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英语周刊第48期
在线英语听力室 (2007-12-16)  字体: [ ]  
 
本 期 目 录 :
 

 

 

1.英语听力-经典教程 最新精选
2.美文欣赏-错过的祝福
3.想笑就笑-The Nice Wedding Gift(漂亮的结婚礼物)
4.双语故事-老希尔德布朗
5.生活英语-情景英语:生活英语应用会话(一)
6.职称英语-2007年最新职称英语课程综合辅导(一)
7.行业英语:英文广告词
8.英文诗歌-爱像有魔力
9.英文演讲-President Bush Discusses Housing
10.学习技巧-牛津实用英语语法 271 be afraid(of),be sorry(for),

进入英语论坛

英语听力-经典教程 最新精选

经典教程

展望未来

Easytime

英语精美散文22篇

抗遗忘速记掌中宝 

listen-and-speak

 

 

 

 

最新精选

英语动画影集

洪恩环境英语

少儿圣经故事

VOA慢速英语2007年(六)月

VOA常速英语2007年(十一月)

  

英语是"练"出来的,在线"练"英语频道

 

 

 

 


美文欣赏-错过的祝福

           Is packing important to you?

 

 

  A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

 

 

  As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

 

 

  Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

 

 

  Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realizing his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

 

 

  When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.

 

 

  With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words… "PAID IN FULL".

 

  

  How many times do we miss blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. Sometimes we don't realize the good fortune we have or we could have because we expect "the packaging" to be different. What may appear as bad fortune may in fact be the door that is just waiting to be opened.

 

                              更多美文


想笑就笑-The Nice Wedding Gift(漂亮的结婚礼物)

 

  We attended the wedding of an acquaintance's son. Because we did not know the young man or his bride, we decided to send them a practical household gift, a fire extinguisher. Apparently, the couple mass-produced their thank-you notes because we received a card saying: "Thank you very much for the nice wedding gift. We look forward to using it soon.

 

 

 

Notes:

 

 

 

  (1) acquaintance n.熟人

 

 

 

  (2) practical adj.实用的

 

 

 

  (3) household n.全家的人

 

 

 

  (4) extinguisher n.灭火器

 

 

 

  (5) apparently adj.明显地

 

 

 

  (6) mass-produce 大批量生产

 

 

 

Exercises:

 

 

 

根据短文选择正确答案:

 

 

 

  ① Whose wedding did the couple attend?

 

 

 

  A. their friend's

 

  

  B. the man's brother's

 

  

  C. of an acquaintance's son

 

  

  D. of the woman's sister

 

 

 

  ② Why did they decide to send them a fire extinguisher?

 

 

 

  A. Because they did not know the young man or his bride.

 

 

 

  B. Because they knew that soon there would be a fire.

 

 

 

  C. Because it was practical.

 

 

 

  D. A &C.

 

 

 

  ③ How were the thank-you notes produced?

 

 

 

  A. They were written by hand

 

 

 

  B. They were mass-produced.

 

 

 

  C. They were copied on a machine.

 

 

 

  D. They were painted in varied colors.

 

 

 

  ④ What does the last sentence mean?

 

 

 

  A. We look forward to using it to put out a fire in our house soon.

 

 

 

  B. We'll put out the fire on our neighbour's house by using it.

 

   

  C. We'll send it to someone else.

 

 

 

  D. We'll carry it wherever we go.

 

 

 

134.漂亮的结婚礼物

 

 

 

  我们参加了一个熟人的儿子的婚礼。由于我们都不认识那个年轻人和他的新娘,所以我们决定送给他们一个实用的全家礼----一个灭火器。很明显,这对新人大批量制作了他们的感谢信,因为我们收到了一张卡片,上面写着:"非常感谢您的漂亮的结婚礼物,我们期待着不久就用到它。"

 

 

 

练习参考答案:

 

 

 

①C②D③B④A

 

                             更多内容


双语故事-老希尔德布朗

               Old Hildebrand

 

                    Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

 

  Once upon a time there was a peasant whose wife appealed to the village priest. The priest wanted ever so much to spend an entire day alone with her, and the peasant's wife was quite willing.

