CNN 2010-09-30

A college program is going to spend two years trying to make the world a little more polite, and it all starts with a definition¹. I'm Carl Azuz, and we welcome you to CNN Student News

First up, officials in parts of Wisconsin are telling people to get out and get to higher ground. They're trying to get away from flood waters that could affect up to 100 houses. We mentioned this yesterday, the flooding that was caused by heavy rain. The city of Portage, Wisconsin didn't get hit that bad by the weather, but that is where those houses are in danger, because the rain made the Wisconsin River rise. That is what caused the flooding. In Portage, a levee, a barrier² that's designed to stop the flooding, couldn't hold back the waters. The levee failed. Officials say part of the reason is because this thing was built 120 years ago. Back then, they used what they had -- in this case, mostly sand -- to build their levees. Nowadays, levees are made with steel or concrete³. Authorities⁴ say Portage won't be out of danger until the river goes back down below flood level.

The small business bill is now law. President Obama signed off on the legislation⁵ yesterday after it was passed by both the Senate⁶ and the House. The $42 billion bill is expected to create around half a million jobs. $12 billion of that money will be used for tax cuts for small businesses, and $30 billion will go into a fund⁷ for banks to be able to make loans⁸ to small businesses. That fund is the reason why some people weren't too happy about this bill. Republican⁹ leaders said it sounded a lot like the 2008 bank bailout. That one was a lot bigger; it was $700 billion. But the concern, in both situations, is whether or not the government will get back the money that it loans out.

1 definition   

n.定义；限定，确定；清晰度

参考例句：

• The book attempts a definition of his role in world politics.该书要阐明的是他在世界政局中的作用。
• I made a definition for this word.我给这个字下了定义。

2 barrier   

n.栅栏，障碍，壁垒，关卡

参考例句：

• You must show your ticket at the barrier.你在关卡处必须出示许可证。
• The driver jumped a horse over a barrier.骑手骑马跳过障碍。

3 concrete   

adj.具体的，有形的；n.混凝土 ；v.用混凝土修筑，浇混凝土，凝结

参考例句：

• Could you give us a concrete case?你能不能给我们举个具体事例？
• We should make a concrete analysis of each specific question.对于每个具体问题要进行具体分析。

4 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 legislation   

n.立法，法律的制定；法规，法律

参考例句：

• They began to draft legislation.他们开始起草法规。
• The liberals band together against the new legislation.自由党员联合一致反对新的立法。

6 senate   

n.参议院，上院

参考例句：

• They feel deeply the honour of belonging to the Senate.他们为作为参议院的成员而深感荣幸。
• His unsuccessful senate run was his last hurrah.这次失败的参议员竞选是他最后的尝试。

7 fund   

n.基金，资金，存款，财源，贮藏；vt.提供资金，积累

参考例句：

• They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.他们决定为此专立一项基金。
• This fund may not be drawn on without permission.这笔钱非经批准不得动用。

8 loans   

n.借出物，借款( loan的名词复数 )v.借出，贷与（尤指钱）( loan的第三人称单数 )；出借（贵重物品给博物馆等）

参考例句：

• They are offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. 他们在放高利贷。
• Government loans have been the salvation of several shaky business companies. 政府的贷款救活了几家濒临倒闭的公司。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 republican   

n.拥护共和政体的人； adj.共和政体的，（Republican）共和党人，（Republican）共和党的

参考例句：

• Some families have been republican for generations.有些家庭世代都支持共和党。
• A third candidate has entered the contest for the Republican nomination.第三个候选人已经加入角逐共和党提名的行列。