VOA慢速英语听力 ECONOMICS REPORT（WORD文本）：1210A.doc

1、标题：VOA慢速讲解附字幕:奥巴马将减税措施延期两年对应音频：1210a.mp3听力内容：President Obama Agrees to Extend Tax Cuts for 2 yearsThis is the VOA Special English Economics Report.President Obama announced an agreement with Congressional Republicans Monday. It would extend for two years the tax cuts put in place by former president

2、 George W. Bush. The tax cuts were to end in January. The compromise extends current income tax rates for all Americans for two years. That includes rates for the richest Americans.The agreement also cuts workers Social Security taxes by two percentage points. Social Security is retirement insurance

3、 paid by almost all American workers and employers.The so-called payroll tax holiday would save a family earning fifty thousand dollars about one thousand dollars a year.For the president, the most important part of the compromise was the extension of aid payments to unemployed Americans for thirtee

4、n months. Last month, the jobless rate increased by two-tenths of a percent to nine point eight percent.Economists say payments to unemployed people directly help the economy because they spend the money immediately. This has led some experts to call the agreement a stimulus measure meant to improve

5、 the economy.President Obama said he accepted the compromise because he wanted to help unemployed Americans.BARACK OBAMA: Because of this agreement, two million Americans who lost their jobs and are looking for work will be able to pay their rent and put food on their table.But the president faces s

6、trong opposition from his own party. Democrats object to keeping tax cuts for the rich at a time when the government is struggling with deep budget deficits.The extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans is expected to cost about eighty billion dollars over two years. The deal also inclu

7、des tax cuts aimed at middle income Americans and businesses.The House of Representatives and Senate will have to approve the proposal. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans support the deal.MITCH MCCONNELL: I think the vast majority of the Republican caucus in the Senate feel that

8、 this is a step in the right direction, an important step to take for the American people.Before the agreement, Senate Republicans had threatened to block other measures unless the tax cuts for the richest Americans were extended.Some Democrats were disappointed that President Obama agreed to the co

9、mpromise. In two thousand eight, he campaigned on the promise that he would continue tax cuts for the middle class. But he proposed to raise income taxes on families reporting two hundred fifty thousand dollars or more in taxable income.And thats the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by

10、Mario Ritter. Our programs are online with transcripts and MP3 files . And you can find us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube at VOA Learning English. Im Steve Ember.promise n.妥协, 折中方法例句：The spokesman made it clear that no compromise was yet in sight.发言人表明, 目前还不会妥协。2.extension n.U伸长,扩大,伸展;延长,延期;C延长部分,

11、扩大部分;C电话分机例句：Hes got an extension to finish writing his thesis.他获准延期交论文。3.directly adv.直接地, 径直地, 直爽地例句：He is not directly responsible.他没有直接责任。4.approve vt.批准, 通过例句：The minister approved the building plan.部长批准了该建筑计划。5.block vt.阻塞,拦阻6.proposal n.提议; 建议例句：They presented concrete proposals for improveme

12、nt.他们提出了具体的改进建议。1.Democrats object to keeping tax cuts for the rich at a time when the government is struggling with deep budget deficits.object to反对,不赞成例句：I dont object to a glass of beer.我不反对喝杯啤酒。I object to its smell.我讨厌它的气味。at a time when定语从句用来表达过去有一段时间的情况，when后面描述过去常常怎么样。后面的when引导的实际上是一个定语从句，修饰

13、time,以前我们曾经说过，先行词是time时，定语从句的引导词只能用when.There was a time when I hated to go to school.曾经有那么一段时间我讨厌上学。2.It would extend for two years the tax cuts put in place by former president George W. Bush.in place在对的位置, 在适当的位置例句：They put in place the tools of my new business.他们把我干这一新行当所需要的用具安放得井井有条。适当的, 适合的例句：

14、The proposal is not quite in place.那个提议并不十分适当。3.This has led some experts to call the agreement a stimulus measure meant to improve the economy.lead to导致, 引起例句：In given conditions, a bad thing can lead to good results.在一定条件下, 一件坏事可以导致好的结果。An ordinary cold can soon lead to a fever.一场普通的感冒很快便会引起高烧。meant to打算，目的是例句：We were meant to be together.我们注定要在一起的。Charles had never meant to return.查尔斯根本没打算再回来。