2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Meets Economic Advisers, Speaks Out on Sto

By Paula Wolfson
White House
08 August 2007
 

President Bush says the U.S. economy is strong, despite recent turbulence¹ in the stock market and a decline in home sales. VOA's Paula Wolfson has details from the White House.

President George Bush

The president stuck a reassuring² note Wednesday in comments at the Treasury³ Department and a series of interviews with business reporters.

Several times, he was asked about the ups and downs now being experienced on Wall Street. He said he is sure the stock market will eventually settle down and will do so without any damage to the U.S. economy.

A slump⁴ in housing sales and concerns about availability of credit are worrying investors⁵. The president said they must remember that the underpinnings of the economy are sound, and that will enable the marketplace to work through these problems safely.

The interviews were held shortly after the president completed consultations⁶ at the Treasury Department with members of his economic team. In public comments after their closed-door session, Mr. Bush once again called on Congress to fulfill⁷ its constitutional duty and complete work on the necessary legislation needed to fund the federal government for the fiscal⁸ year that begins October 1.

"They need to pass these spending bills, one at a time, before the deadline. In a time of war, I ask them to start by sending me the spending bill for the Department of Defense⁹, so I can sign that into law," he said.

The president also urged the legislature to approve free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea. And he vowed¹⁰, once again, to work toward a successful conclusion of the current round of world trade talks

"We're going to work hard to conclude the Doha Round of trade negotiations¹¹, all aiming to open up new opportunities for U.S. producers and aiming to fulfill a great calling, and that is to help eliminate poverty around the world," he said.

 

The Doha round was launched in November 2001 and has been mired¹² in disagreements almost since the beginning on how best to bring down trade barriers and help developing countries trade their way out of poverty.

1 turbulence   

n.喧嚣，狂暴，骚乱，湍流

参考例句：

• The turbulence caused the plane to turn over.空气的激流导致飞机翻转。
• The world advances amidst turbulence.世界在动荡中前进。

2 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

3 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

4 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

5 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

8 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

9 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。

10 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

11 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

12 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》