NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-03-30

　　From NPR news in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The Environment Protection Agency is proposing new rules to clean up gasoline in order to reduce air pollution. NPR's Richard Harris reports the changes would require the nation to meet California's current standard.

 

　　The new rule would reduce amount of sulfur¹ in gasoline that would let catalytic converters run better, so cars would produce less of the chemicals that produce smog. Bill Becker, at the National Association of Clean Air Agencies is all for it.

 

　　"It will reduce ozone² and other air pollution emissions³ by close to 30% over the next 20 years. " The oil industry complains that the rule would require $10 billion in refinery⁴ upgrades. Petra Kelly is at the American Petroleum⁵ Institute.

 

　　" That last little bits in dregs of sulfur to get out of the fuel is extraordinary cost-intensive."

 

　　He says it will cost consumers much more than a penny a gallon which is the government estimate. The rules if enacted⁶ would kick in with a  2017 model here. Richard Harris, NPR news.

 

　　Two more marine⁷ female officers have tried and failed to pass a grueling infantry⁸ course. NPR's Tom Bowman reports they are the second pair of women to attempt course required for all marine officers to lead ground combat units.

 

　　The marine courses the two women washed out on the first training event in an obstacle course that includes climbing over walls and climbing ropes. Their names will not release since they are volunteers for a study about how women will fare in a 12-week course. About 20% of male marines also fail to pass the course. Last fall, the first 2 women ever to take part in infantry officer course also failed, one washed out the first day, the second lasted nearly two weeks before suffering a stress fracture in her leg. In January, the Pentagon lifted the ban on women serving in ground combat jobs. Now, the military is trying to determine their physical requirements for both male and female troops. Tom Bowman, NPR news, Washington.

 

　　Workers and thousands of New York city businesses may receive paid sick leave if the city council get its way. Council speaker Christine Queen says the measure affecting companies that employ at least 20 workers is right thing, but she also notes the bill depends on how the economy is faring. "If the economy unexpectedly worsens, the bill would be delayed from taking effect until the conditions improve. "

 

　　Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the measure is shortsighted and he will veto it.

 

　　St.Peter's Basilica at Vatican fills with the voice of a choir⁹ as Rome Catholics observe good Friday during passion of Christ mass just weeks into his Papacy, Pope Francis presided. Christians¹⁰ worldwide  are observing rituals marking the biblical crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem. Nuns¹¹ prayed along with hundreds of other pilgrims in a procession.

 

　　US markets were closed for this Good Friday.

 

　　This is NPR.

 

　　Descendants of composer Felix Mendelssohn's family are demanding that the German state of Bavaria return a painting by Pablo Picasso. As NPR's Joel Rose reports a lawsuit¹² claims the painting was looted by the Nazis¹⁴.

 

　　The painting in question is Picasso's Madame Soler in early 1930s, it belonged to Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, a wealthy Jewish banker in Berlin. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's heirs say he was forced by Nazi¹³ government to transfer the painting to an art dealer¹⁵ in 1934, a claim the government of Bovaria denies. It bought the painting in 1964, it's still on display at a Museum in Munich. The family filed a lawsuit in New York demanding the return of the painting or $100 million. This is not the first time Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's heirs have sued to recover allegedly looted Picassoes from prominent museum collections. An earlier lawsuit ended in a settlement in 2009. Joel Rose, NPR news, New York.

 

　　Cyprus is lifting its restriction¹⁶ on domestic debit¹⁷ and credit card transactions as it gradually loosens some of the controls it recently imposed to prevent a run on banks. It would still  unclear Cypriots were still prevented from cashing checks or limited in how many euros they can carry outside the country. On Monday, the Mediterranean¹⁸ island nation forged a deal to secure an international bailout, it would require Cypriots though to shrink its banking¹⁹ system.

 

　　Nearly half of US states are reporting declines in their unemployment rates including those areas hit hardest by the recession, however, the Labor²⁰ Department says jobs rates rose in a dozen states while 16 others saw no change from January to February.

 

　　I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR news, in Washington.

1 sulfur   

n.硫，硫磺（=sulphur）

参考例句：

• Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。
• Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。

2 ozone   

n.臭氧，新鲜空气

参考例句：

• The ozone layer is a protective layer around the planet Earth.臭氧层是地球的保护层。
• The capacity of ozone can adjust according of requirement.臭氧的产量可根据需要或调节。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

5 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

6 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

7 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

9 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

10 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

11 nuns   

n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ah Q had always had the greatest contempt for such people as little nuns. 小尼姑之流是阿Q本来视如草芥的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Nuns are under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 修女须立誓保持清贫、贞洁、顺从。 来自辞典例句

12 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

13 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

14 Nazis   

n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of Jews during World War Ⅱ. 纳粹必须为第二次世界大战中对犹太人的大屠杀负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

16 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

17 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

18 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

19 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

20 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。