2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Backs World Bank Chief Wolfowitz

By Scott Stearns
White House
13 April 2007

President Bush is backing the embattled head of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz, who is under pressure to resign for increasing the salary of a former employee who was his girlfriend. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

World Bank directors say they will have a speedy decision on the fate of Wolfowitz, who has admitted boosting the salary of girlfriend Shaha Riza.

The World Bank prohibits romantic relations between workers and supervisors¹. Riza was given a job at the U.S. State Department when Wolfowitz took over at the World Bank in 2005, but not before she received a pay raise of more than $60,000, from $132,000 to more than $193,000. 

Wolfowitz apologized to World Bank staff.

Monetary2 Fund (IMF) building in Washington, 12 Apr 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070531/0949010.jpg" width="161" vspace="2" border="0" />

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz takes part in a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) building in Washington, 12 Apr 2007

"I made a mistake for which I am sorry," he said.  "But let me also ask for some understanding. Not only was this a painful personal dilemma³, but I had to deal with it when I was new to this institution, and I was trying to navigate⁴ in uncharted waters."

The Bank's board of directors says its ethics⁵ committee did not review a recommendation by Wolfowitz two years ago to increase the woman's salary.

President Bush nominated Wolfowitz for the job in 2005. Before that, he worked at the U.S. Defense⁶ Department, where he played a key role in pushing for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino says Wolfowitz has the president's full confidence.

"He has done a remarkable⁷ job at the World Bank, where they are working to lift people up out of poverty from around the world," she noted⁸.  "He has apologized for the matter, and his board is undergoing an internal review. And we expect him to remain as World Bank president. He has the president's support."

A staff association at the World Bank is calling on Wolfowitz to resign, saying he has compromised the integrity and effectiveness of the bank and destroyed trust in his leadership.

Wolfowitz tried to address employees Thursday about the matter, but left after staff members hissed⁹, booed and chanted for him to resign.

1 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

2 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

4 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

5 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

6 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。

7 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 hissed   

发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对

参考例句：

• Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过？
• The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。