NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-02-16

　　The Asteroid¹ named 2012-DA14 is hurtling away into space after coming closer to the Earth than any other. For a brief moment, less than an hour ago, scientist around the world watches as 150 foot cosmic rock pass within 17 thousand miles of our planet, which is reportedly closer than some satellites. It was a much * coincidence that a meteor exploded at Earth's atmosphere over Russia's Ural Mountains this morning. Alan Harris of the German aerospace² center says it was all just coincidence. It doesn't not appears that there's any connection between this event in Russia and the near passage of the asteroid 2012-DA14. Earlier today meteor was seen flying across the sky as ball of fire in Russia, produced shock waves so powerful that windows across the region blown out. Nearly 1000 people were hurt. The Republican-led House is endorsing³ a third straight year of a pay freeze on federal workers. NPR's Esseby Dotty reports the bill approved today would block president Obama's executive order, giving a half percent raise to workers beginning in April. Most of the opposition⁴ for the bill came from Democrats⁵ but not all. New Jersy Republican Frank Le Beyondo said the pay freeze would hit CIA Agency, foreign service officers and others who risk their lives. If we can't put those who are protecting this country at the top of the list and understand, then shame on us. California Republican Duro Icy said tough budget time makes the freeze necessary. What's more, the raise would only ammount to 274 dollars a year to the average federal employee. We are talking here the vast majority. These are federal civil servants who in fact are paid pretty down well are not leaving and asking for small sacrifice. The bill passes the house in a largely party-line vote. It's unclear whether the Senate will even consider it. Esseby Dotty, NPR News in Washington.

 

　　Not a robust⁶ month for factory output in January. It fell by four tenth of percent. NPR Bandinly says auto⁷ plans * decline. The production of new cars, trucks and auto-parts fell more than 3 percent. First * chief economist⁸ Ryan Whespry says he's not concerned with auto sales setting a five year high in 2012.

1 asteroid   

n.小行星；海盘车(动物)

参考例句：

• Astronomers have yet to witness an asteroid impact with another planet.天文学家还没有目击过小行星撞击其它行星。
• It's very unlikely that an asteroid will crash into Earth but the danger exists.小行星撞地球的可能性很小，但这样的危险还是存在的。

2 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

3 endorsing   

v.赞同( endorse的现在分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• Yet Communist leaders are also publicly endorsing religion in an unprecedented way. 不过，共产党领导层对宗教信仰的公开认可也是以前不曾有过的。 来自互联网
• Connecticut Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman is endorsing Republican Senator John McCain. 康涅狄格州独立派参议员约瑟夫。列波曼将会票选共和议员约翰。麦凯恩。 来自互联网

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

8 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。