VOA标准英语2013--联合国大会给当地的业务提升

 

UN General Assembly¹ Gives Local Business a Boost² 联合国大会给当地的业务提升

NEW YORK — September is a month where some U.S. cities see a large decrease in tourism as the busy summer travel season ends.  But the September slump³ goes unnoticed in New York.  That’s due in part to large events throughout the month, such as the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Fashion Week and the United Nations General Assembly.

The city that never sleeps has been as busy as ever during this year’s U.N. General Assembly.

And shop managers nearby, like Mohammed Elassa, couldn’t be happier.  

“It’s the only time we make a lot of money.  Better than Christmas.  Better than everything,” said Elassa.

Watches, shoes – it’s all going fast to international shoppers.

“I wish every month they [could] have the Assembly General at the United Nations. I wish.  If it [were] every month we [would] make a lot of money. My boss is going to be very happy,” said Elassa.

Jene Gillis-Harry came to work at the General Assembly this month from Nigeria.

 “You see so many things to buy.  Having to decide on one is quite difficult,” said Gillis-Harry.

A few blocks away, business is booming⁴ at the Roger Smith Hotel.  The hotel can even command a higher rate due to the heavy General Assembly traffic, according to Hotel Digital Marketing⁵ Director John Knowles.

“We are the cross-section of the U.N. - so it’s a lot of people, a lot of business, a lot of traffic,” said Knowles.

Nearby, Little Italy Pizza is bringing in the cash.  The shop delivers to the General Assembly and feeds tourists in the restaurant -- tourists that New Yorker Adrienne Russo says she’s used to seeing.

“My street is jam packed because I’m seven blocks from the U.N., so when you go in a restaurant, it’s hard to get a seat, and that’s what September is in New York, every year,” said Russo.

Whether selling a slice of pizza, a shirt, or a place to sleep, it’s clear here that the annual gathering⁶ is a big help to September sales. 

1 assembly   

n.集会(不可数)；会议(可数)，装配(不可数)

参考例句：

• He took his seat in an unobserved corner of the assembly room.他在会议室一个不为人注意的犄角坐下来。
• It was very quiet in the assembly hall.会场里静悄悄的。

2 boost   

n.鼓励，激励，提高；v.鼓励，使增强信心

参考例句：

• This will be a great boost to the economy.这对于经济发展将是一个巨大的促进。
• These changes will help to boost share prices.这些变化将有助于提高股票价格。

3 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。

4 booming   

adj.急速发展的v.激增( boom的现在分词 )；猛涨；发出隆隆声；以低沉有力的声音说话

参考例句：

• The opera singer has a deep, booming, masculine voice. 这位歌剧演唱家有一副深沉而又浑厚有力的嗓音。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He is booming as a teacher. 作为一位教师，他日趋成功。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。