VOA标准英语2010年-Website of the Week - 2010 Census

Congressional representation, billions in government aid depend on once-a-decade count

Art Chimes | Washington, DC 25 February 2010

Census¹ technology has come a long way since punch cards were used in the 1940/1960 census.

Time again for our Website of the Week, when we showcase interesting and innovative² online destinations.

Once every 10 years the U.S. government conducts a census of everyone living in the United States. It's mandated³ in our Constitution, and the information collected is used in a variety of ways. It determines whether states gain or lose seats in Congress, it plays a key role in determining how federal programs distribute some $400 billion to states and localities, it fuels academic research, and it helps businesses decide where to put new stores. The place to learn more is 2010.census.gov.

"Our mission is to give you, the public, the best statistical⁴ information about our economy and society. You may recognize our work when you hear reports on the economy, health care, unemployment, housing, trade, and a lot of other topics," says census director Robert Groves⁵.

The U.S. Census Bureau is sending out millions of census forms. Each household is asked to fill in the 10-question form and mail it back.

To avoid costly⁶ follow-up, the census is mounting a TV campaign, including spots aimed at groups less likely to send back their form, such as young adults.

Members of ethnic⁷ minorities are also less likely to answer the census, so the census website includes videos designed to reassure⁸ people who may fear contact with federal officials. One of the clips features Detroit official Durene Brown, who cautioned that, "we need to get rid of any fears that they might have about privacy or any other issues. ... Everybody needs to be counted."

Census day is April 1. Learn more about America's once-a-decade census at 2010.census.gov, or visit our site, VOAnews.com, for the link to this and hundreds of other Websites of the Week.  

 

1 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

2 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

3 mandated   

adj. 委托统治的

参考例句：

• Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
• Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。

4 statistical   

adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table.他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• They're making detailed statistical analysis.他们正在做具体的统计分析。

5 groves   

树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields. 朝阳宁静地照耀着已经发黄的树丛和还是一片绿色的田地。
• The trees grew more and more in groves and dotted with old yews. 那里的树木越来越多地长成了一簇簇的小丛林，还点缀着几棵老紫杉树。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 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。