NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-01-16

　　From NPR News in Washington, I’m Lakshmi Singh.

 

　　The U.S. House is confronting debate over federal related victims in super storm Sandy. Law makers¹ are considering a nearly $51 billion assistance package. NPR’s Tamara Keith reports on objections by some Republicans who want spending on aids to be offset² by cuts elsewhere.

 

　　“Particularly among the farthest right of the Republicans that the Tea party LI Republicans, this is seen as just more government spending. And they feel that if the government is going to spend money on anything even disasters, it means to be offset with other spending cuts, though the sense is that in this case they are in the minority.” NPR’s Tamara Keith.

 

　　President Obama is considering 19 steps he could take through executive action alone to curb³ gun violence. Congressional officials say those steps may include ordering tougher action for gun buyer to lie a background check and tougher penalties for gun trafficking. This as New York State assembly is expected to approve the toughest gun restrictions⁴ in the nation that have already won the approval in the State Senate. New York Mayor Michael Blumer says he applauses a new state gun control standards.

 

　　“I think this protects the second amendment⁵, the rights of people and at the same time it makes all New Yorkers safer and the government on gun deserves real credit for doing it.”

 

　　The legislation calls for a stricter assault weapon’s ban, more limits on emanation and the sale of guns. Meanwhile, police in national Tennessee will now be allowed to carry personally owned assault rifles while on duty.

 

　　Blake Farmer of member station WPLN reports the city’s chief of police believes big cops might need greater fire power than the regular issue pistols and shot guns.

 

　　“The policy change is a direct response to shootings in New Town Connecticut and Aurora⁶ Colorado. In a written statement, National Police Chief Steve Anderson says allowing officers to carry their own weapons is ‘in the best interest of public and officer safety’. Swart teams have already carried AR15 style rifles and if police officers want to carry their own, they have to go to three-day course and have the weapons certified⁷. Given the AR15’s cost around thousand dollars each, police officials say they won’t be purchased any more, but it’s estimated that 1/3 of the city’s 1400 officers have their own at home. For NPR News, I’m Blake Farmer, in national.”

 

　　President Obama is due to release his proposals for curbing⁸ gun violence tomorrow.

 

　　The U.S. maybe offering support to its French allies fighting its Islamists Insurgency⁹ in Africa, but U.S. Defense¹⁰ Secretary Leon Panetta says no American troops will be deployed¹¹ on the ground. France has recurred¹²? help in recent days from the U.S., Britain and other countries to keep out kindling¹³? to rebels to taking control of Mali.

 

　　At last check on Wall Street, Dow is up 23 at 13,530. You are listening to NPR News.

 

　　Veterans looking for work may already have a spot at Wal-Mart, provided they were honorably discharged from active duty within the last year. The retail¹⁴ giant says it expects to expend¹⁵ its workforce¹⁶ with former military personnel over the next 5 years.

 

　　Lance Armstrong has admitted during an interview with Oprah Winfrey to using performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career. Winfrey says Armstrong was forthcoming about his use of the drugs. NPR’s Craig Windom reports the interview will be broadcasted on Winfrey’s cable network.

 

　　“Armstrong has vigorously denied the doping charges against him for years and has been aggressively attacking his critics, but after being stripped of his 7 Tour de France victories and banned for life from Olympic sports, he has changed course. Winfrey told CBS this morning Armstrong was directed honest and candid¹⁷ in the interview. ‘I think the velocity¹⁸ of everything that has come back him had passed several months and particularly in the past several weeks. He was just ready.’ Armstrong is reportedly said to testify against several cycling officials about their involvement in doping as part of effort to reduce his lifetime Olympics sports ban. Craig Windom, NPR News.”

 

　　By the way, the International Cycling Union or UCI is urging Armstrong to testify before the independent panel is set up to look into a possible doping cover up at UCI.

 

　　Higher demand for clothes, furniture and vehicles is behind December’s half percent rise of retail sales. The Commerce Department’s saying a 1.6% jump in sales of autos and auto¹⁹ parts led all categories.

 

　　I’m Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 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

5 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

6 aurora   

n.极光

参考例句：

• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
• Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。

7 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

8 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

9 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

12 recurred   

再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈

参考例句：

• Old memories constantly recurred to him. 往事经常浮现在他的脑海里。
• She always winced when he recurred to the subject of his poems. 每逢他一提到他的诗作的时候，她总是有点畏缩。

13 kindling   

n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• There were neat piles of kindling wood against the wall. 墙边整齐地放着几堆引火柴。
• "Coal and kindling all in the shed in the backyard." “煤，劈柴，都在后院小屋里。” 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

14 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。

15 expend   

vt.花费，消费，消耗

参考例句：

• Don't expend all your time on such a useless job.不要把时间消耗在这种无用的工作上。
• They expend all their strength in trying to climb out.他们费尽全力想爬出来。

16 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

17 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

18 velocity   

n.速度，速率

参考例句：

• Einstein's theory links energy with mass and velocity of light.爱因斯坦的理论把能量同质量和光速联系起来。
• The velocity of light is about 300000 kilometres per second.光速约为每秒300000公里。

19 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。