voa标准英语2008-Automakers Pledge Restructuring in New Bid for L

U.S. automobile² companies suffered additional sharp losses in November, underscoring the threats facing the industry amid the U.S. recession. As VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the big three U.S. automakers have submitted details of their plans to restructure, in response to demands from members of Congress.

In its submission³ to Congress, Ford⁴ Motor Company says it will invest $14 billion in fuel-efficient technologies during the next seven years, while asking Congress for a $9 billion line of credit to help stabilize⁵ its operations.

The proposal comes ahead of a second appearance by auto¹ executives before Senate and House committees on Thursday and Friday - testimony⁶ they hope will persuade Congress to approve emergency legislation for $25 billion in loans.

In those hearings, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler are expected to pledge other steps, such as renegotiating debt, cutting executive salaries, and selling corporate⁷ aircraft.
　

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill about the crisis in the American auto industry, 2 Dec. 2008

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday that lawmakers are examining automaker proposals already in hand from General Motors and Ford, and she repeated Congress's insistence⁸ that the car companies demonstrate they can be viable⁹.

"The industry must show how it will innovate¹⁰ and prepare to take the companies into the 21st century," she said. "It's about viability¹¹ of the industry, it's about accountability to the taxpayer¹² and it's about innovation for the future."

In its written submission, Ford said it hopes to be able to transform its operations without having to access a potential $9 billion government bridge loan, if one is approved.

Ford says it is working on improving the fuel efficiency of its cars, reducing the number of its U.S. dealerships and negotiating with the United Auto Workers union on ways to help it compete with foreign carmakers.

If auto executives can persuade Congress that they are taking needed steps, House Speaker Pelosi said congressional leaders could call lawmakers back into session to consider legislation.
　

Chrysler auto dealership13 in Redwood, California (file)

However, although Pelosi said she would like to see this happen, she did not commit to such a session, and repeated her assertion that the Bush administration has authority to use funds from the $700 billion financial rescue plan to help U.S. automakers.

More bad news for car companies arrived on Tuesday in the form of sharp declines in sales numbers.

Ford said its sales of light vehicles in November dropped 31 percent, while General Motors reported a 41 percent decline for the month. They were not alone as Toyota and Honda reported U.S. sales declines of 34 percent and 32 percent.

　

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 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。

3 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

4 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

5 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

6 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

7 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

8 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

9 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

10 innovate   

v.革新，变革，创始

参考例句：

• We must innovate in order to make progress.我们必须改革以便取得进步。
• It is necessary to innovate and develop military theories.创新和发展军事理论是必要的。

11 viability   

n.存活(能力)

参考例句：

• What is required to achieve or maintain such viability? 要达到或维持这种生存能力需要什么？
• Scientists are experimenting to find ways to ensure the viability of seeds for even longer periods of time. 正如我们所说，科学家正在试验努力寻找让种子的生命力更加延长的方法。

12 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

13 dealership   

n.商品特许经销处

参考例句：

• The car dealership has a large inventory of used cars. 这家汽车经销商拥有数量庞大的二手车。
• A key to this effort is the experience in the dealership. 达到这个成果的关键是销售的体验。