VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Voices Confidence in US Economy

U.S. President George Bush tried to reassure¹ jittery² financial markets Monday as stock prices plummeted³ after one of Wall Street's largest brokerage houses went bankrupt. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.
　
President Bush makes a statement about the economy as he stands in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, 15 Sep 2008

The president says the latest financial news is troubling, but the underpinnings of the U.S. economy are strong.

"In the short run, adjustments in the financial markets can be painful - both for the people concerned about their investments and for the employees of the affected⁴ firms," said President Bush. "In the long run, I'm confident that our capital markets are flexible and resilient, and can deal with these adjustments."

The president's comments came after the investment company Lehman Brothers was forced to file for bankruptcy⁵ protection. At the same time, the world's largest brokerage firm, Merrill Lynch, was sold to Bank of America for a fraction of what it was worth just one year ago.

Both firms have been crippled by a series of bad investments related to the troubled U.S. mortgage market.

President Bush says that while he sympathizes with investors⁶ and employees of these two financial institutions, his administration is focusing its attention on the overall health of the financial system.

"We are working to reduce disruptions and minimize the impact of these financial market developments on the broader economy," said Mr. Bush.
　
Treasury⁷ Secretary Henry Paulson, Jr. speaks during a news conference on the bailout of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in Washington, 07 Sep 2008

The man leading the government's efforts to keep the financial markets stable is Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

He says the markets are working through a difficult period, but he emphasizes the American people should remain confident in the soundness and resilience of the U.S. financial system.

Paulson says steps have already been taken to ensure order in the financial markets and says he is willing to do more, including action taken in conjunction with officials abroad.

"What we are focused on right now, I think, is the future," said Secretary Paulson. "And the future is stability, orderliness in our financial markets and working through this period and that is what we are doing."

Paulson told reporters Monday that he never gave any consideration to a government bail-out for Lehman Brothers. He said he was not prepared to put taxpayer⁸ money at risk to prop⁹ up a private company.

 

1 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

2 jittery   

adj. 神经过敏的, 战战兢兢的

参考例句：

• However, nothing happened though he continued to feel jittery. 可是，自从拉上这辆车，并没有出什么错儿，虽然他心中嘀嘀咕咕的不安。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The thirty-six Enterprise divebombers were being squandered in a jittery shot from the hip. 这三十六架“企业号”上的俯冲轰炸机正被孤注一掷。

3 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

6 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

7 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

8 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

9 prop   

vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山

参考例句：

• A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
• The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。