Brazilian minister confirms budget cut

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Brzilian Planning Minister Miriam Belchior Monday confirmed planned federal budget cut in 2011, but said it is a routine（日常工作）.
    "There are curtailments（缩减） every year. About the amount to be cut, we will make a decision later this month. I will hold an internal discussion and then talk to (Finance Minister) Guido Mantega so we can discuss a joint¹ proposal to present to the president," Belchior said.
    The government cut budget twice last year, by 13.21 billion U.S. dollars and 6.06 billion dollars, respectively.
    The minister, who took office Monday, also reaffirmed that she intends to discuss with the other ministers about how to maximize the utility of resources.
    Belchior also said the new government would like the minimum wage to remain at 327 U.S. dollars, after it was raised by 5.8 percent in one of the last acts of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
    The benefits of the government's minimum welfare program Bolsa Familia will also be raised, most likely in the first half of the year, she said. She did not, however, specify² the amount of the raise.
    Belchior added that she will try to preserve the Growth Acceleration³ Program's (PAC) budget as much as possible, despite expected cuts this year.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 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。

2 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

3 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。