduced, it will put those deposits into our gasoline and start clogging⁷ the filters in our dispensers.

Michelle Wright : Eichberger says the industry is working to keep gas disruptions minimal⁸. So with the hike in prices and the shortages, CNN's Bob Witkin gives us some tips on how to conserve⁹ the ever-precious gas in our tanks.

Bob Witkin : The simplest way to save gas is slow down. Most cars reach their peak efficiency between 55 and 60. And for every mile an hour over 60, you can expect to pay an average of 21 cents more per mile. Remove excess weight. For every 100 pounds reduced--a savings¹⁰ of 2 percent. Tire pressure is important. The correct pressure saves about 3 percent or 8 cents a mile. Use cruise control if you have it, and remember avoid excess idling, when you idle, you get 0 MPGs. Bob Witkin CNN.

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Michelle Wright : According to the results of the National Association of Business Economics April survey, employment growth looks good.

James Meil : We've got very strong hiring plans, and when our respondents say what's tough out there with regard to short, they respond to, as they say, is the shortage of skilled labor¹¹.

Michelle Wright : Eaton Corporation chief economist James Meil .

Michelle Wright : With CNN Marketplace, I'm Michelle Wright.

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WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

ethanol: 乙醇，酒精
cruise control: an electronic device in an automobile¹² that controls the throttle¹³ so as to maintain a constant speed (汽车的自动控速装置)
idle: (汽车/机器等)空转；本文中指汽车引擎虽在运转，但汽车并不在行驶中。
MPG: miles per gallon
respondent: a person who responds to a poll

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

3 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 additive   

adj.附加的；n.添加剂

参考例句：

• Colour is often an additive in foods.颜料经常是各种食物中的添加物。
• Strict safety tests are carried out on food additives.对食品添加剂进行了严格的安全检测。

6 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。

7 clogging   

堵塞，闭合

参考例句：

• This process suffers mainly from clogging the membrane. 这种过程的主要问题是滤膜的堵塞。
• And you know that eyewitness that's been clogging up the airwaves? 你知道那个充斥着电视广播的目击证人？

8 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

9 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

10 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

11 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。

12 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

13 throttle   

n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压

参考例句：

• These government restrictions are going to throttle our trade.这些政府的限制将要扼杀我们的贸易。
• High tariffs throttle trade between countries.高的关税抑制了国与国之间的贸易。