 

  One day he said to her, "Listen, dear woman, I've thought it through, and I know how the two of us can spend an entire day together. On Wednesday tell your husband that you are sick and lie down in bed moaning and groaning. Carry on like that until Sunday, when in my sermon I will preach that if anyone has a sick child at home, a sick husband, a sick wife, a sick father, a sick mother, a sick sister, brother, or anyone else, then that person should make a pilgrimage to Mount Cuckoo in Italy. There, for a kreuzer, one can get a peck of laurel leaves, and this person's sick child, sick husband, sick wife, sick father, sick mother, sick sister, brother, or anyone else, will be healed on the spot."

 

  "I'll do it," said the peasant's wife. So on Wednesday she went to bed, moaning and groaning. Her husband did everything for her that he could think of, but nothing helped. Sunday arrived, and the peasant's wife said, "I'm so miserable that I must be near death, but before I die, I would like to hear the sermon that the priest is going to give today."

 

  The peasant answered, "Oh, my child, you can't go out. If you get up it might make you worse. Look, I'll go to church and pay close attention and tell you everything that the priest says."

 

  "Good," said the peasant's wife. "Go and pay close attention, and then tell me everything that you have heard."

 

  So the peasant went to church, and the priest began to preach, saying that if anyone had a sick child at home, a sick husband, a sick wife, a sick father, a sick mother, a sick sister, brother, or anyone else, then that person should make a pilgrimage to Mount Cuckoo in Italy, where a peck of laurel leaves costs one kreuzer, and this person's sick child, sick husband, sick wife, sick father, sick mother, sick sister, brother, or anyone else, will be healed on the spot, and that anyone who might want to undertake this trip should come to him after the mass, and he would give him a sack for the laurel leaves and a kreuzer.

 

  No one was happier than the peasant, and immediately following the mass he went to the priest and asked for the laurel sack and the kreuzer. Then he went home, and even before going inside called out, "Hurrah! My dear wife, you are just as good as cured. The priest preached today that whoever has a sick child at home, a sick husband, a sick wife, a sick father, a sick mother, a sick sister, brother, or anyone else, then that person should make a pilgrimage to Mount Cuckoo in Italy, where a peck of laurel leaves costs one kreuzer, and this person's sick child, sick husband, sick wife, sick father, sick mother, sick sister, brother, or anyone else, will be healed on the spot, and I got the laurel sack and the kreuzer from the priest, and am going to take off immediately, so you can get better as soon as possible." And with that he set forth.

 

  He had scarcely left before his wife got out of bed, and the priest arrived. But let's leave them for awhile and see what happened to the peasant. He was hurrying along in order to arrive at Mount Cuckoo as soon as possible, when he met a kinsman. Now this kinsman was an egg man, who was just returning from market, where he had sold his eggs.

 

  "Bless you!" said the kinsman. "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

 

  "In all eternity!" said the peasant. "My wife has become sick, and today in the priest's sermon I heard that if anyone has a sick child at home, a sick husband, a sick wife, a sick father, a sick mother, a sick sister, brother, or anyone else, then that person should make a pilgrimage to Mount Cuckoo in Italy, where a peck of laurel leaves costs one kreuzer, and this person's sick child, sick husband, sick wife, sick father, sick mother, sick sister, brother, or anyone else, will be healed on the spot, and I got the laurel sack and the kreuzer from the priest, and now I am on my way."

 

  "Listen, kinsman," said the peasant's kinsman. "Don't be so simple as to believe that. Do you know what? The priest wants to spend an entire day alone with your wife. He has given you this task just to get you out from under his feet."

 

  "My!" the peasant said. "How I would like to know if that is true!"

