US to Monitor Gas Prices for Fraud

     The U.S. government says it is going to monitor the sharply rising gasoline prices in the country to see if anyone is profiting illegally(非法地).

    The country's top legal official, Attorney General Eric Holder¹, said Thursday that officials from several agencies would be "vigilant²" in looking at oil and gas markets for "any wrongdoing" so that motorists in the car-dependent country "can be confident" they are not paying more because of manipulation of prices or other illegal activity.

    Holder said there are some lawful³ reasons for the increased gas prices motorists are now paying - close to $4 for 3.8 liters (or U.S gallon). But he said that when consumers are harmed by unlawful conduct, state and federal authorities "should take swift action."U.S. President Barack Obama, in a speech in the western state of Nevada, said there is "no silver bullet" that can immediately bring down gas prices. But he said regulators would "make sure" that no one is "taking advantage" of Americans.

    Mr. Obama, as he has in the past, called for an end to $4 billion in annual subsidies⁴ the government gives to oil and gas companies. He said the payments were unnecessary at a time when the energy firms are making "record profits."Many American motorists are complaining about the higher cost to fill up the tanks of their vehicles. While the cost of gas is lower in the U.S. than in several European countries, such high prices have not been seen in the U.S. in three years. U.S. gas prices are not uniform and vary regionally, with the average price for 3.8 liters already above $4 in some communities, nearly a dollar higher than it was a year ago.

    The price of gasoline is directly related to the rising cost of crude oil, now at a two-and-a-half-year high as political turmoil⁵ continues to envelope the oil-producing states of the Middle East. The price of crude accounts for about 65 percent of the cost of gas at U.S. service stations.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

3 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

4 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。