VOA常速英语:US Postal Service on 'Brink of Default'

词汇讲解：

1. default n. 违约; 缺席; 拖欠
例句：Even state-sponsored development banks are quite sensitive to avoid loans that end in default. 
就连国家主办的发展银行也十分注意避免贷款最后拖欠不还。

2. disappear vi.不见, 消失
例句：A ship disappeared below the horizon.
船消失在地平线下。

3. transaction n. (一笔)交易; (一项)事务
例句：Buying a house is an important transaction for most people.
买房子对大多数人来讲都是件重要的事。

4. dire adj. 可怕的, 恐怖的
例句：The company is in dire straits.
公司处于极度困难的境地。

5. testify vi.作证; 证明
例句：The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.
指纹专家应邀出庭作证。

6. retiree n. 退休者;退职者;退役者
例句：31.7 million retirees had participated in the basic pension insurance program.
3170万离退休人员参加了基本养老保险。

7. authorization n. 授权,批准
例句：You cannot take a day off without authorization.
未经批准你不得休假。

8. viable adj. 切实可行的;可实施的
例句：The scheme is economically viable.
这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。

9. blast vt. 严厉批评;强烈谴责
例句：The newspapers blasted the political corruption.
报纸对政治腐败加以强烈谴责。

10. enact vt. 制定(法律);颁布(法案)
例句：Several bills were enacted at the end of this session of Parliament.
几项法案在这届国会的会议结束时被颁布。

11. solvency n. 偿付能力
例句：Fears about the solvency of the banks precipitated the great economic crash.
对银行偿付能力出现恐慌更加速了经济的崩溃。

12. avalanche n. 突然来到的大量事物
例句：We received an avalanche of inquiries.
我们一下子收到了大批询问信函。