 

  "Do you know what?" said his kinsman, "Just climb into my egg basket, and I will carry you home, and you can see for yourself."

 

  And that is just what happened. The peasant got into the egg basket, and his kinsman carried him home. When they arrived there, the good times had already started. The peasant's wife had slaughtered almost everything in the farmyard and had made pancakes, and the priest was there with his fiddle. The kinsman knocked at the door, and the peasant's wife asked who was there.

 

  "It's me, kinswoman," said the kinsman. "Can you give me shelter for the night? I did not sell my eggs at the market, so now I have to carry them back home, but they are too heavy, and I can't make it. It is already dark."

 

  "Well," said the peasant's wife, "you have come at a very inconvenient time, but it can't be helped. Just sit down over there on the bench by the stove." So the kinsman took a seat on the bench and set his pack basket down beside him. And the priest and the peasant's wife proceeded to carry on.

 

  After a while the priest said, "Listen, my dear woman, you are such a good singer. Sing something for me."

 

  "No," said the peasant's wife, "I can't sing anymore. I could sing well when I was younger, but that's all behind me now."

 

  "Oh," said the priest, "do sing just a little."

 

  So the peasant's wife started to sing:

 

  I sent my husband out, you see, To Mount Cuckoo in Italy!

 

  And the priest sang back: I wish he'd stay away a year The laurel leaves don't interest me Hallelujah!

 

  Then the kinsman chimed in (oh, I have to tell you that the peasant's name was Hildebrand), and sang out: Hey, you my kinsman Hildebrand, What are you doing on that bench? Hallelujah!

 

  The peasant, from inside the basket, sang forth: This singing I can bear no more, Here I come! Trala tralore!

 

  With that he jumped from the basket, and with blows he drove the priest out of the house.

 

  从前有一个农夫和他的老婆,村里的牧师迷恋着他的老婆,早就希望和她痛痛快快地过一天,农夫的老婆也有此意。一天,牧师对农妇说:「听着,我的朋友,我想出一招,我们可以痛痛快快地在一起过一天。我来告诉你,礼拜三那天,你必须躺在床上别起来,告诉你丈夫你病了,使劲呻吟,就跟真的病了一样,你一直得装病装到礼拜天,那天我要布道,在布道中我会说无论谁家里有生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何的病人,谁就要去意大利的高克利山朝圣,在那里用一个铜板买一配克的桂树叶,生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何的病人马上就能药到病除,恢复健康。」

 

  「我会想法子的。」农妇立即答应。礼拜三一到,农妇就按商定的办法躺在床上大声地呻吟,不停地折腾,她的丈夫为她想尽了办法,可丝毫不见效,礼拜天到了,农妇嘱咐:「我已经病入膏肓,来日不多了,我想在临死前作一件事,就是聆听牧师今天的布道。」农夫闻言道:「啊哈,我的宝贝,你可不能动,如果你起来,你的身体会更糟糕的。这样吧,我去参加布道,我会仔细听的,然后把牧师的话一字不漏地告诉你。」

 

  「那好啊,」农妇说:「去吧,用心听,回来后给我重?一遍。」农夫去听布道,牧师讲无论谁家里有生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何的病人,谁就该去意大利的高克利山朝圣,在那里用一个铜板买一配克的桂树叶,生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何病人马上就能药到病除,恢复健康。谁要去朝圣,弥撒完后找他,他会提供装桂树叶的口袋和铜板。听完牧师的一番话,最高兴的就数农夫了,他随即找到牧师,拿到装桂树叶的口袋和铜板。事情办妥后,他就往家走,还没进家门就喊道:「哈哈!亲爱的老婆,现在你简直就跟病好了一样!牧师在布道中说无论谁家里有生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何病人,谁就要去意大利的高克利山朝圣,在那里用一个铜板买一配克的桂树叶,生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何病人马上就会药到病除,恢复健康,我现在已经从牧师那儿拿到口袋和铜板,为了你早日康复,我这就起程。」说完他就走了。他刚刚离去,牧师就到了,牧师进来的时候,农妇还没起来。

