NPR 2011-04-28

The economy is gradually strengthening enough for the Federal Reserve to end its bond-buying program on schedule in June, according to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who says he expects a moderate economic recovery to continue through this year after a mostly weak first quarter.

"Looking ahead, committee participants expect a moderate recovery to continue through 2011, with some acceleration¹ of growth projected for 2012 and 2013."

It's the first time in the Fed's 96-year history that a chairman has called a full news conference with reporters. The Fed's bond purchases are meant to drive loan rates lower and encourage spending. Others worried the Fed's efforts to boost the economy will feed inflation.

The governor of Ohio says President Obama should focus more on reducing the nation's debt and less on collective bargaining restrictions² in states. Governor John Kasich's remarks come a day after Mr. Obama told WKYC-TV in Cleveland that he strongly disapproves³ of new laws restricting the union rights of public employees in Ohio and Wisconsin.

Officials from rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah say they've reached an agreement to form an interim⁴ unity⁵ government. NPR's Jackie Northam in Gaza City says the reported deal would allow the Palestinians to move forward on peace efforts with Israel.

The tentative deal between Hamas and Fatah was hammered out in Cairo with the help of the Egyptian intelligence service. It calls for creating a single caretaker government and setting up a date for general elections. What is unclear for consensus⁶ was reached on other critical questions, such as who will control the security forces. There has been a division between the two sides since 2006, when Hamas won parliamentary elections. Fatah refused to accept the results. In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, leaving Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, in charge of the West Bank. Pessimism⁷ about a reconciliation⁸ runs deep here in the Gaza Strip. Earlier, attempts to reach an agreement have unraveled. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Gaza City.

BP expects to be drilling again in the Gulf⁹ of Mexico later this year. NPR's Jeff Brady says the company made that announcement during an earnings¹⁰ call today.

BP's Chief Financial Officer Byron Grote says the company has applied¹¹ for drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico and is waiting for regulatory approval.

"We expect to be back and actively¹² drilling during the second half of the year."

Meanwhile, BP's profits were up $1 billion during the first quarter compared to last year. The company had $7.2 billion in profits thanks to high oil prices and asset sales. BP had $400 million in expenses related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill during the first quarter. Conoco Philips also announced its earnings today. The company's profits were $3 billion, up $900 million over the first quarter of 2010. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

On Wall Street just before the close, the Dow Industrials are up 96 points at 12,692. The NASDAQ up 21.

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The brother of an Afghan officer who today killed nine Americans at Kabul airport says the gunman had financial troubles, but he says his brother was not connected in anyway to insurgents¹³. Nine Americans, eight troops and a contractor¹⁴ were killed by the gunfire. Officials say the killing¹⁵ occurred after an argument. It's the deadliest incident today of an Afghan turning against its own coalition¹⁶ partners, according to officials.

The French Foreign Ministry¹⁷ in France says leading European nations have summoned Syrian ambassadors across Europe to condemn¹⁸ recent violence in that country. The ministry says France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain have all condemned¹⁹ the deadly crackdown on protesters in Syria.

A new report finds that a quarter of American children are being raised by a single parent. As NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports, that's higher than in other developed nations.

The average for other nations is just 15%, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD finds American single parents more likely to be employed, but also more likely to live in poverty. The report points out the US is the only developed nation without a national policy for paid parental²⁰ leave and also lags in federal support for childcare. In recent years, the share of Americans born to unmarried mothers has surged to 40%. The report finds that's not so different from some other countries, but family demographers²¹ say unmarried Americans are far more likely to break up and change partners and couples in other nations. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

At least ten people in Alabama and Arkansas were killed in a wave of powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes²² today in the South. It's the same storm system that caused several deaths in southern states the past two days. High winds have snapped trees and damaged homes.

I'm Carol Van Dam, NPR News in Washington.

1 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 disapproves   

v.不赞成( disapprove的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She disapproves of unmarried couples living together. 她反对未婚男女同居。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her mother disapproves of her wearing transparent underwear. 她母亲不赞成她穿透明的内衣。 来自辞典例句

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 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。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 pessimism   

n.悲观者，悲观主义者，厌世者

参考例句：

• He displayed his usual pessimism.他流露出惯有的悲观。
• There is the note of pessimism in his writings.他的著作带有悲观色彩。

8 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

9 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

10 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

11 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

12 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

13 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

14 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

15 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

16 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

17 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

18 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

19 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

20 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

21 demographers   

n.人口统计学( demography的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Demographers, however, point out that the'single" trend will have a profound effect on American institutions. 不过，人口学家们指出，“单身”趋势将对美国的公共机构产生深远的影响。 来自时文部分
• Selectivity of human migration long been the focus of demographers and economists. 人口迁移的选择性一直以来都是人口学家和经济学家关注的焦点。 来自互联网

22 tornadoes   

n.龙卷风，旋风( tornado的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Tornadoes, severe earthquakes, and plagues create wide spread havoc. 龙卷风、大地震和瘟疫成普遍的毁坏。 来自互联网
• Meteorologists are at odds over the working of tornadoes. 气象学者对龙卷风的运动方式看法不一。 来自互联网