WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced a new plan to renew and expand the nation's roads, railways and runways, in a bid (努力) to restart the sluggish economy and to help create jobs.

Obama announced the billion-dollar infrastructure(基础设施) spending program at an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the Labor Day holiday in the United States.

The proposal calls for investments over six years, including rebuilding and modernizing 150,000 miles (241,350 kilometers) of roads, 4,000 miles (6,430 kilometers) of railways and 150 miles ( 241 kilometers) of runways.

"It sets up an Infrastructure Bank to leverage(杠杆；利用) federal dollars and focus on the smartest investment. All of this will not only create jobs now, but will make our economy run better over the long haul," Obama said.

"This is a plan that will be fully paid for and will not add to the deficit over time," said Obama.

The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, reflecting business reluctance to hire among uncertain economic prospects, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday.

The president admitted that new jobs "have not been coming fast enough" in the United States.

"These years would be some of the most difficult in our history. The problems facing working families are nothing new, but they are more serious than ever. And that makes our cause more urgent than ever," he added.

1.What does the underlined word “sluggish” probably mean?

A. 繁荣的                                       B. 崩溃的                         C. 疲软的                         D. 行动迅速的

2.What’s the main idea of this passage?

A. The US president launched a new program aiming at improving the nation’s infrastructure.

B. The US unemployment rate rose according to the Labor Department.

C. These years will be the most difficult in the American history.

D. More roads, railways and runways will be rebuilt and modernized.

3.Which of the following will be changed most in length?

A. Roads.                                        B. Railways.                  C. Runways.                     D. Highways.

There was_____ time when women had no right to vote, could not to to_____ university or choose their jobs

1. A.
   /, the
2. B.
   a, /
3. C.
   th/, /
4. D.
   a, the

Open Letter to an Editor

I had an interesting conversation with a reporter recently --- one who works for you. In fact, he's one of your best reporters. He wants to leave.

Your reporter gave me a copy of his resume(简历) and photocopies of six stories that he wrote for you. The headlines showed you played them proudly. With great enthusiasm, he talked about how he finds issues(问题), approaches them, and writes about them, which tells me he is one of your best. I'm sure you would hate to lose him. Surprisingly, your reporter is not unhappy. In fact, he told me he really likes his job. He has a great assignment (分工), and said you run a great paper. It would be easy for you to keep him, he said. He knows that the paper values him. He appreciates the responsibility you've given him, takes ownership of his profession, and enjoys his freedom.

So why is he looking for a way out?

He talked to me because he wants his editors to demand so much more of him. He wants to be pushed, challenged, coached to new heights.

The reporter believes that good stories spring from good questions, but his editors usually ask how long the story will be, when it will be in, where it can play, and what the budget is.

He longs for conversations with an editor who will help him turn his good ideas into great ones. He wants someone to get excited about what he's doing and to help him turn his story idea upside down and inside out, exploring the best ways to report it. He wants to be more valuable for your paper. That's what you want for him, too, isn't it?

So your reporter has set me thinking.

Our best hope in keeping our best reporters, copy editors, photographers, artists --- everyone --- is to work harder to make sure they get the help they are demanding to reach their potential. If we can't do it, they'll find someone who can.

1.What does the writer think of the reporter?

2.What does the reporter want most from his editors in their talks?

3.Who probably wrote the letter?

4.The letter aims to remind editors that they should ______.

______ the worker’s working efficiency, the manager will allow him to have a coffee break.