NPR邊聽邊練271：美國(guó)人計(jì)算、閱讀能力低于其他國(guó)家
一、泛聽建議：
1、完整聽一遍，掌握大意。
2、繼續(xù)聽，特別注意關(guān)鍵信息。遇到相似的詞，寫下來。
When it comes to math, reading and computer _1_, Americans lag behind their counterparts in 22 industrialized nations. NPR's Claudio Sanchez has the results of the first-ever international survey of adult competences.
在談及數(shù)學(xué)、閱讀和計(jì)算機(jī)技巧時(shí)，美國(guó)人落后于其余22個(gè)工業(yè)化國(guó)家。NPR新聞的克勞迪奧·桑切斯將帶來有史以來第一次成年人能力的國(guó)際調(diào)查結(jié)果。
Researchers with the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development _2_ 166,000 people in areas such as problem solving, literacy and numeracy. In literacy, the US trailed 12 countries with Japan, Finland and the Netherlands in the top three. In terms of math skills, US adults did worse than adults in 18 countries. Only Italy and Spain did worse. Researchers say these skills are critical for future job growth and the global economy. The survey also found that a majority of adult in countries that did well—Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands— _3_ in job training and continuing education. Adults in poor-performing countries were more likely to be unemployed or working for minimum wage with little or no access to education and job training. Claudio Sanchez, NPR News.
總部位于巴黎的經(jīng)濟(jì)合作與發(fā)展組織的研究員對(duì)16.6萬人進(jìn)行了測(cè)試，內(nèi)容涉及解決問題、讀寫及算術(shù)。在讀寫方面，美國(guó)排在第13位，獲得前三名的國(guó)家分別是日本、芬蘭及荷蘭。在數(shù)學(xué)技巧方面，美國(guó)成年人的表現(xiàn)落后于18個(gè)國(guó)家的成年人。只有意大利和西班牙的表現(xiàn)比美國(guó)更糟。研究人員表示，這些技能對(duì)未來的職業(yè)發(fā)展及全球經(jīng)濟(jì)都至關(guān)重要。調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn)，芬蘭、丹麥及荷蘭這些表現(xiàn)良好國(guó)家的大多數(shù)成年人，都參加過工作培訓(xùn)和繼續(xù)教育。而表現(xiàn)糟糕國(guó)家的成年人則因未能接受良好教育和工作訓(xùn)練而更可能面臨失業(yè)或最低工資的境遇。NPR新聞，克勞迪奧·桑切斯報(bào)道。
California _4_ ruled Japanese automaker Toyota will have to face trial over claims it failed to adequately warn the public about reports of unintended acceleration involving some of its vehicles. A US district court judge _5_ the company's motion to dismiss claims brought by the estate of a woman who lost control of her 2005 Camry after it sped out of control and then slammed into a school.
加州法官判決，日本汽車制造商豐田因未能恰當(dāng)警告公眾某些車輛會(huì)發(fā)生意外加速的情況，將面臨訴訟。一名美國(guó)地區(qū)法院的法官駁回了豐田拒絕賠償一名女性的動(dòng)議，該女子在2009年駕駛一輛2005款凱美瑞時(shí)因速度失控造成車輛無法控制，隨后撞上學(xué)校建筑。
I'm Jack Speer, NPR News in Washington.
我是杰克·施佩爾，這里是華盛頓NPR新聞。
詞匯解析：
1. lag behind
落后;趕不上;
eg. The restructuring of the pattern of consumption in Britain also lagged behind.
在消費(fèi)結(jié)構(gòu)重組方面，英國(guó)也落后于人。
eg. He now lags 10 points behind the champion.
他現(xiàn)在落后冠軍10分。
2. slam into
猛烈撞擊;
eg. The plane slammed into the building after losing an engine shortly after take-off.
飛機(jī)起飛之后不久，就有一個(gè)引擎出現(xiàn)故障，隨即便一頭撞上了大樓。
eg. e knew he would slam into him with abandon, forgetting all else.
他知道自己將不顧一切地大打出手。
參考答案：
1、skills 2、tested 3、were enrolled
4、judges 5、denied
