2007年VOA标准英语-US National Parks Get Boost in Bush's Budget

By Paula Wolfson
White House
07 February 2007

President Bush is asking the U.S. Congress for a big increase in funding for America's national parks.   VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports at a time when the president is proposing cuts in spending for a wide array of domestic programs, the parks could get a big budget boost.

 
President Bush participates in a discussion on the National Parks Centennial Initiative at Shenandoah National Park, 7 Feb 2007
Along with the Defense¹ Department, the U.S. National Park Service is one of the big winners in the president's proposed federal budget for the next fiscal² year.

His 2008 spending framework includes a major increase in funding to cover day-to-day park operations.   But the Bush administration is also looking to the future, and is asking Congress to endorse³ a partnership⁴ between the government and the private sector⁵ that could provide up to $3 billion for park improvements over the next decade.

It is all part of an effort to recognize the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016 and enhance America's parks for future generations.

President Bush called attention to the proposal Wednesday during a visit to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. He called the park system a national "treasure."

"Our parks will have their 100th anniversary in 2016 and we felt like a vital goal for this country would be to prepare those parks, to guard the parks, to conserve⁶ the parks, to make the parks relevant to the American people in honor of the 100th anniversary," he said.

 
Fall colors looking north from Stony⁷ Man Summit in Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park was almost deserted⁸ on this winter's day, with frigid⁹ temperatures prompting the White House to restrict the president's visit to a rustic¹⁰ lodge¹¹ along a scenic¹² road.

After a meeting with park service officials, and the leaders of various private groups that support the park system, Mr. Bush spoke¹³ briefly¹⁴ to reporters.

The president said the federal government would place $100 million each year for the next 10 years in a special fund to improve the parks.  He said it would also match a similar amount in private donations.

"We are asking the private sector to donate up to $1 billion over the next 10 years to help this park system be vital and strong, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our park system," he added.  "And as our fellow citizens contribute, whether it is through foundation, corporation or individually, the federal government will match those contributions."

Although the National Park Service was established in 1916, the first national park - Yellowstone, actually opened in 1872.   Today, the Park Service maintains 390 sites across the country, from massive parks with their mountains, streams and hiking trails to historical properties like the White House.

1 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。

2 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

3 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

7 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

8 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

9 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

10 rustic   

adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬

参考例句：

• It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
• We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。

11 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

12 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

13 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。

14 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。