VOA标准英语2010年-US Hiring Up, But Most Of It In Govern

The U.S. economy showed a big gain in jobs last month, but most of them were temporary census¹ workers. President Barack Obama says it nonetheless shows the economy is getting stronger. 

The nation's unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of one percent in May, to 9.7 percent.  The Labor² Department reports that 431,000 jobs were created, the most in years.

Only 41,000 jobs were created in the private sector³, however, down from 218,000 in April and the fewest since January.

President Obama says the news is still encouraging.    

"While we recognize that our recovery is still in its early stages, and that there are going to be ups and downs in the months ahead-things never go completely in a smooth line-this report is a sign that our economy is getting stronger by the day," said President Obama.

The president visited a commercial truck dealership⁴ near Washington Friday.  Standing⁵ in the garage, he told employees the nation's economy has added jobs in five consecutive⁶ months.

"Even if you put those temporary jobs aside, there is no doubt that we saw another month of private sector job growth," said Mr. Obama. "And that is obviously critical."

Opposition⁷ Republicans greeted the job gains, but dismissed the idea that the economic recovery is making progress.  The top Republican in the House of Representatives, John Boehner, released a statement calling it "disappointing that nearly all of those gains are temporary, taxpayer-funded government jobs."  He called private-sector job growth "stagnant⁸."

Mr. Obama, however, says the increased hiring shows that his economic initiatives are having a positive effect.

"What these numbers do mean, though, is that we are moving in the right direction," said President Obama. "The economic policies that we put in place are working.  An economy that was shrinking at a scary rate when I was sworn in as president has now been growing for three consecutive quarters."

A recent Associated Press public opinion poll shows that only 20 percent of Americans believe the economy is in good condition. 
 

1 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

2 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。

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 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。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 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。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。