VOA常速英语2018--美国将成最大的石油生产国

The United States is slated¹ to become the world's largest oil producer by the year 2023, according to the International Energy Association, or IEA. The rising demand for oil, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, has unleashed² a wave of growth from the U.S. American crude production is expected to reach a record of 12.1 million barrels a day in 2023, up from the current 10.6 million a day. This means that the U.S. will out produce Russia, which currently pumps the most oil at 11 million barrels a day.

根据国际能源署(IEA)发布的报告，美国将在2023年之前成为全球最大的石油生产国。国际能源署署长法提赫 比罗尔(Fatih Birol)表示，石油需求上涨的形势使美国经济实现了一波增长。美国2023年的原油生产量预计创纪录达到1210万桶/天，而当前的原油生产量是1060万桶/天。也就是说，美国的原油生产量将超过俄罗斯，后者当前每天最多可生产1100万桶。

The American oil boom is being helped by technological³ advances, improved efficiency and a moderate increase in oil prices that has made shale⁴ drilling cost effective. Moreover, President Donald Trump⁵ has reversed a historic number of regulations to allow use of public and private lands to safely develop oil and gas and other energy resources, including wind and solar.
美国石油产业的迅速发展得益于技术进步、效率提升、油价适度上扬。其中，油价适度上扬使页岩钻井提升了成本效益。此外，特朗普总统一改以往的多条规章制度，允许使用公共土地和私有土地来安全开发石油和天然气等能源，包括风能和太阳能。

This means that the United States is getting closer to President Trump's stated goal of energy independence. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said recently that, Our continent has become the energy force for this century, thanks in large part to rapid expansion in natural gas and tight oil production.

也就是说，美国距离特朗普所言的能源独立目标越来越近了。美国国务卿蒂勒森最近曾表示，美国已经成为本世纪的能源中坚力量，这很大程度上归功于天然气的快速发展以及油生产紧张态势。

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke stressed that opening up of new lands to energy exploration also includes “stewardship” of the environment. Indeed, he noted⁶ that the U.S. is embarking⁷ on its largest investment in its public lands and the park system in the history of this country, and it's going to be funded from energy.

美国内政部部长莱恩 辛克(Ryan Zinke)强调，开放新土地进行能源开发的同时也要“管理”环境。特朗普强调，美国正在着手进行对公用土地和园林系统进行历史性的投资，将由能源收入提供资金。

In a recent discussion forum⁸, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry noted the importance of allowing the private sector⁹ to develop the oil and natural gas sectors¹⁰. Rapid growth in the production of Liquefied Natural Gas has enabled the U.S.to become a net exporter. As a net exporter, the U.S. is not just exporting energy, but freedom, said Secretary Perry. You think about what that means around the world, that… people who we want to be our allies, now know that because of American energy coming to their shores, they are free from countries that would. . .put those values that those countries have in jeopardy¹¹.

在最近举行的一次讨论会上，能源部部长里克 佩里(Rick Perry)强调了允许私营部门发展石油和天然气业的重要性。液化天然气产量的快速上涨让美国成为了净出口国。作为净出口国，美国不只出口能源，也出口自由，部长佩里如是说道。大家可以想想这种情形对全球而言意味着什么：我们希望能成为盟友的人如今知道由于美国的能源出口到了他们的国家，所以他们可以不受一些国家的控制，不必因某些国家而将自己的价值观置于危险的境地。

1 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

2 unleashed   

v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press. 政府的提案引发了新闻界的抗议浪潮。
• The full force of his rage was unleashed against me. 他把所有的怒气都发泄在我身上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 shale   

n.页岩，泥板岩

参考例句：

• We can extract oil from shale.我们可以从页岩中提取石油。
• Most of the rock in this mountain is shale.这座山上大部分的岩石都是页岩。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 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。

7 embarking   

乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
• The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争，须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。

8 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

9 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。

10 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。