VOA标准英语2008年-Oil Prices Rebound After OPEC Announces Product

Oil prices began bouncing back Wednesday after members of the Organization of the Petroleum¹ Exporting Countries agreed to a modest production cut of 500,000 barrels a day, during a meeting in Vienna. Lisa Bryant reports for VOA from Paris.
　
OPEC headquarters in Vienna, Austria (file photo)

In a marathon meeting lasting² until early Wednesday, ministers from OPEC's 13 member states agreed to produce a limit of 28.8 million barrels a day. At a news conference, OPEC President Chakib Khelil translated that limit into real terms.

"I think, if you do your own calculation, probably it will be a lowering of production by about 520,000 barrels," he said."

Khelil says the decision takes effect immediately, with a 40-day time frame for it to be implemented³. To a certain extent, it comes as a surprise. Earlier indications suggested members might hold production steady, despite plummeting⁴ oil prices in recent months, partly because of a restrengthening dollar and tough economic times. They fell below $100 a barrel, Tuesday, for the first time since April.

Khelil suggests that trend might continue, despite OPEC's production cut.

"My hunch⁵ is probably the price will still be going down, despite the decisions that we're making," Khelil said. "So, I don't think this will affect the consumers in any way because, first of all, there is an over supply, everybody agrees with that

Analysts⁶ are divided over whether prices will continue to fall. Some suggest that more storms such as those that have battered⁷ the Caribbean and the United States could cause prices to rise.

 

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 plummeting   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Prices are rising, falling, going up, going down, shooting up, plummeting, etc. 物价在上涨、下跌、上升、下落、猛然上涨、骤然下跌等。 来自辞典例句
• The enemy plane went plummeting into the sea. 敌机直直掉进海里。 来自辞典例句

5 hunch   

n.预感，直觉

参考例句：

• I have a hunch that he didn't really want to go.我有这么一种感觉，他并不真正想去。
• I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.我有预感和苏珊共事会很融洽。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。