voa标准英语2008年-Europe Slashes Interest Rates
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年(十一月)
A man in Paris watches Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, 06 Nov 2008
The Bank of England slashed 3 its key interest rate by an unusually large amount - 1.5 percent - to three percent, a level not seen since Winston Churchill was prime minister more than 50 years ago.
The European Central Bank followed suit, but cut interest rates by a more modest half of a percent. It was the second time that European central banks cut interest rates in less than a month amid increasing signs that an economic slowdown has become a full-blown recession.
"The cut is extremely welcome and probably overdue," said Michael Fallon, who heads Britain's Commons Treasury 4 sub-committee. "They have cut massively. Only a month after the last cut, before that could even take effect, they have cut again. So clearly, the bank now knows just how bad things are, and we are, in fact, entering a deep recession."
The Bank of England described what it sees as "a very marked deterioration 5 in the outlook for economic activity at home and abroad" and said the threat of inflation has subsided 6.
Across the Atlantic, experts say economic signals appear equally grim. The U.S. Labor 7 Department reported continued high numbers of workers filing for unemployment benefits, while American retailers 9 are reporting steep declines in sales.
U.S. retail 8 sales analyst 10 Ken 11 Perkins says the trends point to a disappointing holiday shopping season as American consumers grapple with tight budgets and heavy debt burdens.
"A lot of consumers are carrying relatively 12 high debt levels at this stage," he said. "The discretionary dollars available to them right now are much less than they have been in the past, especially heading into this holiday season."
Interest rate cuts in Europe did little to boost investors 13' moods. Major European stock markets plunged 14 between five and seven percent, matching similar losses in Asia. In New York, Wall Street's Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded triple-digit loses in afternoon trading.
- Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
- They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
- He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
- She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
- Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
- He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
- This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
- Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
- The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。
- After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后，部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚， 暴风雨已经过去，四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
- In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
- These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。
- High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
- Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。
- What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
- The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。
- Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
- Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.
- 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。
- a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
- a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会