 

  放下这一对暂且不提,先去看看农夫,他步履如飞,分秒不停,为了早到高克利山心急如焚,半路上遇到了他的侃山老友。他的侃友是个作鸡蛋生意的,他刚在市场卖完鸡蛋出来。「上帝保佑,」侃友问道:「你这么着急是上哪儿去呀?」「感谢上帝,我的朋友,」农夫答:「我的老婆生病了,我今天去听了牧师的布道,他讲无论谁家里有生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何病人,谁就要去意大利的高克利山朝圣,在那里用一个铜板买一配克的桂树叶,生病的孩子、生病的丈夫、生病的老婆、生病的父亲、生病的母亲、生病的兄弟姐妹或其他任何病人马上就会药到病除,恢复健康,我已经从牧师那儿拿到口袋和铜板,现在去朝圣。」「听着,侃友,」鸡蛋贩子对农夫说,「你是真的傻到连这种鬼话都相信吗?你知道那意味甚么吗?牧师想和你老婆单独风流一天,不愿意被别人看见,所以他编造了个借口把你支开。」

 

  「天地良心!」农夫叫道:「我不能相信这是真的!」「过来,」侃友说:「我告诉你怎么做。坐进我的鸡蛋筐里,我把你背回家,到时你自己看吧。」事情就这么定了,侃友把农夫放到筐里,背着他往家走。

 

  当他们到家时,啊哈!这里可真是热闹非凡呀!农家院里的家禽几乎都被农妇杀光了,她还烙了薄饼,牧师也在场,他随身带着提琴。侃友敲敲门,农妇问道是谁。「是我,侃友,」鸡蛋贩子答道,「我想借住一宿。鸡蛋在市场上没卖掉,我只好把鸡蛋背回家,天已经黑了,而且鸡蛋太沉,我实在背不动啦。」

 

  「可真是的,我的朋友,」农妇说:「你来得太不凑巧了,可是你已经到了这儿,没办法。进来吧,坐在火炉边上的板凳上歇歇脚吧。」然后她把侃友和他背上的筐子安置到火炉旁边的板凳上。牧师和农妇享尽风流,无比快乐,最后,牧师提议:「听着,我亲爱的朋友,你的歌唱得很好听,给我唱首歌吧。」「噢,」农妇说,「我现在唱不了。年轻的时候,我的确唱得不错,可那个时代已经是一去不复返啦。」

 

  「来吧,」牧师再次请求,「唱首情歌。」

 

  农妇不再坚持,她开始唱道:

 

  「意大利有座山叫高克利,我把我的丈夫支到那里。」

 

  接着是牧师唱:

 

  「我希望他离去一年不回,桂树叶口袋归他我永远不想。

 

  哈里路亚。」

 

  这时在后房的侃友开始唱(我得告诉你那农夫叫希尔德布朗),侃友唱到道:

 

  「你在干甚么,我亲爱的希尔德布朗,你准备在火炉边的凳子上呆上多长?

 

  哈里路亚。」

 

  然后农夫在筐子里也跟着唱:

 

  「今天我唱歌是气不打一处来,在这筐里我是一刻也不想呆。

 

  哈里路亚。」

 

  一边唱,他一边从筐子里爬了出来,用鞭子将牧师抽出门外。

                             更多内容


生活英语-情景英语:生活英语应用会话(一)

 

  坦率的表达:

  1. Happiness (1)

  1) Fred will be happy to come to your party.佛列德可能欣然去参加你的派对。

  *讨论邀某人参加派对,或佛列德的家人代为答应参加时说的话。

  若佛列德本人回答说这句话,则算是一种致谢的措辞。

  2) I can't tell you how happy this makes me.我形容不出来我有多高兴。

  *这一句使人联想到女朋友的邀请,令人感觉喜不自胜。

  3) I had the luck of finding a good job.我幸运地找到一个好工作。

  *此句若没有good,便可意会此君是失业者。

  4) How lucky we are!

