VOA慢速英语:Fight Over Spending Is Just Beginning in Washington

短语讲解：

1. A week ago, the United States government was preparing to suspend some of its operations for lack of a budget.

prepare to do准备做…
例句：They pour kerosene all over the thatch house , prepare to set it alight .
他们把煤油浇在茅草屋上，准备放火。
lack of 缺少，缺乏
例句：The lack of rain aggravated the already serious lack of food. 
缺少雨水加重了业已严重的食物缺乏。

2. But late last Friday, negotiators reached a deal.

reach a deal 达成协议
例句：A delegation from the European Union flew to Moscow to urge the two sides to reach a deal.
欧盟的一位代表飞往莫斯科敦促乌俄双方达成协议。

3. Negotiators cut more than most Democratic Party lawmakers wanted, but less than most Republicans wanted.

more than 不只是，多于
例句：More than one answer is to your question.
你的问题答案不只是一个。
less than 小于，决不
例句：But these buses , on average , use four liters of diesel fuel to travel less than sixteen kilometers .
但是这些公共汽车路程不到十六公里平均要使用四公升柴油燃料。

4. But the plan faces strong opposition in the Senate, where Democrats are in control.

in control 控制，掌管，管理
例句：In spite of the panic, she remained serene and in control. 
尽管人心惶惶, 但她却泰然自若。

5. The idea is that competition would save money.

save money 省钱
例句：He worked all summer to save money for the purchase of a piano. 
他工作了一整个夏天,为的是存钱买架钢琴。

6. Congress and the president must now turn their attention to issues like the budget for next year and the debt limit.

turn one’s attention to 把注意力转向…
例句：Please turn your attention to something more important. 
请把注意力转向更重要的事情上去。

7. Steve Hess at Moody's Investor Service says if lenders were really worried, they would raise the interest rates they charge on loans to the government.

interest rate 利率
例句：High interest rate is killing small business.
高利率正在使许多小生意破产。