NPR 2008-12-25

Pope Benedict XVI today celebrated¹ the traditional Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, focusing on the plight² of many of the world's children. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome.

Delivering his homily in a crowded and resplendent St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict said that night in Bethlehem God himself came down as a child to the lowly stable, the symbol of all humanity's neediness³ and forsakenness⁴. With the birth of Jesus, the Pope added, God became a child and said to mankind, you can no longer fear me, you can only love me. Benedict then turned his thoughts to those children who were denied the love of their parents. "Let us think of those street children", he said," who do not have the blessing⁵ of a family home, of those children who are brutally⁶ exploited as soldiers and made instruments of violence, instead of messengers of reconciliation⁷ and peace." "Let us think of those children," he added, "who are victims of the industry of pornography and every other appalling⁸ form of abuse." Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.

Mixed picture on the economy today, the Labor⁹ Department reported weekly jobless claims shot up by another 30,000 to a seasonally¹⁰ adjusted 586,000. That's the highest level since 1982. Orders of longer lasting¹¹ manufactured items also fell last month and consumer spending declined for a fifth straight month. The one adjusted for inflation was actually up slightly. Alec Young is an equity¹² analyst¹³ at Standard & Poor's. He says most of the news is already factored in by the markets. "So they certainly are pressed in a lot bad news, the question is what's the timing¹⁴ of the recovery. And I think on that front, eh, a lot of people still need to be convinced." Most analysts¹⁵ said they expected further declines in consumer spending in the month ahead as well as additional layoffs¹⁶ as companies struggle to cut cost.

There've been steep declines in advertising¹⁷ revenue for most newspapers and magazines. Today the New York Times Company said its November ad revenues were down nearly 21%, below the same level last year. NPR's Margot Adler reports.

The sharp declines in classified and national ads spending at the New York Times Company can be partly explained by the recession. But the market was also weakened by readers and advertisers who turn to the Internet. The company's ad revenue makes up nearly two thirds of total revenue. September and October also saw declines though not as steep. Classified ads in the New York Times, the flagship newspaper, dropped 33% and the main declines in advertising were in automotive, books and financial services. While Internet revenue gained over the year, it also dipped in November 2%. Total Internet revenue which includes newyorktimes.com and about.com accounted for 12% of revenue last month. Margot Adler, NPR News, New York.

Despite the dismal¹⁸ economy, there was some good news on the mortgage front today. The cost of borrowing money to buy a home is now at its lowest level in some 37 years. The average rate on a 30-year-fixed-rate loan has now fallen to 5.14%.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 49 points, the NASDAQ was up three points.

This is NPR.

The leader of a coup¹⁹ in Guinea paraded into the country's capital today, followed by several thousand soldiers. Captain Moussa Camara stood in the first truck of a military convoy²⁰ as crowd cheered him on, yelling" Long live the president! " For residents of the West African capital, it was the first time many had adventured outside since the military coup was declared in the country Tuesday. Renegade army Captain and the other members of the military announced the coup following the death of country's longtime dictator. Coup leaders had initially²¹ promised a presidential vote within 60 days but now say they will stay in power until elections could be held in 2010.

An avalanche²² in northern Utah killed two snowmobilers today. Authorities are warning conditions throughout the backcountry Rocky Mountain region are dangerous. NPR's Jeff Brady reports.

The two snowmobilers died on Logan Peak, north of Salt Lake City near the Utah-Idaho border. Authorities had warned conditions could be dangerous there. Near Park City, a backcountry skier²³ reportedly escaped injury by clinging to a tree during two separate avalanches²⁴. Winter storms have dumped plenty of new snow across the rocky mountains. Steep slopes with large unstable²⁵ drifts are the most dangerous, especially at or above the tree line. The holiday is a tempting²⁶ time for snow enthusiasts²⁷, but this year avalanche centers in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming have issued warnings. Authorities say this is not a good time to play in the backcountry. As more storms are predicted to roll through the region, the avalanche danger will only worsen. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Denver.

Home explosion in Northern California today sent a fireball four stories into the air. The branch in Rancho Cordova reported it left five people injured, three of them critically. TV footage showed a little more than cinders²⁸ where the house had stood.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

3 neediness   

n.穷困，贫穷

参考例句：

• He recognized her neediness but had no time to respond to it. 他看出了她的需要但没有时间回应。 来自互联网
• In costumes more extravagant than any Gaultier concert frocks, he revealed an actor's narcissism, neediness, daring. 角色浓艳戏服下，他抖出了一个演员的自恋、需索和毋视世俗。 来自互联网

4 forsakenness   

抛弃

参考例句：

• When we misuse native language, we are in fact trying to reduce its element of foreignness. 当我们误用时，我们事实上是在试图减少它的外来成分。

5 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

6 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

9 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。

10 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

11 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

12 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

13 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

14 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

16 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

17 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

18 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

19 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

20 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

21 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

22 avalanche   

n.雪崩，大量涌来

参考例句：

• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
• Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。

23 skier   

n.滑雪运动员

参考例句：

• She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
• The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。

24 avalanches   

n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。 来自辞典例句
• Avalanches poured down on the tracks and rails were spread. 雪崩压满了轨道，铁轨被弄得四分五裂。 来自辞典例句

25 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

26 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

27 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

28 cinders   

n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道

参考例句：

• This material is variously termed ash, clinker, cinders or slag. 这种材料有不同的名称，如灰、炉渣、煤渣或矿渣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rake out the cinders before you start a new fire. 在重新点火前先把煤渣耙出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》