VOA标准英语2010年-Japan Airlines Files for Bankruptcy

Japan Airlines has filed for bankruptcy¹ protection after struggling for years. The largest airline in Asia will continue operating flights but the Japanese government is acting² quickly to pull JAL out of its economic mess.

Japan Airline's bankruptcy filing is one of Japan's largest corporate³ failures in decades.

The former state-owned carrier once symbolized⁴ the strength of the country's post-war economic boom. But its financial fortunes declined in the last decade with the fallout from the September 11 attacks, a surge in fuel prices, and the worldwide economic slowdown. The company racked up more than $20 billion in debt and its share price has dropped to a record low of about three cents.

The Japanese government bailed⁵ out the airline three times in the last 10 years but it could not save the company from bankruptcy this time.

Japan's finance minister, Naoto Kan, vows⁶ the government will do all it can to reverse JAL's economic fortunes.

The airline will continue to operate daily flights but the government is planning restructuring efforts that will significantly reduce JAL's size. About a third of the work force is expected to be cut, along with more than a score of international and domestic routes.

A state-backed group will oversee⁷ the restructuring plan, with a new chairman at the helm. The government has asked Kyocera founder⁸ Kazuo Inamori to lead JAL.

In exchange for the bankruptcy filing, JAL will get about $3 billion in capital from the government. The company's lenders will be asked to forgive about $3 billion in loans.

Although the restructuring plan is expected to take three years, Land, Transport, and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara says the government will act swiftly, without disrupting service to passengers.

Maehara says they will look to maintain stability and safety in the air as they move forward with this process.

The Japanese airline's financial failure has opened up a bidding war among American airlines. Delta⁹ and American Airlines have both offered a $1 billion  in financial support, in an attempt to form closer alliances with JAL.

 

1 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。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

4 symbolized   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句

5 bailed   

保释，帮助脱离困境( bail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Fortunately the pilot bailed out before the plane crashed. 飞机坠毁之前，驾驶员幸运地跳伞了。
• Some water had been shipped and the cook bailed it out. 船里进了些水，厨师把水舀了出去。

6 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

7 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

8 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

9 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。