澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-07-03

 Australia's independent body that advises on infrastructure¹ is calling for investment in the nation's ports to be made a priority.

 

Infrastructure Australia has released its latest annual list of priority projects across the nation.

 

The report advises governments to look for private partnerships² and consider leasing more assets. Infrastructure Australia says investment in ports is essential to cope with the growth in mining exports.

 

While Australia's car makers⁴ are struggling, it's a different story in the United States. Car makers there have reported their strongest monthly sales growth in June since the 2007 recession. General Motors sales rose by six per cent.

 

Chrysler was up eight per cent, while Ford⁵ recorded a 13 per cent increase that was led by truck sales. Japanese car maker³ Toyota had the biggest jump. Its sales rose 14 per cent.

 

To the markets.

 

Early gains faded on Wall Street as investors⁶ wait for more clarity on the strength of the US economy. There was little change in Europe.

 

To commodity prices.

 

West Texas Crude is trading at 100 US dollars a barrel. Tapis Crude is 109 US dollars a barrel. And gold this morning is worth 1243 US dollars an ounce.

 

The Australian dollar is buying 91 US cents, 70 euro cents and 60 pence sterling⁷.

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

3 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

4 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

6 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

7 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。