VOA标准英语2009年-Australian PM Heads to Washington for Talks on

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is on his way to the United States for his first meeting with President Barack Obama. The global financial crisis will feature heavily during Mr. Rudd's discussions in Washington. During his two-week trip overseas, the prime minister will also head to London for a summit of leaders of the Group of 20 developed and developing nations.
　
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

Senior members of the Australian government say that Kevin Rudd's two-week trip to the United States and Europe could well be his most important as prime minister, as the world faces what they call its "most savage¹" economic crisis in 80 years.

The threat posed by the global recession will be a key focus of Prime Minister Rudd's first meeting with President Obama at the White House. Mr. Rudd is anxious to see the reform of troubled American banks and the eradication² of so-called toxic³ debt, which includes troubled mortgages.

The Australian leader will then take his vision for a reformed global banking⁴ system to the G20 summit in London, where he is expected to call for more resources to be made available for the International Monetary⁵ Fund, which oversees⁶ the world's financial system.

The Rudd government also wants China to play a more central role in the IMF to help the international community emerge from its economic situation.

Australian Treasurer⁷ Wayne Swan says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd heads overseas at a time when the local economy is quickly sliding into reverse.

"Growth will be slower, unemployment will be higher and, at this time in the global economy, there could not be a more important time for an Australian prime minister to be talking to a new U.S. president and to be attending a leaders' meeting of the 20 largest economies in the world; both developed and developing," Swan said.

The war in Afghanistan and Australia's role in the military effort against Taliban insurgents⁸ will also be a major talking point between the two leaders in Washington.

Before leaving for the United States, Mr. Rudd said he would consider sending more Australian troops to Afghanistan, if the Obama administration asks for them.

Two Australian soldiers have been killed fighting militants⁹ in the troubled country, in the past week, bringing to ten the number of Australian combat casualties in Afghanistan.

1 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

2 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

3 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

4 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

5 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

6 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

7 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

8 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

9 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。