  我们多么幸运啊!

  *在玩弹珠台的时候,若一连中了头彩,你会脱口而出这句话来。

  5) Are you happy with your new job?

  你对这一次的新工作感觉开心吗?

                              更多内容


职称英语-2007年最新职称英语课程综合辅导(一)

第一课 建立英文思维及应试简介

 

其实英语只有三种基本句型

▲ 英文句子的三种基本模式

1. 主 系动词 表(表示状态)

1. 这个人 是 一个老师。 The man is a teacher.

   主语 系 表语 主语 系 表语(名词)

How are you?

How old are you?

 

2. 这个人 (是) 很忙。 The man is busy.

   主语 系 表语 主语 系 表语(形容词)

 

3. 这个人 (是) 在教室里。 The man is in the classroom.

  主语 系 表语 主语 系 表语(介词短语)

 

 

介词 in on from around

 

▲ 定语只修饰名词,不破坏句子的基本结构。通常由形容词和介词短语充当,形容词放在所修饰的名词之前,而介词短语放在所修饰的名词之后,请注意英语与汉语词序的不同。看懂中文的定语是翻译好定语的关键。

 

●The man is in the classroom on the second floor in the building in the school in BEIJING .

 

   那个人在 北京市 一所学校的 大楼的 二层的 教室里。

 

2. 谓 主 状 该句型通常用于表达某地存在某物(人)(表示存在)

   There 某人某物 某地

1. There is a book on the desk .

    桌子上有一本书。

There is a book on the desk in the room. on the second floor in the building in the school in BEIJING..

北京市的一所学校的大楼里的二层的 桌子上有一本书。

 

3. 主 谓 宾 状(表示动作)

   主 谓 宾

1. The students study English .

       学生们 学习 英语。

 

●学生们 星期天 在一所学校 为了考试努力 学习 英语。

 

           主 谓 宾 状

●The students study English hard for the test on Sunday in the school .

 

   

句子的扩展-

名词性从句 请注意英语中的 连词、常用的不过10多个。

主 谓 宾

1.I know the teacher

 

2.I know that the man is a teacher.

         that there is a wallet on the desk.

         that he studies English.

 

                             更多内容


行业英语:英文广告词

麦斯威尔咖啡

Good to the last drop. 滴滴香浓,意犹未尽。

 

雪碧

Obey your thirst. 服从你的渴望。

 

索尼影碟机

The new digital era. 数码新时代。

 

理光复印机

We lead. Others copy. 我们领先,他人仿效。

 

佳能打印机

Impossible made possible. 使不可能变为可能。

 

雀巢冰激凌

Take time to indulge. 尽情享受吧!

 

万宝路香烟

Come to where the flavor is. Marlboro Country.

光临风韵之境--万宝路世界。

 

凌志轿车

The relentless pursuit of perfection. 不懈追求完美。

 

丰田汽车

Poetry in motion, dancing close to me. 动态的诗,向我舞近。

 

轩尼诗酒

To me, the past is black and white, but the future is always color.  

对我而言,过去平淡无奇;而未来,却是绚烂缤纷。

 

百事流行鞋

Ask for more. 渴望无限

 

雀巢咖啡

The taste is great. 味道好极了。

 

麦当劳

I lovin it! 我喜欢

 

三星电子

feel the new space. 感受新境界

 

摩托罗拉手机

intelligence everywhere. 智慧演绎,无处不在.

 

百事可乐

the choice of a new generation. 新一代的选择.

 

三菱电工

we integrate, you communicate. 我们集大成,您超越自我

 

IBM

no business too small, no problem too big.

