燕山大学 刘立军 编写

What do we want?! Federal workers across the country say they’ve had enough. Some families who say they’ve never had to depend on donations are turning to food banks for help. Even students who rely on free or reduced fee meals at school are impacted. One North Carolina school announcing lunch menus are being revised to conserve food and funding. The Lambert Family are worried about feeding their five-and-six-year-olds.

The sooner they can do something about it, the better it’ll be for us local families. In California, TSA Union leaders say this shutdown has gone way too long. In Washington, families letting Congress know it’s time to reconcile their differences. I’ve pawned everything that I can imagine, and now I’m just at my wit’s end.

As the shutdown drags on, some businesses are also taking a hit. Mohammed Bada has been operating his falafel food truck in the District of Columbia since 2014. He says the ongoing shutdown has drastically cut down his sales. Usually, I do in this area I do like 60 or 70 customers. So far maybe I did like 19 customers today, especially this week. It’s really, really, really bad. Bada who owns two food trucks can now afford to run only one. He says if sales don’t pick up soon, he won’t be back next week and will look for another job instead. Meanwhile, there’s no budging on either democratic or republican side.

Mohammad Alou, VOA news, Washington.

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201901/577381.shtml

1. food banks n. 食品存取站

2. impact v. impact (on/upon) sth. to have an effect on sth. （对某事物）有影响，有作用。用法：

 (单独使用的动词) 例如：Her father's death impacted greatly on her childhood years. 父亲去世对她的童年造成巨大影响。

 (动词 + 名词短语) ( business 商 ) The company's performance was impacted by the high value of the pound. 公司的业绩受到了英镑高值的冲击。

3. reconcile v. reconcile sth. (with sth.) to find an acceptable way of dealing with two or more ideas, needs, etc. that seem to be opposed to each other 使和谐一致；调和；使配合。例如：

 an attempt to reconcile the need for industrial development with concern for the environment

协调工业发展的需要和环境保护之间关系的努力

 It was hard to reconcile his career ambitions with the needs of his children. 他很难兼顾事业上的抱负和孩子们的需要。

4. pawn v. (动词 + 名词短语) to leave an object with a pawnbroker in exchange for money. The object is returned to the owner if he or she pays back the money within an agreed period of time. If not, it can be sold. 质押；典当

5. be at your wits' end: to be so worried by a problem that you do not know what to do next 智穷计尽；全然不知所措

6. take a hit 遭受重击

7. falafel n. (不可数名词, 可数名词) (pl. falafel or, falafels) a Middle Eastern dish consisting of small balls formed from crushed chickpeas, usually eaten with flat bread; one of these balls 炸豆丸子（中东食品，用鹰嘴豆泥制成，常与面包一起吃）

8. pick up: get better, stronger, etc.; to improve 改善；好转；增强。例如：

 Trade usually picks up in the spring. 贸易一般在春天回升。

 The wind is picking up now. 现在风愈刮愈大了。

 Sales have picked up 14% this year. 今年销售额增长了14%。

9. budge v. to change your opinion about sth.; to make sb. change their opinion （使）改变主意，改变观点。用法：

 (单独使用的动词) 例如：He won't budge an inch on the issue. 在这一点上他丝毫不肯让步。

 (动词 + 名词短语) 例如：He was not to be budged on the issue. 在这一点上他不会让步。

(Q1) What do Washington families let Congress know?

(A) They are turning to food banks for help.

(B) It’s time to reconcile their differences. 

(C) Students who rely on free or reduced fee meals at school are impacted.

(D) One North Carolina school’s lunch menus are being revised.

(Q2) Why did the news tell the story of Mohammed Bada?

(A) Some federal workers are impacted because of the shutdown.

(B) Some local families are impacted because of the shutdown.

(C) Some local schools are impacted because of the shutdown.

(D) Some businesses are impacted because of the shutdown.

(Q3) What will Mohammed Bada do if sales don’t pick up soon? 

(A) He will try to look for another job.

(B) He will sell one of his two food trucks.

(C) He will rent one of his two food trucks.

(D) He will run only one food trucks next week.

 KEY 

(Q1) B。细节题。命题出处：In Washington, families letting Congress know it’s time to reconcile their differences.

(Q2) D。推断题。命题出处：As the shutdown drags on, some businesses are also taking a hit. Mohammed Bada has been operating his falafel food truck in the District of Columbia since 2014. He says the ongoing shutdown has drastically cut down his sales. Usually, I do in this area I do like 60 or 70 customers. So far maybe I did like 19 customers today, especially this week. It’s really, really, really bad. Bada who owns two food trucks can now afford to run only one.

(Q3) A。细节题。命题出处：He says if sales don’t pick up soon, he won’t be back next week and will look for another job instead.