NPR 2008-06-07

The biggest one-day jump in oil prices ever. A more-than-ten-dollar-a-barrel surge coupled with an unexpectedly weak employment report was enough to give the financial markets a case of indigestion at week's end. Oil closed at its highest level ever, close to 139 dollars a barrel today after an oil industry analyst¹ speculated prices could be even higher within a month. Daniel Yergin is chairman of Cambridge Energy Associates. He says rather than only one thing, it seems to be market jitters² that are playing a big role here. "When you see oil go up ten dollars in a day or 17 dollars in two days, and nothing has physically³ affected⁴ the supply of oil, that tells you that the psychology⁵ of this market is very, very nervous. " On the job's front, the government reported the biggest one-month jump in the unemployment rate in more than twenty years. The unemployment rate rising a half (of a) percent to five and a half percent in May.

A bill that would cap emissions⁶ of greenhouse gases linked to global climate change died in the Senate today. NPR's Brian Naylor has more.

The measure failed after backers could not get the 60 votes they needed to end a Republican-led filibuster⁷. The bill would have established a cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing carbon emissions by industries and utilities. Carbon emissions would be capped at 71% below current levels by mid-century. Opponents argued it would drive up energy prices and the president promised to veto. Though the measure died in the Senate, backers like California Democrat⁸ Barbara Boxer⁹ looked at the bright side. "Well, this is a landmark¹⁰ day. It's another milestone¹¹ in the fight against global warming. " The bill supporters say they will be back next year with a president that supports their efforts. Brian Naylor, NPR News, the Capitol.

US ambassador to Zimbabwe accused the government there of using food as a weapon to ensure President Robert Mugabe stays in power. He spoke¹² to reporters via video conference as NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

Authorities in Zimbabwe have suspended the work of foreign aid groups. And Ambassador James McGee says he is getting reports that government food aid is being given only to those who support Robert Mugabe. He said opposition¹³ supporters have to give authorities their voting card, and therefore, give up their right to vote in order to get food handouts¹⁴. "We are dealing¹⁵ with a desperate regime here that will do anything to stay in power. " With just weeks to go before a run-off election, Ambassador McGee expressed concern for the safety of Mugabe's main opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai. The ambassador said he would continue to try to keep a light on the activities of the government of Zimbabwe to deter¹⁶ them from doing anything to harm the opposition candidate. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

 Firefighters in North Carolina have been working to contain what's been described as a "massive wildfire" at a remote federal wildlife refuge in the eastern part of the state. They say the fire, which is spreading smoke hundreds of miles, has burned upwards¹⁷ of 29, 000 acres in and around Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

On Wall Street, the Dow fell 394 points today.

This is NPR News.

Backers of Barack Obama would no doubt be tuning¹⁸ in tomorrow to see what Hillary Clinton has to say. Clinton is expected to officially end her campaign at noon, throwing her support behind the presumptive presidential nominee¹⁹. Former first lady is also expected to urge Democrats²⁰ to unite behind Obama and help him to defeat apparent Republican nominee John McCain in the fall. Obama and Clinton met last night in Washington in what is being called "a secret meeting"., though some details have emerged. Senator Dianne Feinstein says the meeting took place at her home and went on for about an hour.

Presumptive Democratic nominee, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, made an unscheduled appearance today in his hometown of Chicago. He joined a rally to congratulate the city on being a finalist to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Chicago Public Radio's Tony Arnold has more.

 Chicago was named the finalist for the Summer Games earlier this week, along with Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid. And while the Olympics were the reason for the enthusiastic rally in downtown Chicago, it was Obama who pumped up the crowd. He says the city's diversity is just one example of what it has to offer the Olympics.

"Bringing the Olympics to Chicago will be a capstone of the success that we've had over the last couple of decades in transforming Chicago to become not just a great American city, but a great world city. " The presidential contender also used the event to mention his campaign. He says when the 2016 Summer Games roll around, he will be wrapping up his second term as president. For NPR News, I'm Tony Arnold in Chicago.

The near-month contract for benchmark grade crude oil rose $10. 75 a barrel today to close at $138. 54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

1 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

2 jitters   

n.pl.紧张(通常前面要有the)

参考例句：

• I always get the jitters before exams. 我考试前总是很紧张。
• The whole city had the jitters from the bombing. 全城居民都为轰炸而心神不宁。

3 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

4 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。

5 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

6 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。

7 filibuster   

n.妨碍议事，阻挠；v.阻挠

参考例句：

• A senator dragged the subject in as a filibuster.一个参议员硬把这个题目拉扯进来，作为一种阻碍议事的手法。
• The democrats organized a filibuster in the senate.民主党党员在参议院上组织了阻挠议事。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

10 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

11 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

12 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

13 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。

14 handouts   

救济品( handout的名词复数 )； 施舍物； 印刷品； 讲义

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts. 士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Even after losing his job, he was too proud to accept handouts. 甚至在失去工作后，他仍然很骄傲，不愿接受施舍。

15 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

16 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

17 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

18 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

19 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

20 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》