美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-12-29

 Fridays are awesome¹. This one knows a little bit sweet because it is our last show of 2013. We are going to look back at some of the stories we covered this year, but first up, we've got congressional compromise. We are talking about budget, a plan for how the US government will spend money. The House representatives passed it last week, the senate passed it this week. And when Present Obama signs it which he said he will, it will become law. Over the past several years, any budget talks have been tense. Republicans and democrats² compromise to come up with this plan. Several members of both parties are happy with some of what's in the budget deal or what's not. Some point it out that the budget will reduce some military benefits. Other criticize it for not including an extension for unemployment benefits. Well, one senate said that's how things go when senates in the House are controlled by different parties. He said "Nothing's going to be perfect in this world, it's called compromise." This budget plan does outline government spending through 2015.  It loosens some spending restrictions³ that were in place and it cancels some cuts that affected⁴ different government programs. Plus, this deal makes unlikely for there to be another government shut down like the one happened earlier this year. 

 

Target is the second biggest merchandise retail⁵ chain in the country. But Target became a target of security breach⁶ and it could affect 40 million people. The breach involved data for credit cards and debit⁷ cards. If you shopped at the Target store between November 27th and December 15th, you might be affected. This is only if you shopped in a brick and mortar⁸ stores, so online sells not involved. Target hasn't said how its systems were hacked⁹, but it did say the issue that allowed the breach has been identified and resolved. US Secret Service is investigating. That agency is responsible for protecting the country's financial framework and payment systems. If you think you might have been affected by this or if you ever affected by stoning credit card information, there are some ways to protect yourself. Check your statements and look for charges you don't  recognize, call your credit card company and bank, and let them know what has happend, and if you need to, replace your card and get a new pin number.

1 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

2 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》

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

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 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

7 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

8 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

9 hacked   

生气

参考例句：

• I hacked the dead branches off. 我把枯树枝砍掉了。
• I'm really hacked off. 我真是很恼火。