没有不做的小生意,没有解决不了的大问题。

 

东芝电子

take toshiba, take the world. 拥有东芝,拥有世界

 

飞利浦电子

let's make things better. 让我们做得更好

 

 

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英文诗歌-爱像有魔力

              Love is Like Magic

 

Love is like magic

and it always will be,

For love still remains

life's sweet mystery.

 

Love works in ways

that are wondrous and strange

And there's nothing in life

that love cannot change!

 

Love can transform

the most commonplace

Into beauty and splendor

and sweetness and grace.

 

Love is unselfish,

understanding and kind,

For it sees with its heart

and not with its mind.

 

Love is the answer

that everyone seeks...

Love is the language

that every heart speaks.

 

Love can't be bought,

it is priceless and free,

Love, like pure magic,

is life's sweet mystery!

 

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英文演讲-President Bush Discusses Housing

December 6, 2007

 

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Before turning to the situation in the housing market, I send my sympathy to the families of those murdered in Omaha, Nebraska, yesterday. I was in Omaha just before the shooting took place, and I know what a difficult day it is for that fine community. The victims and their loved ones are in the prayers of Americans. The federal government stands ready to help in any way we can. And our whole nation grieves with the people of Omaha.

 

I just had an important discussion on the housing market with Secretary Paulson, Secretary Jackson and members of the mortgage industry.

 

The housing market is moving through a period of change. In recent years, innovative mortgage products have helped millions of Americans afford their own homes -- and that's good. Unfortunately, some of these products were used irresponsibly. Some lenders made loans that borrowers did not understand, especially in the sub-prime sector. Some borrowers took out loans they knew they could not afford. And to compound the problem, many mortgages are packaged into securities and sold to investors around the world. So when concerns about sub-prime loans begin to mount -- began to mount, uncertainty spread to the broader financial markets.

 

Secretary Paulson and Secretary Jackson and Chairman Bernanke are monitoring developments in the housing market, and working to limit the disruption to our overall economy. Data released this morning confirmed the difficulties facing the housing market. Yet one reason for confidence is that the downturn in housing comes against a backdrop of solid fundamentals in other areas -- including low inflation, a healthy job market, record-high exports. America's economy has proved itself highly resilient -- and it is strong, and it is flexible, and it is dynamic enough to weather this storm.

 

For individual homeowners, the problem is more difficult. Many of those feeling financial stress have an adjustable rate mortgage, which typically starts with a lower interest rate and then resets to a higher rate after a few years. Many of those borrowers cannot afford the higher payments. And now some are fearing foreclosure -- which is a terrible burden for hardworking families, and a source of concern for entire communities and neighborhoods across our country.

 

The rise in foreclosures would have negative consequences for our economy. Lenders and investors would face enormous losses. So they have an interest in supporting mortgage counseling and working with homeowners to prevent foreclosure.

 

The government has a role to play as well. We should not bail out lenders, real estate speculators, or those who made the reckless decision to buy a home they knew they could never afford. Yet there are some responsible homeowners who could avoid foreclosure with some assistance -- and in August, I announced a series of targeted actions to help them. My administration has moved forward in three key areas.

 

First, we've launched a new initiative at the Federal Housing Administration called "FHA Secure." This program gives the FHA greater flexibility to offset refinancing to homeowners -- to offer refinancing to homeowners who have good credit histories but cannot afford their current payments. In just three months, the FHA has helped more than 35,000 people refinance. And in the coming year, the FHA expects this program to help more than 300,000 families.

 

Second, in August, I asked Secretaries Paulson and Jackson to work with lenders and loan servicers and mortgage counselors and investors on an initiative to help struggling homeowners find a way to refinance. They assembled a private sector group called "HOPE NOW Alliance" -- their leaders are with us today. HOPE NOW is an example of government bringing together members of the private sector to voluntarily address a national challenge -- without taxpayer subsidies or without government mandates. I'm pleased to announce that our efforts have yielded a promising new source of relief for American homeowners.

