NPR边听边练300:美最低工资标准投票

 　　以下段落是摘自新闻里的一些重要信息,并不是一个段落的听写。空内信息可在本新闻中全部找到,大家可以根据这些信息复述新闻。

　　一、泛听建议：

　　1、完整听一遍，掌握大意。

　　2、继续听，特别注意关键信息。遇到相似的词，写下来。

　　Labor¹ activists² say they _1_ a close vote to establish a $15 an hour minimum wage in and around Seattle International Airport. NPR's Martin Kaste has more.

　　劳工活动人士表示，他们就西雅图国际机场附近设立每小时15美元的最低工资标准进行了投票，他们在激烈的投票中获胜。NPR新闻的马丁·凯斯特将带来详细内容。

　　The minimum wage was on the ballot³ in the small suburb of SeaTac, home to the airport of the same name. Election day was three weeks ago, but ballot count _2_. At one point, the two sides were just 19 votes apart. Now the gap _3_ to a little more than 1%. And at a press conference in the airport, Labor Leader David Rolf declared victory.

　　最低工资标准投票在西雅图国际机场所在地西塔科举行。投票日是三周前，但是计票工作刚刚结束。双方的票数差距曾经仅为19票。现在差距渐渐拉大，票数相差超过1%。劳工领导人大卫·罗夫在机场举行的新闻发布会上宣布了胜利的消息。

　　"The voters _4_, they said that the people who put fuel in these jets ought to be able some day afford to buy a ticket on one of them."

　　“选民表达了他们的想法，他们说，这些为喷气飞机加油的工作人员也应该在某一天有能力为自己买一张机票。”

　　But opponents say they will _5_ a recount and they've sued to block the $15 wage which they say violates state and federal laws.Martin Kaste, NPR News, Seattle.

　　但是反对者表示，他们会要求重新计票，他们已经起诉，打算阻止这项15美元最低工资的计划，他们称这违反了州法律以及联邦法律。NPR新闻，马丁·凯斯特西雅图报道。

　　词汇解析：

　　1. afford to do sth.

　　经得住；承受得起某事；

　　eg. We can't afford to wait.

　　我们等不起。

　　eg. We can afford to overlook minor⁴ offences.

　　我们可以不计较小过。

　　eg. If you can't afford to pay cash, buy the furniture on credit.

　　若是你付不起现金，可以赊购这套家具。

　　参考答案：

　　1、win 2、has been closed 3、has widened

　　4、have spoken 5、pay for

1 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。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

4 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。