英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-01-12

 And when the markets closed a couple of hours ago in Europe, London's FTSE 100 was closed to 50 points higher. The Dax and the Euro also ended the week on a positive note America's markets have closed with the Dow Jones slightly lower and trading flat on the S&P 500.

 

The coal seam gas(煤层气） exploration company Santos has been fined just over 50,000 dollars in the Land and Environment court. The company pleaded guilty to failing to report a spill of cotaminated water in the Pilliga State Forest northwest of Narrabri. Ten thousand litres of waste water escaped from a treatment plant in June, 2011, damaging surrounding vegetation. The Wilderness¹ Society says the fine,though, is not big enough.

 

“This paltry² fine that Santos has received sends a really poor message to the coal seam gas industry. It tells them they can get away with serious pollution issues for next to nothing.”

 

The communications watchdog has fined Teltra more than half a million dollars for delays in connecting new landline customers. The 510,000-dollar fine is the biggest penalty delivered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. ACMA says Telstra connected 88.6 percent of its new landline connections in urban areas in a timely fashion last financial year. That's less than the benchmark of 90 percent.

1 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

2 paltry   

adj.无价值的，微不足道的

参考例句：

• The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.那些家长对家里鸡毛蒜皮的小事没什么兴趣。
• I'm getting angry;and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.我要生气了，如果你不能振作你那点元气。