他還說：“家庭經營式的小規(guī)模商店可以利用他們規(guī)模小作為優(yōu)勢，為人們帶來便利?！?/div>
4. operator n. 經營者，操作者；[計算機]運算符。例：
She staff five computer operators in her firm.
她在公司里雇傭了五名電腦操作人員。
The plant's operator said radiation levels outside the reactor were still within legal limits.
工廠的經營者說，反應器外的輻射水平仍然在法律限度內。
[選自：MSN: Japan accident dims odds of U.S. nuclear revival]
Many Europeans may view the U.S. ?1?superpower> {that has become hostile?2?[to foreigners].} But nothing makes people . [Through April], the total number (of visitors from abroad) was up 6.8 percent [from last year]. Should the trend continue, the number of tourists [this year] will [finally] top the 2000 peak?3? Many Europeans [now] [apparently] view the U.S. (many Americans view Mexico) – [as a cheap place to vacation, shop and party], all [while ignoring the fact] {that the poorer locals can’t afford to join the merrymaking?4.} 許多歐洲人可能把美國看作是個傲慢的、對外國人充滿敵意的超級大國。但是只有疲軟的美元最能使人們對美國產生好感。今年四月，外國游客總量比去年同期增長了6.8%。如果該趨勢繼續(xù)保持下去的話，今年全年的游客總量將超過2000年的峰值。現(xiàn)在許多歐洲人顯然把美國看成一個度假、購物、開派對的便宜去處，正如許多美國人也這樣看待墨西哥。不過他們都沒有注意到，比較貧窮的當地人沒錢參加這樣的狂歡活動。
注：1. arrogant adj. 傲慢的，自大的。例：
It’s arrogant for you to say that.
你竟然這樣說，未免太自大了。
“I was blind to how arrogant and self-centered that I had become,” Ensign said in his farewell speech.
“我也不知道自己已經變得多么傲慢，多么以自我為中心了”，少尉在他的告別演講中說。
[選自：NPR: Analysis: Another Sex Scandal Last Thing DC Needs]
2. hostile n. 敵對；adj. 敵對的，懷敵意的。例：
Foxes, even those raised in captivity, are very hostile to humans and difficult to handle.
狐貍，即使是圈養(yǎng)的，也非常敵視人類，難以應對。
[選自：FORBES: The Fossils in Our Genes]
【同】adverse ?不利的；contrary ?相反的，截然不同的
【反】agreeable 一致的，欣然同意的；friendly；peaceful
3. peak n. 山峰，最高點，頂點；vt. 使達到最高點，使豎起；vi.消瘦；到達最高點；adj.最高的，最大值的。例：
Its shares have steadily lost value since their peak more than five years ago.
該公司的股票自從五年多前達到峰值后就一直在貶值。
[選自：FORBES: The Rise and Fall of Silvio Berlusconi's Fortune]
The firm has slashed its workforce from a peak of 150,000 in 2000.
2000年那家公司把他的員工從15萬峰值進行了大裁剪。
Temperatures have peaked at over 90 degrees.
溫度已經達到峰值，超過了90度。
Today’s price is 60%lower than the peak level of $1.2 million.
今天的價格比120萬美元的峰值水平降低了60%。
4. merrymaking n. 狂歡者，尋歡作樂
adj. 狂歡的，快樂的
vi. 尋歡作樂（merrymake的ing形式）。例：
Christmas Eve, people dance and sing around Christmas tree merrymaking.
圣誕之夜，人們圍著圣誕樹唱歌跳舞，盡情歡樂。
The money (tourists spend) helps decrease our chronic?1?trade deficit. So do exports, (which thanks [in part] to the weak dollar,) soared?2?11 percent [between May 2006 and May 2007]. [For first five months of 2007], the trade deficit [actually] fell 7 percent [from 2006].
外國游客在美國的消費有助于減少長期的貿易逆差。出口量也一樣受益：2006年5月至2007年5月間出口額急劇上升了11%，部分原因就在于疲軟的美元。2007年前五個月，貿易逆差實際上比2006年降低了七個百分點。
注：1. chronic adj. 慢性的，長期的，疾病經久難治的。例：
The strength of traditional Chinese medicine appears to be in treating chronic illnesses, says Mr. Poon.
潘先生說，傳統(tǒng)中醫(yī)的優(yōu)勢似乎是在治療慢性疾病方面。
[選自：WSJ: Putting Traditional Chinese Medicine to the Test]
chronic disease 慢性病，頑疾
chronic poisoning 慢性中毒
n. 患慢性病的人；大麻
【近】inveterate ?根深蒂固的；deeply rooted 積習的，成癖的
2. soar v. 飆升，驟然上升。例：
The beef and pork industries, in contrast, have seen global exports soar over the past year.
