VOA慢速英语:President Obama Agrees to Extend Tax Cuts for 2 years

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 don't 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：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。