英语听力精选进阶版 15620

 

Is the American recovery stalling?

Fri, 28 Feb 14

The US publishes its latest economic figures today and the growth rate for the end of last year is likely to be revised down. Meanwhile, freezing temperatures and snow storms across the US are likely to have dented¹ growth in the first quarter of this year - so what does this mean for the US economic recovery? The number of new homes registered in the UK in January was up 14 per cent on last year, according to figures from the National House-Building Council. So five years after an industry slump² that led to half-finished estates and thousands of job cuts, is the house building sector³ getting back to full strength? Trades Union Congress - the body that represents 54 trade unions in the UK - says nearly five and a half million people worked extra hours in 2013 and they reckon that's equivalent to 640 million pounds worth of unpaid⁴ overtime⁵ last year.

1 dented   

v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等）

参考例句：

• The back of the car was badly dented in the collision. 汽车尾部被撞后严重凹陷。
• I'm afraid I've dented the car. 恐怕我把车子撞瘪了一些。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

3 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

4 unpaid   

adj.未付款的，无报酬的

参考例句：

• Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
• He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。

5 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。