VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Remains Upbeat on US Economy

By Michael Bowman
Washington
07 January 2008

President Bush says the U.S. economy remains¹ resilient, despite signs of a slowdown in growth and higher unemployment figures. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from the White House.

Recent weeks have seen a sobering string of economic news, from a sharp spike² in unemployment to continued housing foreclosures to record-setting energy prices. Many economists³ are openly discussing the possibility of a recession this year, after more than four years of uninterrupted economic expansion.

President Bush says it is understandable that Americans are anxious about the economy.

"We cannot take growth for granted," he said. "We confront economic challenges, from the downturn of the housing sector⁴ to high energy prices to painful adjustments in some of the financial markets."

President Bush was speaking to business and political leaders in Chicago, Illinois.

Already, the U.S. central bank has lowered interest rates in an effort to try and stimulate⁵ the economy. President Bush says more action is needed, including securing new trade deals with foreign countries, expanding oil exploration, and keeping taxes low.

"I have worked with Congress to cut taxes, and pro-growth economic policies work," he said. "When you cut taxes, it means that people have more money to save, spend or invest. More money in the pocket. More money to support a family."

Mr. Bush pointed⁶ out that many of the tax cuts he championed at the start of his administration are scheduled to expire in coming years. He said, unless Congress acts to extend the tax breaks or make them permanent, Americans will surrender far more of their income to the federal government, and have less money to meet their needs and keep the economy going.

Leaders of the Democratically-controlled Congress have criticized many of President Bush's most-favored tax initiatives as favoring wealthy Americans over the middle and lower classes. They have also questioned the wisdom of cutting taxes at a time when America is at war and the nation's debt is increasing.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

3 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。