NPR边听边练271：美国人计算、阅读能力低于其他国家

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　　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。

　　When it comes to math, reading and computer _1_, Americans lag behind their counterparts in 22 industrialized nations. NPR's Claudio Sanchez has the results of the first-ever international survey of adult competences¹.

　　在谈及数学、阅读和计算机技巧时，美国人落后于其余22个工业化国家。NPR新闻的克劳迪奥·桑切斯将带来有史以来第一次成年人能力的国际调查结果。

　　Researchers with the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development _2_ 166,000 people in areas such as problem solving, literacy and numeracy. In literacy, the US trailed 12 countries with Japan, Finland and the Netherlands in the top three. In terms of math skills, US adults did worse than adults in 18 countries. Only Italy and Spain did worse. Researchers say these skills are critical for future job growth and the global economy. The survey also found that a majority of adult in countries that did well—Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands— _3_ in job training and continuing education. Adults in poor-performing countries were more likely to be unemployed² or working for minimum wage with little or no access to education and job training. Claudio Sanchez, NPR News.

　　总部位于巴黎的经济合作与发展组织的研究员对16.6万人进行了测试，内容涉及解决问题、读写及算术。在读写方面，美国排在第13位，获得前三名的国家分别是日本、芬兰及荷兰。在数学技巧方面，美国成年人的表现落后于18个国家的成年人。只有意大利和西班牙的表现比美国更糟。研究人员表示，这些技能对未来的职业发展及全球经济都至关重要。调查发现，芬兰、丹麦及荷兰这些表现良好国家的大多数成年人，都参加过工作培训和继续教育。而表现糟糕国家的成年人则因未能接受良好教育和工作训练而更可能面临失业或最低工资的境遇。NPR新闻，克劳迪奥·桑切斯报道。

　　California _4_ ruled Japanese automaker Toyota will have to face trial over claims it failed to adequately warn the public about reports of unintended acceleration³ involving some of its vehicles. A US district court judge _5_ the company's motion to dismiss claims brought by the estate of a woman who lost control of her 2005 Camry after it sped out of control and then slammed into a school.

　　加州法官判决，日本汽车制造商丰田因未能恰当警告公众某些车辆会发生意外加速的情况，将面临诉讼。一名美国地区法院的法官驳回了丰田拒绝赔偿一名女性的动议，该女子在2009年驾驶一辆2005款凯美瑞时因速度失控造成车辆无法控制，随后撞上学校建筑。

　　I'm Jack⁴ Speer, NPR News in Washington.

　　我是杰克·施佩尔，这里是华盛顿NPR新闻。

　　词汇解析：

　　1. lag behind

　　落后；赶不上；

　　eg. The restructuring of the pattern of consumption in Britain also lagged behind.

　　在消费结构重组方面，英国也落后于人。

　　eg. He now lags 10 points behind the champion.

　　他现在落后冠军10分。

　　2. slam into

　　猛烈撞击；

　　eg. The plane slammed into the building after losing an engine shortly after take-off.

　　飞机起飞之后不久，就有一个引擎出现故障，随即便一头撞上了大楼。

　　eg. e knew he would slam into him with abandon, forgetting all else.

　　他知道自己将不顾一切地大打出手。

　　参考答案：

　　1、skills 2、tested 3、were enrolled

　　4、judges 5、denied

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