英语杂谈：36 Health insurance
The Senate is working overtime 1 this weekend, trying to make some headway on its version of legislation to overhaul 2 the nation's health care system. NPR's Julie Rovner has more.
Among the amendments 4 up for consideration this weekend, is one that would limit how much health insurance companies could deduct 5 as business expenses for the salaries they pay their top executives. Its sponsor is Arkansas Democrat 6 Blanche Lincoln. "It's aimed at encouraging our health insurance companies to put premium 7 dollars toward lower rates and more affordable 8 coverage 9, not into their pocket books. " But Republicans like Iowa's Charles Grassly pointed 10 out the amendment 3 applies to executives of just about the only health industry that refused to cut a deal with the Democrats 11 to support the bill. "So let's just call this amendment out, for the brazen 12 political standard it is, and vote it down. " Senators are set to vote on the amendment Sunday afternoon. Julie Rovner, NPR News, Washington.
President Obama will head to Capitol Hill tomorrow to meet with members of the Democratic caucus 13, including 58 Democrats and two independents. The administration needs the support of all 60 to get the health care bill passed or it must win the backing of one or more Republicans to make up for any defections. At least one member of the Democratic caucus, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, says he will not vote for the bill as long as it contains the so called public option for Americans who currently have no health insurance.
President Obama today said the nation is still emerging from what he called an economic storm. Despite a favorable employment report for November, he says he's not satisfied with the pace of progress in getting the unemployed 14 back to work. "The folks who've been looking for work without any luck for months, and in some cases years, can't wait any longer. For them, I am determined 15 to do everything I can to accelerate our progress so we are actually adding jobs again. " Mr. Obama in his weekly radio and Internet address today. The President will set forth 16 the plan on Tuesday to boost employment. Possible components 17 reportedly include incentives 18 for small businesses to hire new workers.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a National Day of Mourning for the 107 people killed in a nightclub fire there. Scores of others were injured. Medvedev is pledging a tightening 19 of the country's lax fire regulations. The crowded club had a single exit. NPR's Anne Garrels has more.
It's started out as a celebration at the Lame 20 Horse nightclub in the central Russian city of Perm. Video shot of the scene showed young people dancing when a fireworkers’ display set the ceiling ablaze 21. A stampede ensued. The building has been entirely 22 destroyed. Police say two owners of the club were detained as they tried to leave the city. Senior officials are promising 23 to take stricter measures to ensure the safety of public places but the fire is likely to focus attention on corrupt 24 inspectors 25 who regularly accept bribes 26. Reports from Perm suggest the nightclub was able to get around basic fire regulations. Anne Garrels, NPR News, Moscow.
This is NPR News from Washington.
Famed film director Roman Polanski is spending his first weekend under house arrest as he awaits a decision by authorities in Switzerland on his possible extradition 27 to face criminal charges. Eleanor Beardsley has the story.
Polanski arrived at a chalet in the resort town of Gstaad Friday. Swiss officials allowed him to trade his jail cell for his own house after the 76-year-old film maker 28 posted a bail 29 of 4. 5 million dollars. Polanski is also wearing an electronic bracelet 30 and while he can receive visitors he's not allowed to stray farther than his front yard. Polanski still faces the threat of extradition to the United States and a possible prison sentence for having sex with a 13-year-old minor 31 in 1977. The film director fled the US before sentencing by a California court and he's lived in France under the shadow of an arrest warrant since then. In September, authorities arrested Polanski as he traveled to Switzerland. The European media has been closely following Polanski's ordeal 32. His picturesque 33 snow capped chalet is reined 34 by cameramen and reporters. For NPR News, I'm Eleanor Beardsley in Paris.
A bus slammed into an overturn tractor-trailer that was blocking part of an Interstate highway in Wyoming early this morning. The bus driver was killed in the crash and about 40 passengers were injured. Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Stephen Townsend: "A bus loaded with approximately 47 people came along and the driver apparently 35 did not see the overturned semi in his lanes of travel and the bus collided with the overturned semi. " Townsend says the bus was en route from Denver to Billings, Montana at the time of the crash.
- They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
- He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。
- Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
- It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。
- The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
- The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。
- The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
- Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。
- You can deduct the twenty - five cents out of my allowance.你可在我的零用钱里扣去二角五分钱。
- On condition of your signing this contract,I will deduct a percentage.如果你在这份合同上签字，我就会给你减免一个百分比。
- 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。
- You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
- Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。
- The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
- There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。
- There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
- This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。
- 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。
- The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
- The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
- Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。
- This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
- It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。
- There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
- The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
- the components of a machine 机器部件
- Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。
- tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
- Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
- Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
- It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。
- The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
- I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。
- The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
- Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。
- The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
- His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
- The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
- We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
- The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
- This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。
- They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
- corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏
- The smuggler is in prison tonight,awaiting extradition to Britain.这名走私犯今晚在监狱，等待引渡到英国。
- He began to trouble concerning the extradition laws.他开始费尽心思地去想关于引渡法的问题。
- He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
- A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。
- One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
- She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。
- The jeweler charges lots of money to set diamonds in a bracelet.珠宝匠要很多钱才肯把钻石镶在手镯上。
- She left her gold bracelet as a pledge.她留下她的金手镯作抵押品。
- The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
- I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
- She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
- Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。
- You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
- That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。
- Then, all of a sudden, he reined up his tired horse. 这时，他突然把疲倦的马勒住了。
- The officer reined in his horse at a crossroads. 军官在十字路口勒住了马。
- An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
- He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。