US Car Sales Up Sharply in February

    Sales of new vehicles jumped markedly in the U.S. in February, with sales by the world's two biggest automakers(汽车制造商) up the most.
    Japan's Toyota, the global leader, said it sold nearly 142,000 vehicles last month, a 42 percent increase over the same month a year ago. Meanwhile, U.S.-based General Motors, second in the world, said it sold more than 207,000 vehicles in the U.S. in February. That's a 46 percent jump.
    With signs the U.S. economy is slowly improving, other automakers also reported robust(强健的,粗野的) sales. Ford² said its sales were up 14 percent, with Chrysler reporting a 13 percent gain and Nissan a 32 percent increase.
    GM emerged from bankruptcy³ last year and has nearly overtaken Toyota as the world's biggest auto¹ manufacturer. It has trimmed the line of models it offers customers in an effort to streamline⁴ its operations. Its February sales total was partly boosted by the company's use of various sales incentives⁵.
    Analysts⁶ say the improving U.S. economy has given some buyers a better sense of security that they will not lose their jobs and can afford to make a big-ticket purchase like a car.
    One GM official, Don Johnson, said the sharp rise in the price of oil caused by the political turmoil⁷ in the Mideast has not had an impact on car sales so far. He said rising gas prices facing American motorists, however, could eventually affect sales and shift demand toward more fuel-efficient models.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 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。

2 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

3 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

4 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

5 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。