 

Representatives of HOPE NOW just briefed me on their plan to help homeowners who will not be able to make the higher payments on their sub-prime loan once the interest rates goes up -- but who can at least afford the current, starter rate. HOPE NOW members have agreed on a set of industry-wide standards to provide relief to these borrowers in one of three ways: by refinancing an existing loan into a new private mortgage, by moving them into an FHA Secure loan, or by freezing their current interest rate for five years.

 

Lenders are already refinancing and modifying mortgages on a case-by-case basis. With this systematic approach, HOPE NOW will be able to help large groups of homeowners all at once. This will bring more relief to more homeowners more quickly. HOPE NOW estimates there are up to 1.2 million American homeowners who could be eligible for this assistance.

 

Public awareness is critical to this effort, because the group can only help homeowners who ask for it. So HOPE NOW recently mailed hundreds of thousands of letters to borrowers falling behind on their payments, and they have set up a counseling hotline that Americans can call 24 hours a day. I've directed Secretaries Paulson and Jackson to expand the public awareness campaign. And I have a message for every homeowner worried about rising mortgage payments: The best you can do for your family is to call 1-800-995-HOPE.* That is 1-800-995-H-O-P-E.*

 

Third, the federal government is taking several regulatory actions to make the mortgage industry more transparent, reliable and fair. Later this month, the Federal Reserve intends to announce stronger lending standards that will help protect borrowers. At the same time, HUD and the federal banking regulators are taking steps to improve disclosure requirements -- so that homeowners can be confident they are receiving complete, accurate and understandable information about their mortgages.

 

As we take these steps, the Department of Justice will continue to pursue wrongdoing in the banking and housing industries -- so we can help ensure that those who defraud American consumers face justice.

 

These measures will help many struggling homeowners -- and the United States Congress has the potential to help even more. Yet in the three months since I made my proposals, the Congress has not sent me a single bill to help homeowners. If members are serious about responding to the challenges in the housing market, they can start with the following steps.

 

First, Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the FHA. In April 2006, I sent Congress an FHA modernization bill. This bill would increase access to FHA-insured loans by lowering down payment requirements, allowing the FHA to insure bigger mortgages in high-cost states, and expanding FHA's authority to price insurance fairly, with risk-based premiums. This bill could allow the FHA to reach an additional 250,000 families who could not otherwise qualify for prime-rate financing. Last year, the House passed the bill with more than 400 votes -- and this year, the House passed it again. Yet the Senate has not acted. The liquidity and stability that FHA provides the market are needed more than ever -- and I urge the United States Senate to move as quickly as possible on this important piece of legislation.

 

Second, Congress needs to temporarily reform the tax code to help homeowners refinance during this time of housing market stress. Under current law, if the value of your house declines and your bank forgives a portion of your mortgage, the tax code treats the amount forgiven as taxable income. When you're worried about making your payments, higher taxes are the last thing you need. The House agrees, and recently passed this relief with bipartisan support. Yet the Senate has not responded. This simple reform could help many American homeowners in an hour of need -- and the Senate should pass it as soon as possible.

 

Changing the tax code can also help state and local government do their part to help homeowners. Under current law, cities and states can issue tax-exempt bonds to finance new mortgages for first-time home buyers. My administration has proposed allowing cities and states to issue these tax-exempt mortgage bonds for an additional purpose: to refinance existing loans. This temporary measure would make it easier for state housing authorities to help troubled borrowers -- and Congress should approve it quickly.

 

Third, Congress needs to pass funding to support mortgage counseling. Non-profit groups like NeighborWorks provides essential service by helping homeowners find affordable mortgage solutions and prevent foreclosures. My budget requests nearly $120 million for NeighborWorks and another $50 million for HUD's mortgage counseling programs. Congress has had these requests since February, yet it has not sent me a bill -- and they need to get the funding to my desk.

