美国或将通过几十年来首个重要枪支管制立法
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
News 1
The U.S. Senate has taken a first step towards passing the country’s first major gun control legislation in decades. Senators agreed to speed up the passage of a bipartisan bill allowing it to be voted on this week. Measures include tougher background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21. They were drawn up after a spate of mass shootings.
News 2
Growing fears about global inflation and concerns of a possible recession have prompted a sharp fall in the price of oil on international markets. It’s dropped by about five percent during trading on Wednesday. European share markets are also down with mining firms and car manufacturers particularly hit.
News 3
The Sri Lankan prime minister says the country’s economy has completely collapsed and needs overseas help to escape the crisis. Addressing parliament, Ranil Wickremesinghe said a donor conference would be convened to seek support from China, Japan and India. A team from the U.S. Treasuries due to visit next week. Sri Lanka is struggling to import essential commodities, including food and fuel.
VOCABULARY
1. legislation n. the process of making and passing laws 立法；制订法律。例如：Legislation will be difficult and will take time. 立法既费力又耗时。
2. bipartisan adj. involving two political parties 两党的；涉及两党的。例如：a bipartisan policy两党都支持的政策
3. a spate of 一连串的（多指不愉快的事物）
4. convene v. to arrange for people to come together for a formal meeting 召集，召开（正式会议）。例如：to convene a meeting 召开会议
QUESTIONS
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.
1. The U.S. Senate has taken a second step towards passing the country’s first major gun control legislation in decades.
2. Measures include tougher background checks for gun buyers under the age of 20.
3. Growing fears about global inflation and concerns of a possible recession have prompted a sharp increase in the price of oil on international markets.
4. European share markets are also down with mining firms and car manufacturers particularly hit.
5. Sri Lankan’s economy has completely collapsed and needs overseas help to escape the crisis.
6. According to Ranil Wickremesinghe, a donor conference would be convened to seek support from China, Japan and the U.S.
7. Sri Lanka is struggling to import essential commodities, including food and fuel.
KEY
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.
(F) 1. The U.S. Senate has taken a second step towards passing the country’s first major gun control legislation in decades. （正确表达）The U.S. Senate has taken a first step towards passing the country’s first major gun control legislation in decades.
(F) 2. Measures include tougher background checks for gun buyers under the age of 20. （正确表达）Measures include tougher background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21.
(F) 3. Growing fears about global inflation and concerns of a possible recession have prompted a sharp increase in the price of oil on international markets. （正确表达）Growing fears about global inflation and concerns of a possible recession have prompted a sharp fall in the price of oil on international markets.
(T) 4. European share markets are also down with mining firms and car manufacturers particularly hit.
(T) 5. Sri Lankan’s economy has completely collapsed and needs overseas help to escape the crisis.
(F) 6. According to Ranil Wickremesinghe, a donor conference would be convened to seek support from China, Japan and the U.S. （正确表达）According to Ranil Wickremesinghe, a donor conference would be convened to seek support from China, Japan and India.
(T) 7. Sri Lanka is struggling to import essential commodities, including food and fuel.
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