NPR 2011-12-16

 President Obama is monitoring the eleventh-hour spending debate on Capitol Hill. Democrats¹ and Republicans have yet to agree on a way to extend the payroll² tax cut, which expires at year's end. Speaking in Washington this morning, the president threw down this gauntlet to Congress.

 

“This Congress cannot and should not leave for vacation until they have made sure that that tax increase doesn't happen.”

 

In the Senate, leaders of both parties are convinced that Congress can’t wrap up its work for the session without too much drama. NPR's Craig Windham has more.

 

Senate Majority Leader Harry³ Reid says he now thinks lawmakers will find a way to provide funding for the government through next September and to extend the payroll tax cut, which is set to expire soon.

 

“We hope that we can come up with something that would get us out of here at a reasonable time in the next few days.”

 

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell is also optimistic, but neither he nor Reid would say much about the details of the deal that's in the works. Craig Windham, NPR News, Washington.

 

At Baghdad International Airport today, the US military has lowered the flag of US forces in Iraq. Defense⁴ Secretary Leon Panetta was there.

 

“To all of the men and women in uniform today, your nation is deeply indebted to you.”

 

US troops fought in Iraq for nine years. 

 

The Justice Department is raising the flag on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. As NPR's Carrie Johnson tells us, federal civil rights lawyers say they have found evidence that Latino drivers in some parts of Arizona are being stopped illegally, and some inmates⁵ are being punished for failing to understand English.

 

Federal authorities cite a wall of distrust between Arpaio, who’s cultivated a reputation as America's toughest sheriff and members of the Latino community. The Justice Department says it found Latino motorists are four to nine times more likely to be stopped by sheriff's deputies than non-Latinos often without any legal cause. Justice also says Arpaio retaliates⁶ against people who complain about his policies, including local government officials, and his focus on Latino residents in Arizona may have distracted Arpaio from paying attention to other law enforcement problems, including rape⁷ and sexual assault in the community. Justice civil rights chief Tom Perez says he wants to negotiate with the sheriff, but he won't hesitate to sue if necessary. Carrie Johnson, NPR News in Washington.

 

If you can afford to buy or refinance a home, this is a good time. Freddie Mac  says the average rate on the 30-year fixed⁸ mortgage is now 3.94% from 3.99%, the previous week.

 

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 48 at 11,872.

 

This is NPR.

 

IndyCar officials have determined⁹ that racing¹⁰ star Dan Wheldon died in an October 16th accident when his head hit a post in the fencing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He died in a 15-car accident when his car launched into the catch fence.

 

Has the No Child Left Behind law enhanced student performance. NPR's Larry Abramson tells us the evidence is not encouraging.

 

The Center on Education Policy, a Washington research group, says the number of schools making adequate yearly progress varies widely across the country because each state currently develops its own tests and sets its own standards for passing those tests. But the number of schools failing to meet the standard is at its highest level in the 10-year history of No Child Left Behind. In five states and the District of Columbia, at least 75% of schools failed to improve adequately from year to year. The administration has said these numbers are signs that the standards are obsolete¹¹, but Congress has been unable to resolve differences over how to reauthorize the landmark¹² education law. Larry Abramson, NPR News.

 

Repairmen probably have lots of stories about what they see when they enter people's homes, and a cable TV repairman now has one for the books. Entering the basement of a New Jersey¹³ home, he found a 500-pound bear sound asleep on the floor. It's not clear how the bear got into the home and it wandered out of the house before state Fish and Game officials arrived.

 

One of the comic book industry's most revered¹⁴ writers, artists and editors has died at the age of 98. Joe Simon co-created Captain America for Timely Comics, the predecessor¹⁵ of Marvel¹⁶.

 

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

1 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

3 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 retaliates   

v.报复，反击( retaliate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Lincoln suggests Si Tan pauses, the letter that writes acrimonious of a content retaliates that fellow. 林肯建议斯坦顿，写一封内容尖刻的信回敬那家伙。 来自互联网
• If it does not, and the US imposes tariffs and China retaliates, what then? 如果它不让步，而美国开征关税，中国加以报复，接下来会怎样？ 来自互联网

7 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

8 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

10 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

11 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

12 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。

13 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

14 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

15 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

16 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。