NPR 2010-03-22

From NPR News in Washington, I’m Lakshmi Singh.

 

A highly anticipated healthcare debate is underway in the House where lawmakers are expected to vote on the landmark¹ bill within hours. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania says this is a kind of help Americans have been waiting for.

 

“Our action will bring down healthcare costs for middle-income families and will provide access to 32 million uninsured Americans.”

 

But Republican Congressman² Paul Ryan, ranking member on the House Budget Committee, says rule changes to get the bill to the House floor are undemocratic.

 

”One of the cornerstone principles of this nation that our founders³ created upon is the principle that we govern by consent of the governed. That principle is being turned on its head here today.”

 

A final vote on healthcare is expected sometime tonight.

 

Protests over changes in healthcare also played out in the streets of the nation’s capital today. Some rallied in the bill’s favor while these demonstrators loudly chanted “kill the bill”. Protests were also lively in other parts of downtown Washington. Thousands gathered to demand changes to immigration law during rallies today, saying the president needs to make the issue a top priority. NPR’s Jennifer Ludden was on the scene.

 

People have come from across the country. There was some that flew from California. I spoke⁴ with a day labor⁵ who walked eight days from Long Island, New York. People have taken some 700 buses from three dozen states to get here today. And they’re trying to call attention to, you know, the continued arrests and deportations that are happening of undocumented immigrants and saying that they would like to still be hopeful that an immigration overhaul⁶ can happen this year.

 

NPR’s Jennifer Ludden.

 

Several bombings across Afghanistan today killed at least ten people (in the country's) during the country’s celebration of New Year. NPR’s Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson has details from Kabul.

 

Most of those killed fell victim to a suicide bomber⁷ who attacked an Afghan army patrol crossing a bridge in the southern province of Helmand. Officials say the dead and wounded were largely vendors⁸ selling goods nearby. In the eastern province of Khost, police say two civilians⁹ were killed and several more injured when a roadside bomb exploded near a crowd of people. The group was celebrating the Afghan New Year at a mountaintop shrine¹⁰. Provincial¹¹ Police Chief Yaqoub Khan was some 40 yards from that blast but escaped injury. Khan says Afghan and American forces were on hand to prevent attacks, but that roadside bombs are hard to detect. Also in the eastern city of Jalalabad, police say two blasts Saturday night meant to shake up revelers caused no casualties. Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News, Kabul.

 

From Washington, this is NPR News.

 

The South Korean unit of General Motors will recall nearly 60,000 vehicles, starting tomorrow. From Seoul, Doualy Xaykaothao reports that there are potential problems with steering¹² wheels, fuel hoses and seats.

 

GM Daewoo says its small sports utility vehicles known locally as the Winstorm and Winstorm MAXX are being recalled because of the possible faulty steering wheels. The Winstorm is exported under the name of Chevrolet Captiva and the Winstorm MAXX is known as the Opel Antara. GM’s Lacetti sedans are sold overseas as the Chevrolet Cruze. “The sedans,” says a company spokesman, “are being recalled because of possible defective¹³ fuel hoses.” A small number of GM’s commercial vehicles, the Damas models, are also being recalled. They apparently¹⁴ have seats that do not meet South Korean regulations. GM Daewoo, the country’s third largest automaker, has not yet announced if the recall will affect models sold outside of the country. For NPR News, I’m Doualy Xaykaothao in Seoul.

 

Authorities in Fargo, North Dakota says the Red River’s water levels are starting to fall after cresting¹⁶ today. The National Weather Service had predicted that the river would crest¹⁵ to about 19 feet above flood stage.

 

Authorities in British Colombia reporting the third deadly avalanche¹⁷ within a week, they say the latest killed at least two French skiers.

 

Syracuse punches its ticket in the Sweet 16 by knocking off Gonzaga. The Orange crushed the AFC Bulldogs in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 87-65 in Buffalo¹⁸ today. Syracuse, the top seed in the West Regional, hit a dozen three-point shots.

 

I’m Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, Washington.
 

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

3 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 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。

6 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

7 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

8 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

11 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

12 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

13 defective   

adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的

参考例句：

• The firm had received bad publicity over a defective product. 该公司因为一件次品而受到媒体攻击。
• If the goods prove defective, the customer has the right to compensation. 如果货品证明有缺陷， 顾客有权索赔。

14 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

15 crest   

n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖

参考例句：

• The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
• He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

16 cresting   

n.顶饰v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的现在分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点

参考例句：

• The old man stood with his back to the fire, cresting up erect. 老人背火昂然而立。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Various shapes of returns like triangular, semi-circular are available for cresting your own office. 极富创意的办公桌，有着不同形装如三角形、半圆形、曲尺形及四边形，以创造您个人品位的办公室。 来自互联网

17 avalanche   

n.雪崩，大量涌来

参考例句：

• They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
• Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。

18 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。