VOA标准英语2009年-S. Korea Announces New Spending to Fight Econom

South Korea's government is getting ready to open up its wallet again, in hopes of staving off the worst effects of the global economic slowdown. Seoul is adding billions to a planned budget.
　
S. Korean Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoon Jeung-hyun answers a reporter's question during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, 24 March 2009

South Korean Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun said Tuesday, out of a total supplemental budget of $20.7 billion, the government plans to spend more than $12 billion on projects and programs aimed at countering the global recession with the remaining $8 billion going to make up for shortfalls in tax revenue.

He says the supplementary¹ budget reflects the government's response to changing economic conditions both in Korea and internationally. He says the spending is aimed at overcoming the current crisis as quickly as possibly.

The money is an addition to the government's more than $205 billion budget for the year 2009, which must be passed by lawmakers. More than $9 billion of the supplmental budget, is targeted at stabilizing² the livelihoods³ of low-income South Koreans and helping⁴ small business owners keep and create jobs.

The government plans to make cash payments, subsidized credit, and coupons⁵ redeemable⁶ for basic goods and services available to low income earners. Job training and unemployment benefits are also to be expanded.

South Korea also intends to make cash fund regional projects, and invest in emerging industries seen as having growth potential, especially in environmentally friendly industries.

Minister Yoon says the speed of the global economic slowdown has been surprising.

He says the scope and depth of the downturn is happening at a faster pace than expected.

South Korea's spending mirrors on a smaller scale emergency spending in the United States, following last year's collapse⁷ of several major U.S. investment banks.

The U.S. Congress passed a $787 billion spending bill earlier this year.

1 supplementary   

adj.补充的，附加的

参考例句：

• There is a supplementary water supply in case the rain supply fails.万一主水源断了，我们另外有供水的地方。
• A supplementary volume has been published containing the index.附有索引的增补卷已经出版。

2 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

3 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 coupons   

n.礼券( coupon的名词复数 )；优惠券；订货单；参赛表

参考例句：

• The company gives away free coupons for drinks or other items. 公司为饮料或其它项目发放免费赠券。 来自辞典例句
• Do you have any coupons? 你们有优惠卡吗？ 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

6 redeemable   

可赎回的，可补救的

参考例句：

• These vouchers are redeemable against any future purchase. 这些优惠券将来购物均可使用。
• The bonds are redeemable by annual drawings. 公债每年抽签偿还。

7 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。