时间:2019-01-06 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2008年(三月)


英语课
By Phil Mercer
Sydney
04 March 2008


A rate increase by Australia's central bank is putting a heavy burden on many of the nation's homeowners. Rates have been increased to more than seven percent, in a move aimed at curbing 1 rising inflation. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney.


 


 


Australia's central bank has raised its key interest rate to its highest level in 12 years, in an attempt to combat inflation.


 


The hike takes the cost of borrowing to 7.25 percent.


 


Home owners with a typical $280,000 (US) mortgage will face extra repayments 2 of about $50 a month.


 


Although that might seem a relatively 3 small amount, there have now been a dozen rate increases in the last six years.


 


Many mortgage holders 4 in Australia will be feeling the pain and others simply cannot afford to take out a loan to buy a house.


 


"I can't afford one, to be honest. I've got a family of two sons and I can't afford to pay a mortgage," says a man.


 


"I have to increase my work hours to five days a week, just to keep on top of the mortgage. So, it's been a big struggle," says a woman.


 


"I pay 1,200 on the mortgage, so I had to work very hard," says a taxi driver. "I had to cut down so much from the food shopping for the mortgage and that's what's happened to us. That's me but what about the others? They can't even afford to eat."


 


It is estimated 300,000 Australians risk losing their homes, if interest rates continue to rise.


 


Market analysts 5 believe further increases are likely in the months ahead.


 


Tuesday's increase was widely expected.


 


The Reserve Bank is using interest rates to fight inflation in the Australian economy.


 


Inflation means that the value of wages goes down and it takes more money to buy goods and services.


 


Australia has experienced more than a decade-and-a-half of solid economic growth, thanks largely to a commodities boom fueled by exports to China and India.


 


Analysts say the economy is overheating and that interest rates rises are needed to reduce strong domestic demand, which has driven up prices.


 


The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says combating inflation is a priority.


 


"The key challenge for us is what can we do about it," he explained. "And, when it comes to try to bring down some pressure on interest rates, what we must do therefore is bring down some of the pressure on inflation, which means in the upcoming budget we have got to do everything we can to take some of the pressure off unnecessary government spending and that is what we believe is the responsible thing to do."


 


The decision to raise interest rates in Australia goes counter to the trend among major international central banks, which have either cut rates to try to stimulate 6 their economies or are considering reducing the cost of borrowing.




n.边石,边石的材料v.限制,克制,抑制( curb的现在分词 )
  • Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
  • A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。
偿还,报答,偿付的钱物( repayment的名词复数 )
  • The repayments of the loan are spread over 10 years. 贷款可在十年内分期偿还。
  • The repayments of the loan are spread over 25 years. 这笔贷款分摊二十五年偿还。
adv.比较...地,相对地
  • The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
  • The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。
支持物( holder的名词复数 ); 持有者; (支票等)持有人; 支托(或握持)…之物
  • Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
  • It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识,才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事,同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。
分析家,化验员( analyst的名词复数 )
  • City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
  • I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
vt.刺激,使兴奋;激励,使…振奋
  • Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
  • Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。
学英语单词
alpha-proton reaction
alpinia officinarum
alterna-
answer-back signal
archimimes
Arequipite
as like as chalk to cheese
autonomous amplitude limiter
autoregressive deconvolution
avantgardistic
benzhydryl amine
Bermudian rig
bertalanffies
biennial bearing
bitser
blue tulips
Booth, Edwin (Thomas)
brass instrument
bus-fare
casting surface
cherogrils
Chinese lexicology
CORDAT
craplets
critical melting point
descended upon
DIS/SEC
ephedine
epidermolysis acquisita
ethenylene
Ferospace
fibre optic memory
film disk
floating sludge
flobber
fluorocomplex
free-response
gamed
gastrostyle
good wishes
Gr. S.
gradient projection method
graduates
hemochromatosis
hunting-cat
hydroxy-malonic acid
hyperboloidal mirror
industrially advanced country
Kirovskaya
Lytton, Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-,lst Baron Lytton
manograph
Mansonia annulatus
mid ordinate
miediling
modulation formats
native vermilion
onerari non debet
orizio
part-time bowler
peltate tentacle
pigeonhole principle
point-contact
polychromism
postboat
preemulsion
primary tentacle
promote the sale of products
Pueblan
rail loading machine
renal fibroid sarcoma
rescue cutter
rich chromium ball bearing steel wire
rio bravoes
rogueish
Sarcosperma arboreum
scientific notation
search frequency generator
second reserve
signal instructions
smart structure technology
sodium dodecylsulfate
spelye
square normal closed double head wrench
steam-powers
steering engine valve
subnuclear particle
subsizar
Syringa julianae
tarsal pulvilli
text-understanding
twin-cams
unnarratable
uova
vacuum diffusion pump
valley girls
varitypers
Villiers
vinylcarbenoids
vizament
walruslike
Web Pad
withametelins