VOA慢速英语:Future Payments for Retirees Are Big Issue Now for US States

名词 n.
不足(额);差额
赤字

2. negotiate

不及物动词 vi.
谈判,协商,洽谈[(+with/for)]
The government will not negotiate with the terrorists.
政府决不与恐怖分子谈判。

及物动词 vt.
通过谈判达成,谈成[(+with)]
They finally negotiated a peace treaty.
他们最终谈判达成了一个和平条约。

3. collective

形容词 a.

聚集而成的
集体的;共同的
集体所有(或经营)的

4. considering

介词 prep.
就...而论,考虑到
Considering the distance, he arrived very quickly.
考虑到路程较远,他来得够快了。

5. define

及物动词 vt.
解释,给...下定义
Do you know who defined man as a rational animal?
你知道是谁将人说成是有理智的动物的?

规定,限定,使明确
The powers of the courts are defined by law.
法庭的权力是由法律规定的。

确定...的界线;使...的轮廓分明
The boundary is not clearly defined.
这疆界没有明确划定。

为...的特性,是...的特色[(+as)]
Reason defines man.
理性是人的特点。