VOA标准英语2008年-Bush: US Economy is Sound Despite Problems

U.S. President George Bush says the U.S. economy is sound, despite a series of financial setbacks. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports at a White House news conference Mr. Bush sought to reassure¹ consumers unnerved by rising gas prices and uncertainty² in the housing market.
　
President Bush meets reporters on the briefing room of the White House in Washington, 15 Jul 2008

The president acknowledges this is a difficult time for American families, but he says the economy will eventually rebound³.

"We can have confidence in the long term foundation of our economy. And I believe we will come through this challenge stronger than ever before," he said.

Mr. Bush says his administration is already taking steps to deal with the nation's financial woes⁴. And he blames the Democratic Party-led U.S. Congress for holding up further action.

He says lawmakers need to pass legislation to make sure major mortgage lenders are sound. And he urges them to act swiftly to lift the congressional ban on offshore⁵ oil drilling.

"Democratic leaders have been delaying action on offshore exploration and now they have an opportunity to show that they finally heard the frustrations⁶ of the American people," he added.

On Monday, the president removed White House restrictions⁷ on offshore oil exploration. But both the executive and legislative⁸ branches must act before new drilling can occur along America's coastlines.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the president's oil exploration plan a hoax⁹ and urges the administration to tap the nation's emergency Strategic Petroleum¹⁰ Reserve. Mr. Bush rejects that idea. He says there is no short-term answer to the oil price problem, but adds a show of American resolve to expand domestic exploration would send a powerful signal to world markets.

"I readily concede it is not going to produce a barrel of oil tomorrow, but it is going to change the psychology¹¹ that demand will constantly outstrip¹² supply," he noted¹³.

The president also used his press conference to urge Congress to approve a pending¹⁴ free-trade agreement with Colombia. He said the pact¹⁵ will enable the United States to sell more goods in the Colombian market, and will help a strong U.S. ally in the region, President Alvaro Uribe.

"Turning our back on somebody like Uribe makes no sense at all," he explained. "He is a courageous¹⁶ fighter against terrorists and yet our Congress won't even bring up a free trade agreement with Colombia."

The session with reporters was held on a day that the nation's largest automaker, General Motors, provided more bad economic news.

Faced with slumping¹⁸ sales, the company announced cuts in production of trucks and other large vehicles. It also said it would slash¹⁹ job benefits for its work force and retirees, such as health insurance and pensions, by 20 percent.

The president did not speak directly about GM's fate. But he did say the government would not provide a bail-out.

"If your question is should the government bail-out private enterprise, the answer is no, it shouldn't," he said.

Mr. Bush said the auto¹⁷ industry must adapt to changing consumer demands. And he stressed the demand right now is for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

　

 

1 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

2 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

3 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

4 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

5 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

6 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

7 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

8 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

9 hoax   

v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧

参考例句：

• They were the victims of a cruel hoax.他们是一个残忍恶作剧的受害者。
• They hoax him out of his money.他们骗去他的钱。

10 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。

11 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

12 outstrip   

v.超过，跑过

参考例句：

• He can outstrip his friend both in sports and in studies.他能在体育和学习方面胜过他的朋友。
• It is possible for us to outstrip the advanced countries in the world.我们能超过世界上先进的国家。

13 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。

14 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

15 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

16 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

17 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。

18 slumping   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的现在分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Hong Kong's slumping economy also caused a rise in bankruptcy applications. 香港经济低迷，破产申请个案随之上升。
• And as with slumping, over-arching can also be a simple postural habit. 就像弯腰驼背，过度挺直也可能只是一种习惯性姿势。

19 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。