NPR 2012-06-10

 One European prime minister says it could be one of the greatest financial rescue operations the world has seen. Eurozone finance ministers have concluded in an emergency conference call today on Spain's ailing¹ economy. We get details from Lauren Frayer in Madrid.

 

Spanish Economy Minister Luis De Guindos was careful to call the package “financial assistance,” avoiding the word “bailout.” He said the money is being provided on terms much more favorable than what Spain is able to raise on financial markets on its own. De Guindos gave no dollar figure, but eurozone finance ministers say Spain is being offered up to 125 billion dollars. That money will go into Spain's own bank-rescue fund and help shore up local lenders weighed down by bad real estate debt. Spain will become the fourth eurozone nation to request aid since Europe's debt crisis broke out more than two years ago. For NPR News, I'm Lauren Frayer in Madrid.

 

In Washington, House Republicans are rejecting President Obama's call for new government spending to create jobs. Instead, as NPR's Tamara Keith reports, they remain focused on repealing² the president's health care law and extending tax cuts.

 

House Speaker John Boehner wasted little time responding to the president.

 

“The American people are still asking the question, where are the jobs?”

 

President Obama is calling on Congress to pass portions of his jobs agenda that would help local and state governments avoid layoffs³ and would boost infrastructure⁴ spending. But Beohner said at a Capitol Hill press conference he doesn't think that's the right focus.

 

“Government continues to spend money that we don't have. With these looming⁵ tax hikes, we have frozen employers in place,” which is to say House Republican leaders have no intention of taking up the president's jobs agenda and plan to keep working on their own very different plans. Tamara Keith, NPR News, Washington.

 

As Japan tsunami⁶ debris⁷ washes up on the shores of the West Coast and Alaska, scientists are worried about invasive species potentially arriving on that debris. At the 5 Gyres Institute in Santa Monica, Anna Cummins is one expert sounding the alarm.

 

“Some of those species are necessarily meant to reach another coastline, you know, 7,000 miles away. And then I think it's just been unknown as the volume of how much is out there and what potential impact could it have washing upon coastlines.”

 

A Japanese dock arrived on a beach in Oregon a few days ago, carrying seaweed, shellfish, crabs⁸ and starfish from Japan.

 

In Tokyo, a panel evaluating the response to last year's earthquake and tsunami crisis had damning words about Japan's former government. A report found that tremendous confusion was added by the nation's former primer minister and his aides. Numerous official calls made to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the height of the crisis distracted plant operators. 

 

This is NPR News.

 

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova won the women's final of the French Open today, completing a career Grand Slam. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, Sharapova was powerful and constant, putting her opponent away in just two sets.

 

Sharapova and Sara Errani ranted⁹ and shrieked¹⁰ their way through the match on this sunny but blustery day at Paris's Roland Garros Stadium. But in the end, Sharapova's powerful strokes and ten-inch high advantage was too much for Errani, though the Italian battled back with some spin shots and crafty¹¹ net play. Sharapova is the tenth woman to complete a Grand Slam, adding her French Open title, two championships at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. She’s also back at No. 1 for the first time since 2008 when shoulder surgery almost sank her career and she dropped as low as 126. In an interview with French sportscasters after the match, Sharapova said she would savor¹² her victory with some French champagne¹³. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

 

Ahead of the Belmont Stakes in New York, more disappointment than excitement, as a potential Triple Crown winner was scratched from the race. I'll Have Another was diagnosed with tendinitis on Friday. That was described by Belmont Park veterinarian Larry Bramlage.

 

“He has a superficial digital flexor tendonitis. It's the tendon in the back of the horse's ankle that acts as a spring. It's actually what makes a horse able to be a horse. We have no analogous¹⁴ structure Achilles tendon is closed.” 

 

Dullahan and Union Rags are now the favorites in this evening’s race.

 

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

1 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

2 repealing   

撤销，废除( repeal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• In addition, repealing the alternative minimum tax would also help. 此外，废除替代性最低税也会有所帮助。
• Repealing the investment tax credit. 取消投资税款扣除。

3 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

6 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

7 debris   

n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片

参考例句：

• After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
• Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上，导致蛀牙。

8 crabs   

n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• As we walked along the seashore we saw lots of tiny crabs. 我们在海岸上散步时看到很多小蟹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The fish and crabs scavenge for decaying tissue. 鱼和蟹搜寻腐烂的组织为食。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 ranted   

v.夸夸其谈( rant的过去式和过去分词 )；大叫大嚷地以…说教；气愤地)大叫大嚷；不停地大声抱怨

参考例句：

• Drink in hand,he ranted about his adventures in Africa. 他端着酒杯，激动地叙述他在非洲的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Lu Xun ranted and raved against the enemy, but he felt warmth towards the people. 鲁迅对敌人冷嘲热讽，而对人民却是满腔热忱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 shrieked   

v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
• Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫，陆子潇尖声叫：“告诉什么？ 来自汉英文学 - 围城

11 crafty   

adj.狡猾的，诡诈的

参考例句：

• He admired the old man for his crafty plan.他敬佩老者的神机妙算。
• He was an accomplished politician and a crafty autocrat.他是个有造诣的政治家，也是个狡黠的独裁者。

12 savor   

vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味

参考例句：

• The soup has a savor of onion.这汤有洋葱味。
• His humorous remarks added a savor to our conversation.他幽默的话语给谈话增添了风趣。

13 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

14 analogous   

adj.相似的；类似的

参考例句：

• The two situations are roughly analogous.两种情況大致相似。
• The company is in a position closely analogous to that of its main rival.该公司与主要竞争对手的处境极为相似。