NPR 2011-01-22

Less than a week before President Obama delivers his State of the Union address, he is showcasing a new business boosting plan featuring one of Wall Street's biggest stars today, General Electric. Karen DeWitt of New York State Public Radio reports that hours after GE posted a more than 50% quarterly profit surge, Mr. Obama announced during a tour of an Upstate New York GE plant that CEO Jeffrey Immelt will spearhead a new presidential panel on jobs and competitiveness.

Mr. Obama says he chose Immelt to chair his newly formed Council on Jobs and Competitiveness because the GE CEO is not part of the usual Washington crowd, and he says the company has already set an example for innovative¹ energy technology. The president says the creation of the council signals a change in direction from crisis management to economic recovery, which he admits isn't happening fast enough to make up for the damage done in the depths of the recession.

"The past two years were about pulling our economy back from the brink². The next two years, our job now, is putting our economy into overdrive."

The president set a goal of doubling America's exports abroad over the next two years and selling more goods to China, saying he wants two-way trade, not just one-way trade. For NPR News, I'm Karen DeWitt in Schenectady, New York.

Shares of GE surged to a 52-week high and the Dow was up 54 points at 11,877.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is now in Houston, where she will undergo a lengthy³ rehabilitation⁴ for brain injury inflicted⁵ by a gunman in Tucson nearly two weeks ago. The institute treating Giffords is said to be one of the best in the world for brain and spinal⁶ cord injuries.

Negotiators for six world powers and Iran don't appear any closer to resolving a dispute over the Islamic republic's atomic program. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports on the latest gathering⁷ in Istanbul to address one of the most worrisome issues facing the US and its allies.

International delegations⁹, led by EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton, met with Saeed Jalili, an Iranian delegation⁸, at an imposing¹⁰ former castle-turned hotel on the banks of the Bosphorus. By the time the talks broke for lunch and Friday prayers, there was no sign Iran had budged¹¹ from its refusal to consider suspending its uranium enrichment program. International leaders fear Teheran is covertly¹² attempting to master nuclear weapons technology. Western officials say Iran's growing stockpile of enriched uranium has made a fuel-swap proposal like the one offered in 2009 more difficult. For its part, Iran wants an easing of the international sanctions that have squeezed its economy. Analysts¹³ say in the absence of progress here, even more sanctions may be sought. Peter Kenyon, NPR News, Istanbul.

From Washington, this is NPR.

Three days of mourning are underway in Tunisia for the 78 people killed during a month of unrest over the political state of the country. The demonstrations¹⁴ led to the downfall of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and the creation of a unity¹⁵ government that includes members of Ben Ali's party. However, the government makeup¹⁶ ignited more protests this week.

A top aide to British Prime Minister David Cameron quit his job today amid a scandal over phone-tapping by a tabloid¹⁷ newspaper. NPR's Philip Reeves says Andy Coulson's departure is a political blow to Cameron.

Andy Coulson played a key role for Cameron as his trusted and powerful communications chief, but his past kept catching¹⁸ up with him. He used to be editor of the mass-selling News of the World. A couple of years back, a reporter and (a) private investigator¹⁹ from the paper were jailed for illegally tapping the telephones of members of the British royal family's entourage. The paper's executives insist the two men were the only ones involved, but evidence continued to flow in, contradicting this, fortifying²⁰ suspicions that Coulson himself encouraged reporters to eavesdrop²¹ on politicians and celebrities²². Coulson's consistently denied this, but the story wouldn't go away. A statement from Cameron about Coulson's resignation made no reference to the scandal, but Cameron said Coulson felt he'd become the focus of attention, and this was impeding²³ his ability to do his job. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London.

Britain plans to extradite a suspected terrorist to the US to stand trial for his alleged²⁴ role in a plot to bomb the New York City subway system. Today, a court approved a request to allow US authorities to take custody²⁵ of Abid Naseer.

1 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

2 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

3 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

4 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

5 inflicted   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
• Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。

6 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

9 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

10 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

11 budged   

v.（使）稍微移动( budge的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步

参考例句：

• Old Bosc had never budged an inch--he was totally indifferent. 老包斯克一直连动也没有动，他全然无所谓。 来自辞典例句
• Nobody budged you an inch. 别人一丁点儿都算计不了你。 来自辞典例句

12 covertly   

adv.偷偷摸摸地

参考例句：

• Naval organizations were covertly incorporated into civil ministries. 各种海军组织秘密地混合在各民政机关之中。 来自辞典例句
• Modern terrorism is noteworthy today in that it is being done covertly. 现代的恐怖活动在今天是值得注意的，由于它是秘密进行的。 来自互联网

13 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。

14 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

15 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

16 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

17 tabloid   

adj.轰动性的，庸俗的；n.小报，文摘

参考例句：

• He launched into a verbal assault on tabloid journalism.他口头对小报新闻进行了抨击。
• He believes that the tabloid press has behaved disgracefully.他认为小报媒体的行为不太光彩。

18 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

19 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

20 fortifying   

筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品）

参考例句：

• Fortifying executive function and restraining impulsivity are possible with active interventions. 积极干预可能有助加强执行功能和抑制冲动性。
• Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face, fortifying himself against still another disappointment. 文戈不再张望，他绷紧脸，仿佛正在鼓足勇气准备迎接另一次失望似的。

21 eavesdrop   

v.偷听，倾听

参考例句：

• He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.他藏在壁橱里，以便偷听。
• It is not polite to eavesdrop on the conversation of other people.偷听他人说话是很不礼貌的。

22 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

23 impeding   

a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的

参考例句：

• Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers. 坠落的石头阻滞了救援人员的救援进程。
• Is there sufficient room for the kiosk and kiosk traffic without impeding other user traffic? 该环境下是否有足够的空间来摆放信息亭？信息亭是否会妨碍交通或者行走？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

24 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

25 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。