voa标准英语2008-US Auto Companies Appeal to Congress for Help
时间：2019-02-12 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年(十二月)
Auto 1 executives testify before a Senate Banking 6 Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, 04 Dec. 2008
Ford 7, Chrysler and General Motors executives are seeking a total of $34 billion in emergency loans to deal with the current economic downturn that has seen a steep drop in automobile sales worldwide.
Two weeks after members of Congress criticized the automakers for not doing enough to make their companies more competitive and economically viable 8, the executives returned with plans to streamline their operations, as lawmakers had requested.
In testimony 9 before the Senate Banking Committee, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company, Alan Mulally, sounded a note of humility 10.
"You were clear that the business model has to change. I couldn't agree more," he said.
Each executive detailed 11 how he planned to make his company more efficient and profitable.
"Key highlights include a renewed and expanded commitment to new technologies, especially advanced propulsion and green jobs, increased production of fuel-efficient vehicles, a reduction in the number of brands, models and retail 12 outlets 13 so we can focus our resources," said Richard Wagoner, Chairman and CEO of General Motors.
As the executives appealed for federal aid in return for streamlining their companies, other witnesses warned of dire 14 consequences if Congress does not approve the funding.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger testifies on Capitol Hill, 04 Dec 2008
Ron Gettelfinger, President of the United Auto Workers union, said the carmakers, particularly General Motors, would fail without an immediate 15 loan.
"I believe we could lose General Motors by the end of this month," said Gettelfinger.
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist 16 and co-founder of Moody's Economy.com, warned of dire consequences if that happened.
"Bankruptcy 17 at this point in time would be cataclysmic for the economy at this time," he said.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat 18, expressed his own concern as he made the case for approving the federal aid.
"Inaction is no solution. Inaction would only add more uncertainty 19 and instability to our economy," he said.
But Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama, the top Republican on the committee, expressed skepticism that a federal rescue package would promote the necessary change in how the auto companies are run.
"Every time government endeavors to alter any of these dynamics 20, it undermines and distorts the forces at work in all of them. I believe this can impose a cost that is too high to pay," he said.
Congress could vote on aid to automakers when it returns for a brief post-election session next week.
In the meantime, the three auto executives are to return to Capitol Hill on Friday to testify before a House committee.
The executives drove the 840 kilometers from Detroit, Michigan to Washington in hybrid 21 cars, after they were sharply criticized by lawmakers for making their last trip in corporate 22 jets.
- Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
- The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。
- He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
- The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。
- President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
- President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。
- We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
- Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。
- The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
- We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
- He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
- They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
- If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。
- The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
- The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。
- The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
- He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
- Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
- His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
- 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。
- The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
- We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。
- His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
- We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
- He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
- He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。
- 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。
- The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
- About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。
- Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
- After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。
- In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
- Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。
- That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
- The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。