VOA标准英语2013--DC Businesses Provide Freebies for Furloughed Government Workers

 

DC Businesses Provide Freebies for Furloughed Government Workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Government shutdown rolls on. Lawmakers have yet to reach common ground, and that means that nearly 800,000 government workers throughout the country stay home. Nowhere is the concentration of federal workers higher than in Washington, D.C. An entire city is packed with a newly-furloughed workforce¹, and some area businesses are chipping in.

One thing the shutdown has not done is close the doors of local businesses.

“We’re doing a free cup of regular coffee for any government worker that’s been affected² by the shutdown, but in addition to that, we’re making members of Congress pay double,” said Zena Polin, an owner of The Daily Dish, a pizza restaurant in suburban³ Maryland. When she got word of the shutdown, she took to the Web [Internet] and announced free coffee. So far, the response has been good.  

“I’m getting a free coffee because I am a federal employee who is not allowed to go to work today,” said Amy Henchey, who works for the IRS.

“On the one hand it feels a little bit like I’m playing hooky [skipping school]. On the other hand, I’m a little nervous about not getting a full paycheck,” said Jeri Buchholz, who works at NASA.

There is no guarantee the furloughed workers will eventually get paid. That uncertainty⁴ motivated the owners of Washington’s Kangaroo Boxing Club [bar and restaurant] to offer free screwdrivers⁵ - the drink, not the tool.

“We decided⁶ that if the government was screwing [taking advantage of] you, you might as well get a free screwdriver,” said Christopher Powers at the Kangaroo Boxing Club.

“I came here because it seemed like a time to wallow in the furlough woes⁷. I came to have a drink special,” said Renee Regan, who work at Smithsonian.

Despite the light mood on the first day of the shutdown, real concerns await the recently-out-of-work.

“In the back of my mind I know that I have to budget and try to figure out how much money I’m not going to be getting in my next paycheck,” said Elizabeth Bowers⁸, who works for the Defense⁹ Department.

“It’s really going to hurt my rent check that is going to be late, very late,” said Regan.

There is no guarantee the furloughed workers will eventually get paid. That uncertainty motivated the owners of Washington’s Kangaroo Boxing Club [bar and restaurant] to offer free screwdrivers - the drink, not the tool.

“We decided that if the government was screwing [taking advantage of] you, you might as well get a free screwdriver,” said Christopher Powers at the Kangaroo Boxing Club.

“I came here because it seemed like a time to wallow in the furlough woes. I came to have a drink special,” said Renee Regan, who work at Smithsonian.

Despite the light mood on the first day of the shutdown, real concerns await the recently-out-of-work.

“In the back of my mind I know that I have to budget and try to figure out how much money I’m not going to be getting in my next paycheck,” said Elizabeth Bowers, who works for the Defense Department.

“It’s really going to hurt my rent check that is going to be late, very late,” said Regan.

1 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 screwdrivers   

n.螺丝刀( screwdriver的名词复数 )；螺丝起子；改锥；伏特加橙汁鸡尾酒

参考例句：

• No, I have everything: hammer, screwdrivers, all that stuff. 不用了，我什么都有了：锤子、螺丝刀，全套家伙。 来自休闲英语会话
• Aussies are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers. 每年有58个澳洲佬因使用锋利的刀子来代替螺丝刀而受伤。 来自互联网

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

8 bowers   

n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人

参考例句：

• If Mr Bowers is right, low government-bond yields could lose their appeal and equities could rebound. 如果鲍尔斯先生的预计是对的，那么低收益的国债将会失去吸引力同时股价将会反弹。 来自互联网

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。