VOA常速英语:Economic Turbulence Forecast for 2012

短语讲解：

1. There are encouraging signs for the world's largest economy as 2011 comes to an end.

come to an end结束,终止
例句：The diving competitions have come to an end.
跳水项目已经比赛完了。

2. American consumers are spending more, the housing market is improving, and employers are laying off fewer workers.

lay off暂时解雇,裁员
例句：The factory has laid off workers because of the drop in sales.
那个工厂由于销量下降而暂时解雇了工人。

3. But some bright spots are emerging as the year comes to a close, according to George L. Perry, a senior fellow for economic studies at the Brookings Institution.

come to a close渐近结束,临终
例句：The summer vocation has come to a close.
暑假结束了。

4. Business construction was picking up and construction in particular areas like commercial.

pick up好转; 恢复
例句：Trade has been slack for the past six months, but it is now picking up.
在过去六个月中贸易一直不景气, 但现在状况正在好转。

5. China, the world's fastest growing economy, is slowing down, and Europe's debt crisis shows few signs of easing.

slow down (使)生产缓慢, (使)变得迟钝
例句：The increase of productions has now slowed down.
现在产品的增长速度已经慢了下来。

6. "We export a great deal to Europe," Perry points out. "And if Europe falls into another recession, that export growth is going to end. And that will affect jobs in the U.S. and cause the U.S. to move towards recession."

point out指出
例句：He pointed out that there was little chance of success.
他指出很少有成功的机会。
fall into掉进, 陷入
例句：After all that wine, father fell into a deep sleep.
父亲喝了那么多酒后，就昏昏入睡了。

7. But the slowdown is due in part to Beijing's efforts to prevent its economy from overheating, adds Perry.

prevent from阻止, 防止
例句：His prompt action prevented the fire from spreading.
他的果断行动制止了火势的蔓延。

8. The best thing they can do is clean up their act at home, be a source of growth at home, and, secondly, be a source of confidence to the market.

clean up整顿; 实行改革
例句：The new mayor said he would clean the city up.
新市长说, 他要整顿本市。
at home在国内
例句：These things can all be manufactured at home.
这些东西国内都能制造。

9. Zoellick is encouraged by ongoing reforms in China aimed at reducing the country's reliance on exports, but he warned U.S. lawmakers against further delays in dealing with the nation's rising debt, now close to $15 trillion.

aim at (以…)瞄准; 针对, 以…为目标
例句：The visit was aimed at expanding the relations between the two countries.
访问的目的是扩展两国的关系。
deal with应付, 处理; 对待
例句：He must deal with many difficulties.
他必须应付许多困难。

10. The downgrade of America from triple A didn't affect the finances today, but it may be one of those events people look back on 10 years from now and say, 'Did they get the warning?

look back回忆；回顾；追忆
例句：He still feels quite guilty when he look back on the past.
想起过去，他仍然感到很内疚。