NPR 2008-11-22

The stock market rebounded¹ sharply today on news that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen a new Treasury² Secretary. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Investors³ cheer the selection of New York Federal Reserve Bank President Timothy Geithner to serve as the nation's top financial official. No formal announcement has been made yet. But a source close to the transition team says Geithner will be tapped as Treasury Secretary. Berkeley economist⁴ Bradford DeLong worked with Geithner at the Treasury Department during the Clinton administration. "And he was always extremely smart, extremely knowledgeable⁵, extremely energetic, extremely effective and he had very very good judgment⁶. " As head of the New York Fed, Geithner has been deeply involved in the federal government s efforts to prop⁷ up the financial system. But unlike some previous Treasury Secretaries, he's never actually worked on Wall Street, which in the current political environment could be a plus. Scott Horsley, NPR News.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 494 points today, to settle at 8, 046. The NASDAQ gained 68 points. The S&P 500 was up 47 points. Over for the week, the Dow was down 5%.

There were reports of some other prominent picks by President-elect Barack Obama as well today. NPR learned from sources close to the transition that former first lady Hillary Clinton has agreed to give up her Senate seat to take position of Secretary of State under the new administration. There's also confirmation⁸ from sources today, the president-elect has chosen New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary. For the most part, (he's,) Obama has been quietly working on his transition of the Oval Office in January. It's not clear when he might make an announcement.

Nebraska closed the loophole on its safe-haven bill which allow dozens of teens, many from other states to be legally abandoned by their parents. From Lincoln, Nebraska, Martin Wells reports.

Nebraska hospitals will accept children up to 30 days of age but no older. Under the original version of the bill, which went into effect in July, there was no age limit. This led to parents dropping off teens and preteens with behavioral problems. The amended⁹ bill was passed in the special legislative¹⁰ session this week and signed into law by the governor. State Senator Russ Karpisek says the bill points out the needs of young people aren't being met. "Thing is that I think there is a lot problems out there. And we have things in place. I know we've got some good people working for us but there're huge problems and this really showed a light on that. " Karpisek says the legislature has formed a task force and will work to find a solution when the body convenes¹¹ in January. For NPR News, I'm Martin Wells in Lincoln, Nebraska.

President Bush, before leaving Washington for an overseas summit, signed a measure that will provide additional unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. The measure approved by the Senate this week would extend jobless benefits for additional three months. The news comes as companies continue to lay off workers in what has become increasingly fierce economic downturn. This is NPR.

General Motors says it will extend its annual holiday shutdown this year and also make production cuts at five of its factories. That says the company continues to deal with the severe slump¹² in car sales and fights to conserve¹³ cash. The struggling auto¹⁴ maker¹⁵ also announces changes in some of its other factories that would increase production of certain of its models as it tries to adjust the changing consumer demand. Factories facing cuts include a plant in Lordstown, Ohio which will be closed for an extra week. Company also plans to extend a holiday shutdown in the plant in Michigan and another in Kansas City, Kansas.

Myanmar's military rulers today sentenced the popular comedian¹⁶ and activist¹⁷ to 45 years in prison, the latest in a string of strict sentences imposed by Myanmar's junta¹⁸. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports from Bangkok.

Zaganar is the most famous comedian in Myanmar and one of the most politically active as well. In June, after a devastating¹⁹ cyclone²⁰ struck the country, Zaganar organized private relief efforts for victims while the country's military leaders bickered²¹ with international aid agencies over how their aid was to be delivered. Zaganar was detained shortly after and his lawyer said today he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, though what exactly he was sentenced for remains²² unclear. More than 100 people have been sentenced this week in what human rights activists²³ call "a deliberate attempt to eliminate political opposition²⁴" before election scheduled to be held in 2010, what the military calls the final step of its road map to democracy, an exercise the military says will bring an end to more than half a century of military rule. Michael Sullivan, NPR News, Bangkok.

1 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。

2 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 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。

5 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。

6 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

7 prop   

vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山

参考例句：

• A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
• The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。

8 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

9 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

10 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

11 convenes   

召开( convene的第三人称单数 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The Premier convenes and presides over the executive meetings and plenary meetings of the State Council. 总理召集和主持国务院常务会议和国务院全体会议。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法
• Chinese woman tenth the National People Congress convenes grandly today in Beijing. 中国妇女第十次全国代表大会今天在北京隆重召开。

12 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

13 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

14 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。

15 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

16 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

17 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

18 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

19 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

20 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

21 bickered   

v.争吵( bicker的过去式和过去分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The afternoon sun bickered through the leaves. 午后的阳光闪烁于树叶之间。 来自辞典例句
• They bickered over [about] some unimportant thing. 他们为芝麻小事争吵。 来自辞典例句

22 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

23 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 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。