CNN Marketplace 2006-05-14

Michelle Wright: US trade deficit¹ declined unexpectedly for the second consecutive² time in March, which according to PNC Financial Services Group chief economist³ Stuart Huffman, is due in part to a lot of nations doing well and purchasing stuff made in the USA.

Stuart Hoffman: Canada is doing very well. In fact, they have a budget surplus; they’ve been able to cut taxes. It’s a stronger economy. Asia, all parts of Asia, doing very well, em, so our exports to those countries are doing well. Even Western Europe has begun to improve.

Michelle Wright: The Commerce Department says the gap narrowed to 62 billion dollars in March.

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Paris Hilton: That’s hot.

Michelle Wright: Paris Hilton caused a stir at this year's Video Game Expo while unveiling her new game which she forgot the name of. Paris Hilton's Jewel Jam, which she mistakenly called Diamond Quest will be available this summer for download to your cell phone.

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Michelle Wright: A Massachusetts oil company is looking to help consumers deal with the high gas prices with two options as a gas cap, says Cameron-Hanover President Peter Beutel.

Peter Beutel: A fixed⁴ price, which is absolute, that's the price they'll pay even if prices drop and a capped price which would be higher than the existing price will say you'll never pay more than this price for the term of the contract. But if prices drop you may actually pay less than that. It's the win-win situation that it is just so exciting about this deal.

Michelle Wright: Gulf⁵ Oil officials say these offers are designed to create brand loyalty⁶.

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Michelle Wright: The H1 is out. GM is ending production of the hulking, gas-guzzling mammoth⁷ Hummer H1, saying the last one will likely roll off the line next month.


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Michelle Wright: And the first quarter wasn't so friendly for Delta⁸ Airlines.

Shelby Lin: Delta Airlines has posted a net loss of just over 2 billion dollars for the first quarter, that compares with just over a billion dollars in net losses during the first quarter last year. The Atlanta-based Airline has been operating under bankruptcy⁹ protection since last fall. Analysts¹⁰ say Delta needs to raise its revenue and make bigger cuts in costs. Company officials say they need about 3 billion dollars in revenue increases and cost savings¹¹ to survive. Shelby Lin, CNN.

Michelle Wright: With CNN Radio in the marketplace. I'm Michelle Wright.

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WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

PNC:Pittsburgh National Corporation
The Commerce Department:美国商务部
win-win:双赢
out:落伍 (反义词 in:时尚)
gas-guzzling: adj. (车辆)耗油量大的
mammoth: adj. of very great size 庞然大物似的
roll off the line:下线,停产

1 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。

2 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

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 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

7 mammoth   

n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的

参考例句：

• You can only undertake mammoth changes if the finances are there.资金到位的情况下方可进行重大变革。
• Building the new railroad will be a mammoth job.修建那条新铁路将是一项巨大工程。

8 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

9 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 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。