NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-03-14

　　From NPR News in Washington, I'm Barbara Klein.

 

　　We have a pope. The announcement this past hour at the Vatican. He is Cardinal¹ Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. The 76-year-old, who is the first pontiff from the Americas has chosen the name Pope Francis. Among his first words from the Vatican balcony was a prayer for his predecessor² Benedict the XVI. And then Pope Francis asked the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square below to take a moment of silence and pray for him. He is the first, Pope Francis named for Saint Francis of Assisi who spoke³ of rebuilding the church.

 

　　A judge in New York is refusing to consider a suit that challenges the state's tough new gun law. It was brought by more than 1,200 people. As NPR's Margot Adler reports, the suit now goes to those court of appeals.

 

　　New York's law enacted⁴ about two months ago sets a seven-bullet limit on magazines, tightens⁵ the definition of illegal assault weapons and requires federal background checks for private gun sales. The lawsuit⁶ argues that the law violates the state's constitution, which says that the defense⁷ and protection of the state is an obligation of all persons within the state. It also argues the states civil rights law give citizens the right to be armed for the general defense of the community. But the lower court judge said that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo used something called a message of necessity to skip the normal three-day waiting period and a lower court can't review a message of necessity. Those who brought the suit say they will take the suit all way up to New York's highest court. Margot Adler, NPR News, New York.

 

　　Consumers spent more in February than analysts⁸ were expecting. The Commerce Department says spending was 1.1% higher than it was in January on a seasonally⁹ adjusted basis. That's the biggest gain in five months. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports some of the increases due to higher gasoline prices.

 

　　Spending at gasoline stations surged 5% last month, but even excluding gas, retail¹⁰ sales beat expectations. Auto¹¹ and internet sales posed some of the biggest gains. Because consumer spending drives so much of the economy, this is considered a good sign. It comes despite the fact that the payroll¹² tax holiday ended at the start of this year, taking a bite out of take home pay. At least one economist¹³ warned against rating too much optimism into the number. Tax refunds¹⁴ are coming later and that could account for much of the boost spending. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News, Washington.

 

　　The latest give-and-take over the budget indicates Republicans and Democrats¹⁵ are making little to no movement on their long-held positions. President Obama is holding meetings at the Capitol today with House Republicans who are proposing a plan similar to earlier ones that Democrats have rejected. House Democrats are unveiling a counter proposal.

 

　　Just before the close on Wall Street, the Dow was up five points; the NASDAQ up three; the S&P up two.

 

　　This is NPR.

 

　　As Senate Armed Services Subcommittee is holding hearings to investigate charges that Pentagon has long failed to handle thousands of sexual assault cases in the military. Among today's witnesses, several victims who say the military criminal justice system is broken, including former Navy Petty Officer Brian Lewis, who says he was raped¹⁶ by a superior non-commissioned officer. He says the handling of sexual assault cases in the military needs to be taken away from the chain of command and shifted to an independent office.

 

　　In Louisiana, a tug¹⁷ boat that was pushing a barge¹⁸ has hit a petroleum¹⁹ pipeline²⁰ south of New Orleans. NPR's Jeff Brady reports the collision ignited a fire that's blazing on the water.

 

　　The tug boat was pushing 147-foot barge through a bayou about 30 miles south of New Orleans. It struck the Chevron²¹-operated pipeline. Coast Guard Ensign Tanner Stiehl says oil was reported in the water and spill responders have been called in.

 

　　The pipeline has already been isolated²². That's what the people at Chevron are telling us. Only the gas already in  that pipeline is able to burn.

 

　　The area is just north of Barataria Bay which was affected²³ by BP's 2010 oil spill. The tug and barge were engulfed²⁴ in flames. The crew was able to escape. But the Coast Guard says the captain suffered second and third degree burns. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

 

　　The lieutenant²⁵ governor of Florida is resigning. Jennifer Carroll was forced to step down because of her connection to a group that claimed to be a veterans' charity. It's charged with running dozens of Internet, cafes and channeling the money to insiders.

 

　　I'm Barbara Klein, NPR News, in Washington.

1 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

2 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 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。

4 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

5 tightens   

收紧( tighten的第三人称单数 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• One set of provisions tightens emission standards. 一套使排放标准更加严格的规定。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Requires no special tools or fittings; hand tightens to relief valve outlet. 不需要专用工具或管件；用手将其紧固到安全阀上即可。

6 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

7 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。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

10 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。

11 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。

12 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

13 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。

14 refunds   

n.归还，偿还额，退款( refund的名词复数 )v.归还，退还( refund的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Tomorrow he would return them to the store and claim refunds. 明天他要把它们退还给商店并要求退款。 来自辞典例句
• The new method means that taxpayers get refunds much faster. 这种新办法意味着纳税人可以较快地领到退还款。 来自辞典例句

15 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》

16 raped   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
• We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句

17 tug   

v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船

参考例句：

• We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
• The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。

18 barge   

n.平底载货船，驳船

参考例句：

• The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
• Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。

19 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

20 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

21 chevron   

n.V形臂章；V形图案

参考例句：

• He wore shoulderstrap rank slides with sergeant's chevrons.他佩戴标示级别的肩章，上面有中士的V形标志。
• The chevron or arrow road sign indicates a sharp bend to the left or right.V形或箭头路标表示有向左或向右的急转弯。

22 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

23 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。

24 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。