VOA标准英语2013--Washington Tourism Up, Despite Sequester Budget Cuts

 

Washington Tourism Up, Despite Sequester¹ Budget Cuts

The number of visitors coming to the National Air and Space Museum has actually increased since the sequester took effect.  The budget for the Smithsonian Institution museums that line the National Mall in Washington was reduced by $42 million, but spokesperson Linda St. Thomas says most tourist-related programs have not been affected².

“And so we had to take that out of maintenance and contracts.  We reduced travel.  We reduced a lot of staff activities.  We had a hiring freeze," she said. "So we did all that so that we would have less impact on tourists."

Budget cuts forced the closure of only three exhibits in all 16 Smithsonian museums.  Evening hours have been cut at the National Archives, where visitors can see the original Declaration of Independence.  The most visible effect of sequestration has been the cancelation of White House tours.  But on average, only three percent of the 18 million visitors to Washington every year go on a White House tour.

Marcus Warden³, who is visiting from Britain with his family, did not know about the sequester cuts and thought that only foreigners were banned from the tours.

“But the White House tours, we would have liked to do that, but foreign nationals are not allowed to go round at the moment.  So, I do not know why that is," said Warden.

The intent behind the sequestration budget cuts was to impose a level of pain and discomfort⁴ that the public would not tolerate and therefore pressure the president and Congress to negotiate a long-term-debt reduction deal.  But David Nathanson, who came from Virginia with his daughter to visit the museums, says that strategy is not working.  

“I think it was a political tool for both parties, and I do not think it has had the impact that many people thought, and I do not think the impact has been far reaching and damaging, and for me it has been pretty transparent," he said.

He and most of the tourists visiting Washington says they are feeling no pain from the sequester budget cuts. 

1 sequester   

vt.使退隐，使隔绝

参考例句：

• Everything he owned was sequestered.他的所有财产都被扣押了。
• This jury is expected to be sequestered for at least two months.预计这个陪审团将至少被隔离两个月。

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 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

4 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。