VOA标准英语2008年-US Lawmakers Respond to Possible Boost in Saudi

U.S. legislators are responding cautiously to statements from Saudi Arabia that hint at possible further increases in oil production, saying the United States must do more on its own to reduce its dependency on foreign sources of fuel. From Washington, VOA's Michael Bowman reports.

Saudi Arabia's oil minister (Ali al-Naimi) says the kingdom is willing to boost crude production if sufficient demand exists for the commodity. The remarks came at an oil summit in Jeddah, where Saudi Arabia said it is already increasing production by 200,000 barrels per day, but would consider an even higher output.
　
Edward Markey

In Washington, the chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence, Massachusetts Representative Edward Markey, seemed unimpressed by the Saudi pronouncement.

"It may have a marginal impact [in moderating oil prices]," said Congressman² Markey. "But in the end, this crisis is really caused by 12 years of Republican control of Congress. We have gone from 46 percent dependence¹ [on foreign oil] when the Republicans took over the House and Senate in 1995 to 61 percent dependence on imported oil today. We have had an oil and gas agenda. We have thwarted³ the renewable energy agenda."

Markey was speaking on ABC's This Week program. Democrats⁴ took control of both houses of Congress in the 2006 elections.

Many Republicans, including President George Bush and the party's presumptive presidential nominee⁵ Senator John McCain, agree with Democrats in urging expanded use of alternative energy sources. But Mr. Bush and McCain are also calling for expanded domestic oil drilling to boost America's crude supplies.

Also appearing on ABC's This Week, Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas blasted Democrats for opposing new drilling off U.S. coastlines and other areas

"The Democrats have thwarted every effort we have made to increase our [domestic oil] supply," said Kay Bailey Hutchison. "This is a supply-and-demand issue. The demand has skyrocketed mainly because of global [consumption] increases, and we have not done anything about supply. Drilling off-shore on a state-by-state basis is something I think we could do very environmentally safely."

Some energy experts say oil prices have risen, in part, due to speculation⁶ by energy traders. The head of the American Petroleum⁷ Institute, Red Caveney, says there is a simple way to counteract⁸ expectations of continually higher fuel prices that drive market speculation.

"What you need are permanent solutions," said Red Caveney. "That is the signal the markets are looking for. Any scenario⁹ you look at, you will find that you need all the energy we can get of every kind."

Caveney echoed calls for increased U.S. oil drilling.

One expert argued that, for years, the United States has underinvested in technologies to make automobiles¹⁰ more fuel-efficient. Jeffrey Sachs, who directs Columbia University's Earth Institute, says the United States has catch-up work to do if it wants to become energy independent.

John McCain and his presumed Democratic rival for the presidency¹¹, Senator Barack Obama, say major investments will be needed in renewable and alternative energy sources. Unlike McCain, Obama opposes new off-shore oil drilling and has proposed imposing¹² a windfall profits tax on U.S. oil companies

1 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

2 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

3 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 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。

8 counteract   

vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消

参考例句：

• The doctor gave him some medicine to counteract the effect of the poison.医生给他些药解毒。
• Our work calls for mutual support.We shouldn't counteract each other's efforts.工作要互相支持，不要互相拆台。

9 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

10 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

12 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。