 

Fourth, Congress needs to pass legislation to reform Government Sponsored Enterprises like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. These institutions provide liquidity in the mortgage market that benefits millions of homeowners, and it is vital they operate safely and operate soundly. So I've called on Congress to pass legislation that strengthens independent regulation of the GSEs -- and ensures they focus on their important housing mission. The GSE reform bill passed by the House earlier this year is a good start. But the Senate has not acted. And the United States Senate needs to pass this legislation soon.

 

The holidays are fast approaching and, unfortunately, this will be a time of anxiety for Americans worried about their mortgages and their homes. There's no perfect solution, but the homeowners deserve our help. And the steps I've outlined today are a sensible response to a serious challenge. I call on Congress to move forward quickly, and join me in delivering relief to homeowners in need -- so we can keep our economy healthy and the American Dream alive.

 

God bless.

 

END 1:35 P.M. EST

 

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学习技巧-牛津实用英语语法 271 be afraid(of),be sorry(for),

A be afraid of 动名词或动名词 名词/代词。这里动名词常常表示主语担心发生的事情。这些常常是无意让发生的动作:

 

He never swam far out.He was afraid of getting cramp.

 

他从来不游得很远。他怕抽筋。

 

She avoids lonely streets.She is afraid of being mugged.

 

她避免在没人的马路上行走。她怕遭抢劫。

 

She didn't tell him because she was afraid of upsetting him.

 

她没有告诉他,因为怕他不安。

 

be afraid 不定式表示主语非常害怕,以致不敢采取某一动作。这些通常是有意让发生的动作:

 

He was afraid to jump.

 

他不敢跳。(他没跳。)

 

She was afraid to protest.

 

她不敢提出异议。(她保持沉默。)

 

be afraid后面也可以跟that从句,表示担心:

 

I'm afraid (that) he'll blame me for this.

 

我担心他会把这事怪在我头上。

 

但是,特别是用于第一人称中时,它可表示(相当轻度的)抱歉:

 

I'm afraid(that) we haven't any tickets left.

 

恐怕没有剩余票了。

 

(关于I'm afraid so/not,参见第347节。)

 

B be sorry for 动名词意指道歉/表示遗憾。动名词所表示的动作常是以前发生的,但也可以是即将发生的:

 

I'm sorry for making such a noise last night.

 

昨晚我太吵了,很对不起。

 

I'm sorry for disturbing you.

 

对不起,打搅您一下。(现在)

 

但这里I'm sorry to disturb you的说法更为普遍。

 

be sorry 不定式可以表示抱歉或悲伤:

 

I'm sorry to hear that you've been ill.

 

听说你生病了,我很难受。(另参见第26节F。)

 

如果由不定式表示的是无意让发生的动作,这两个动作则是同时发生的:

 

I was sorry to see him looking so ill.

 

看他病成这副样子我很难过。

 

如不定式表示一个无意让发生的动作时,be sorry又发生在先,这时它与regret的用法相同(参见第268节B):

 

I'm sorry to inform you that there has been an accident.

 

告诉你一件不幸的事,发生了意外事故。

 

be sorry that…结构也是可以的。注意:I'm sorry that表示十分真诚的道歉,I'm sorry to say that或 I'm afraid that这类表示抱歉的方法与其相比就显得程度非常轻,甚至于是敷衍的。

 

C be ashamed of 动名词或be ashamed of yourself等,for 动名词

 

这里的动名词表示发生在先的动作:

 

You should be ashamed of lying to him./You should be ashamed of your- self for lying to him.

 

你应当为对他说谎而感到羞耻。

 

be ashamed 不定式中的不定式通常表示发生在后的行为:

 

I'm ashamed to tell you what this carpet cost.

 

我真不好意思告诉你买这块地毯花了多少钱。

 

would be ashamed 不定式常表示说话人的感情(意志)使其不能进行这一动作:

 

I'd be ashamed to ask for help.

 

要我请别人帮忙,我羞于启齿。(因此我不会去求人。)

 

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