相比之下，過去的一年見證了牛肉和豬肉行業(yè)全球出口量的飆升。
[選自：WSJ: Locke Urges China to Open to U.S. Firms]
They put down their tools when the price of gasoline fertilizer and pesticides soared.
由于汽油、肥料和農藥價格飆升，他們放下了工具。
price soared 價格飆升
unemployment soared 失業(yè)率上升
[If you own shares [in large American corporations],] you’re a winner [in the weak-dollar?1?gamble]. [Last week] Coca-Cola’s stock bubbled?2?to a five-year high [after it reported a fantastic quarter.] Foreign sales accounted for 65 percent (of Coke’s beverage?3?business). Other American companies (profiting from this trend include McDonald’s and IBM?4).
如果你持有大型美國公司的股票，那么你就是這場美元疲軟的博弈中的贏家。上周，可口可樂公司在其精彩的季報之后，股價升至五年來最高點。海外銷售額占據可口可樂公司飲料市場的65%。其他從美元疲軟中獲益的公司還包括麥當勞和IBM。
注：1. weak-dollar 美元疲軟
2. bubble n. 氣泡，泡沫；圓形頂；透明圓形罩
vi. 沸騰，冒泡；發(fā)出氣泡聲
vt. 使冒泡；滔滔不絕地說。例：
Emotions tend to bubble just under the surface of the most banal of interactions.
在最平庸的互動的表面之下，情緒趨于高漲。
[選自：CNN: Mayor to New York: Get back to business of life]
With soap and water, bubbles and boats, children love bath.
因為有肥皂、水、肥皂泡和小船，孩子們都喜歡洗澡。
Heat the seasoned stock until it is bubbling.
把這些調了味的湯汁加熱到沸騰為止。
bubble economic 泡沫經濟
burst your bubble ?煞風景，打破人的幻想
3. beverage n.飲料，酒水，飲品類。例：
Alcoholic beverages are served in the hotel lounge.
賓館的休息室供應酒類飲料。
alcoholic beverage 酒精飲料
beverage crop 飲料作物
food and beverage industry 飲食業(yè)
4. IBM 美國國際商用機器公司（International Business Machine）
American tourists, [however], shouldn’t expect any relief?1?[soon]. The dollar lost strength (the way many marriages break up – [slowly, and then all at once?2??].) And currencies don’t turn on a dime?3. So [if you want to avoid the pain inflicted?4?[by the increasingly pathetic5 dollar],] cancel that summer vacation [to England] and look to New England. [There], the dollar is [still] treated [with a little respect].
然而，美國游客近期不應該期待有什么緩解。美元疲軟就像許多婚姻破裂一樣——慢慢進行，然后突然一下子結束。貨幣不會很快產生變化，因此，美元越來越讓人感到悲傷，如果想避免這種痛楚的話，請取消去英國的暑期度假計劃，改去新英格蘭吧。至少在那里人們對美元還有一點點敬意。
注：1. relief n. 救濟（金）；減輕，解除；安慰；浮雕。例：
Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief.
此外，無線電在應急通信和救災強大而特殊的作用。
[選自：UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES]
Relief agencies are stepping up efforts to provide food.
救濟機構正在加緊努力提供食物。
in relief 顯著地；鮮明地
relief valve 安全閥
disaster relief 賑災
2. all at once 同時；突然，出乎意料，同時一起
3. dime n. 一角硬幣，十美分硬幣
turn on a dime 事情很快有變化
dime store 折扣店，廉價雜貨店
a dime a dozen 多得很，不稀罕，不值錢
on a dime 在極小的空間
4. inflict vt. 造成；使遭受（痛苦、損傷等）；給予（打擊等）。例：
Unlike other sports the aim of boxing is to inflict bodily harm on an opponent.
與其他體育項目不同，拳擊的目的是為了給對手造成人身傷害。
[選自：BBC: Women's boxing gains Olympic spot]
Whether you inflict pain on another human or to an animal, the great accountability is the same.
無論你們給另一個人或者一個動物造成傷害，其巨大的責任都是一樣的。
【短】inflict on 使承擔（痛苦等）；給予（打擊等）
Inflict punishment ?處以刑罰
5. pathetic adj. 可憐的；傷感的，悲哀的。例：
Ok, I'll ignore your pathetic attempt to be funny here as just a lack of capability.
好吧，我就忽略掉你想裝得有趣一些的可憐的企圖，那只是缺乏能力的表現(xiàn)。
[選自：ENGADGET: Microsoft's budget 720p HD-5000 LifeCam reviewed (video)]
Who’s pathetic now?
現(xiàn)在該誰可憐了?
【派】pathetically adv.可憐地，傷感地
【同】poor, sad, melting 可憐的，悲哀的
