VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: 10.2 Percent Unemployment 'A Soberi

By Kent Klein
White House
06 November 2009

 
President Obama, speaking at the White House, 6 Nov 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama says new figures that show the nation's unemployment rate reached double digits¹ in October are a reminder² of the challenges that remain. The 10.2 percent jobless figure is the highest since 1983.

President Obama stood in the White House Rose Garden shortly after the number was announced, and said the U.S. economy has more work to do on reducing unemployment.

"Although we lost fewer jobs than we did last month, our unemployment rate climbed to over 10 percent, a sobering number that underscores the economic challenges that lie ahead," said President Obama.

The Labor³ Department says 15.7 million Americans were out of work in October.

The U.S. lost 190,000 jobs last month, down from the 219,000 jobs lost in September. It was the 22nd consecutive⁴ month that the economy has lost jobs, the longest slump⁵ in the 70 years records have been kept.

However, the number of jobs being lost has decreased steadily⁶ since January, when the number topped 700,000.

Some economists⁸ say the jobless rate could reach 10.5 percent next year because employers are still reluctant to hire. Economist⁷ James Shugg says the weakness in the U.S. job market is expected to continue.

"It is a lot easier for firms to make the decision not to lay someone off than it is actually to decide to take someone on," said James Shugg. "I think we are still at that point, the firms are getting less aggressive in terms of job cutting. But putting people on is still a little way to come yet."

The increased unemployment comes as the economy is showing signs of growth. The U.S. gross domestic product grew by 3.5 percent from July through September, and President Obama says more work is needed to revive hiring.

"But history tells us that job growth always lags behind economic growth, which is why we have to continue to pursue measures that create new jobs," said Mr. Obama.

The president Friday signed a $24 billion economic stimulus⁹ bill, which will extend unemployment benefits for 20 additional weeks.

"Already these benefits have helped 16 million unemployed¹⁰ Americans, and now that I have signed this bill, an additional 700,000 Americans who are still searching for work will be able to sign up for an extension of those benefits immediately," he said.

Mr. Obama says the legislation will also cut taxes for struggling businesses and will extend the tax credit for home buyers until April.

He says his economic advisers¹¹ are considering other ideas to create jobs and boost the U.S. economy.

"Although it will take time and it will take patience, I am confident that our economy will recover," stated President Obama. "I am confident that we are moving in the right direction, and I promise that I will not rest until America prospers¹² once again."

Republican lawmakers say the rising unemployment shows that Mr. Obama's economic stimulus plan is not working. Democrats¹³ say it shows that the losses would have been worse without it.

1 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

7 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。

8 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

10 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

11 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

12 prospers   

v.成功，兴旺( prosper的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Whatever prospers my business is welcome. 凡使我生意兴隆者皆竭诚欢迎。 来自辞典例句
• Whatever prospers my business is good. 任何使我生意兴隆的都是好的。 来自辞典例句

13 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》