VOA标准英语2008年-US Fed Chief Says Growth Depends on Stabilizing

As Congress debates President Bush's proposed bail¹ out of the bad loans of financial institutions, central bank chief Ben Bernanke told lawmakers Wednesday that the U.S. economy risked "very serious consequences" if measures were not taken. VOA's Barry Wood has more.
　
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke before the Joint² Economic Committee of Congress, 24 Sep 2008

Appearing before the Joint Economic Committee, Bernanke cautioned against reducing the size of the proposed $700 billion rescue plan constructed by the U.S. Treasury³.

He said the package, which Congress may vote on by the end of the week, is needed to rescue an already weak U.S. economy.

He said $700 billion, while a very big number, represents only five percent of the value of all outstanding U.S. home mortgages, which total $14 trillion.

The proposed package would aim to sell off these mortgage-related debts in the future when, the Treasury says, their value might have risen.

But skeptical⁴ lawmakers from both sides said they wanted assurances that the plan would benefit ordinary American homeowners as well as Wall Street.

Bernanke said the bailout, if successful, would not boost inflation and that interest rates would not rise.

"If it does in fact strengthen the financial markets, increase credit extension, and help the economy grow, then the Fed would perhaps have to act sooner in raising rates, than otherwise perhaps," he said. "But that would be part of the normal part of recovery."

Bernanke was asked about the parallels between today's financial crisis and the earlier period of sustained economic decline in the Great Depression of the 1930s.

"When there are major dislocations in the financial sector⁵, in the credit creation process, it can have significant effects on growth and employment in the economy," he said. "And that has been true not just in the United States but in a number of countries, both emerging market and industrial countries."

The Fed Chief pointed⁶ out that labor⁷ markets are weak and unemployment is high. And, he said, despite an easing of oil and gas prices, consumer spending is likely to be sluggish⁸ in the near term.

In addition, slower growth around the world is likely to blunt demand for U.S. exports, which had been helping⁹ buoy¹⁰ the economy.

 

1 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

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 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

8 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 buoy   

n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The party did little to buoy up her spirits.这次聚会并没有让她振作多少。
• The buoy floated back and forth in the shallow water.这个浮标在浅水里漂来漂去。