Talk 1 奥巴马呼吁让人民重返工作岗位
Wors Tips
default n.违约v.拖欠 debtceiling 债务最高上限
kickthecandowntheroad 缓兵之计 deficit n.财政赤字
shutdown n.停工，关闭 trickle v.滴
gohaywire 陷于混乱 amountto 相当于
concession n.让步 extortion n.勒索
Listen to the following recording and answer questions 1-3.
1）A.to reinvigorate economy and create more jobs
B.to reopen government and remove the dangers of default
C.to reduce the public’s anger about the flagging economy
D.to win popularity among the public
2）A.They were in huge debt.
B.Their deficit was cut down in half.
C.Their business was declining.
D.They were hiring more staff members.
3）A.through government measures B.through military force
C.through Democratic Party D.through voting and law-making
听力原文
Good morning.
Over the past few days，I’ve met with Republicans and Democrats from both houses of Congress in an effort to reopen your government and remove the dangers of default from our economy.It’s a positive development that House Republicans have agreed on the need to avoid the economic consequences of not meeting our country’s commitments.Because once the debt ceiling is raised，and the shutdown is over，there’s a lot we can accomplish together.We’ve created seven and a half million new jobs in the past three and a half years.Now let’s create more.We’ve cut our deficits in half over the past four years.Now let’s do it in a smarter，balanced way that lets us afford to invest in the things we need to grow.The truth is，there’s a lot we can agree on.But one thing we have to agree on is that there is no good reason anyone should keep suffering through this shutdown.I met with some really innovative small business owners on Friday who’ve already lost contracts，lost customers，and put hiring on hold—because the pain of this Republican shutdown has trickled down to their bottom lines.It’s hurting the very citizens that our government exists to serve.That’s why a growing number of reasonable Republicans say it should end now.And it wouldn’t be wise，as some suggest，to just kick the debt ceiling can down the road for a couple of months，and flirt with a first-ever intentional default right in the middle of the holiday shopping season.Because damage to America’s sterling credit rating wouldn’t just cause global markets to go haywire；it would become more expensive for everyone in America to borrow money，students paying for college，Newlyweds buying a home.It would amount to a new tax—a Republican default tax—on every family and business in America.It doesn’t have to be this way.It’s not supposed to be this way.Manufacturing crises to extract massive concessions isn’t how our democracy works，and we have to stop it.Politics is a battle of ideas，but you advance those ideas through elections and legislation，not extortion.I know you’re frustrated by what you see in your nation’s capital right now.But because it’s easy to get lost in or give up on the political back-and-forth，I want you to remember：this is not normal.Our government is closed for the first time in 17 years.A political party is risking default for the first time since the 1700s.
Questions：
1.What is the purpose of President Obama’s meeting with Republicans and Democrats from both houses of Congress？
2.What is the impact of Republican shutdown to innovative business owners？
3.According to the speaker，how should political ideas be advanced？
参考译文
早上好。
在过去的几天里，我会见了国会参众两院的共和党人和民主党人，就如何让政府重新开启及消除美国经济违约的危险进行探讨。众议院共和党人已就避免不能兑现我们国家承诺的经济后果的必要性达成一致，这是一个积极的变化。因为一旦债务上限得以提高、政府关门结束，我们可以一起完成许多事情。在过去3年半的时间里，我们创造了750万个新的工作岗位。现在，让我们创造更多些。在过去四年里，我们将美国政府财政赤字削减了一半。现在，让我们以更明智的平衡方式削减财政赤字，使我们可以投资需要发展的项目吧！事实上，有许多问题我们都可以达成一致。不过，我们不得不达成一致的一件事情是，人们不应该继续遭受这次政府关门带来的后果。周五，我会见了一些真正具有创新精神的小企业主，他们已经失去了合同、失去了客户，不得不推迟招聘人手，因为这次共和党政府关门带来的阵痛，严重影响了他们的最终利润。政府关门正在伤害我们政府所服务的每位公民。正是出于这一理由，越来越多明智的共和党人认为，现在这一切该结束了。我认为，像一些人建议的那样，只把政府借款授权延长区区数月，在假期购物季节当口，开玩笑地对待有史以来的第一次故意违约是不明智的。因为伤害美国的顶级信用评级，不仅会导致全球市场失去控制，美国人民的借贷成本、学生上大学的费用以及新婚夫妇的购房费用也会变得更加高昂。这等于向美国每个家庭和企业开征一个新的税种——共和党违约税。不是这种方式，不应是这种方式。制造危机来获取重大让步，这不是我们的民主运作的方式，我们要去阻止它。政治是思想的斗争，但是，提出和推动这些思想的方式是选举和立法，而不是勒索和敲诈。我知道，你们对首都华盛顿目前发生的一切倍感懊恼。但是，由于太容易在政治的推来攘去中迷失方向或放弃目标，我希望你们记住：这不正常！我们的政府17年来首次关闭。一个政党正面临着自美国建国以来首次违约的风险。
参考答案
1.B 2.C 3.D