NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-05-31

 Days after another mass shooting, the Republican-controlled House has agreed to increase money for instance criminal background check system. NPR's Lester Darter reports nearly 80% Republicans joined Democrats¹ in the vote. 

Propose a gun control, or even increase background check for gun buyers has faced a long gauze in the Republican House recent years. But the shooting spree near Santa Barbara‎ over the weekend burned the Democrats to try again. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

"As more details emerge about the Santa Barbara‎ shooter, as clear that we must keep guns away from those risking guns opposite themselves are hurting others."

This time, Democrats have the support of the chairman of the committee of law disbanding bill, Virginian Republican Frank Wolf, to add 20 million dollars to the background check system. It passed the House by nearly 2-1 margin². Lester Darter, NPR News, the Capitol.

 

According to the White House, president Obama is waiting results of a full investigation³ by the department of veterans affairs before deciding who should be held the caliber⁴ for major delays in treatments founded in some VA facilities. Much may by White House press secretary Jay Carney made lightening calls for VA secretary Eric Shenseki to step down. Carney would not say whether the White House still has full confidence in Shenseki and there's a report issued this week by the agency internal watchdog group as some problems in the system nationwide. 

 

House officers say they're fighting to contain measles⁵ outbreak in the US. As NPR's Richard Harris explains, nearly 300 cases have been reported this year alone. 

People from Amish community in Ohio travelled to the Philippine to do service products, and they come back with highly contagious⁶ measles. That caused the biggest outbreak in the United States with more than 130 sick. Most were individuals who have never been vaccinated⁷ against the disease. The Ohio Department of Health says more than 8,000 in Amish community have lined up for vaccine⁸ to help stem the spread of this virus. And the federal officials are urging everyone travelling oversea to make sure they've been vaccinated against measles. They're 20 million cases of this disease annually⁹ worldwide. Every year, travelers bring in the virus trigger small outbreak in the US. The outbreaks in this year are the biggest in about 20 years. Richard Harris, NPR News. 

 

Images of more people were signing on the dotted line to buy a home last month, the housing market still appears to be have some rough spring. According to national association of realtors, the industry's main trade group, its seasonally¹⁰ adjusted house sell index was up 0.4% in the April though it naturally remain 9.2% below where was the same period last year. Analysts¹¹ explain high mortgage interests rate and rising prices due to a smaller supply of homes on the market. Sign contracts in April rose in northeast and middle west, but fell in the west and south. 

 

On Wall Street today, the S&P 500 scored its third record closing high in four sessions, up 10 points and at the session of 1,920; the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 65 points, closing at 16, 698; the NASDAQ was up 22 points. 

 

You're listening to NPR News in Washington. 

 

Discount carrier Southwest disagreed to pay 200,000 dollars to settle charges essentially¹² advertise affair on television was too good to be true. Government says as promises of flight between Atlanta and New York and Chicago and Los Angeles were just 59 dollars would deceptive¹³ and violate the rule on airline advertising¹⁴. Transportation Department says Southwest didn't actually make any season available at that price. Southwest lent a flood of reviews of ad copies and insisted as a pool wants to realize it make in air. 

 

Elections are over in Egypt and on unofficial results show ex-military chief Abdel Sisi has won by at least 93% of the votes. NPR's Leila Fadel reports that international observers say the election was unfair. 

Democracy International, a US-based group that observed the Egypt's presidential election issued a skating statement, calling on the government to undo¹⁵ pressure and support a more inclusive process. Eric Bjornlund, the president of Democracy International tell the reports.

"The political environment that exists in Egypt this time suppressed the dissents¹⁶ and lacked of respect for basic freedoms absolutely compromise the political environment and made generally democratic, presidential election impossible."

The group also questioned the independent of the presidential election commission overseeing the vote. Leila Fadel, NPR News, Cairo. 

 

According to an environment review of proposal by a private contractor¹⁷ set up a rocket launch site on the coast in southern Texas. Such facilities would not likely jeopardize¹⁸ protected animals species. Federal Aviation Administration released its environment impact assessment¹⁹ in response to proposal by Spaces, launched as many as 12 rockets a year from the site. 

1 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》

2 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 caliber   

n.能力；水准

参考例句：

• They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
• We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。

5 measles   

n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子

参考例句：

• The doctor is quite definite about Tom having measles.医生十分肯定汤姆得了麻疹。
• The doctor told her to watch out for symptoms of measles.医生叫她注意麻疹出现的症状。

6 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

7 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

8 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

9 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

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 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。

12 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

13 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

14 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。

15 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

16 dissents   

意见的分歧( dissent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even his dissents were widely quoted, and some prompted legislative changes. 甚至他那些异议也被广泛引用，而且有的还促成了法律上的修改。

17 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

18 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

19 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？