I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
The spring festival is aroud the corner,i'll keep my fingers crossed for you,my dear friends.

here "keep my fingers crossed for you" means "Good luck to you"(迷信的人常常把食指和中指交叉以祈求好运，后来就用这个手势来表示good luck.)

与finger有关的常用语还有：
give sb. the finger:亏待某人
have a finger in the pie:染指
put one's finger in another's pie:多管闲事
lay a finger on :动...一根毫毛
look through one's fingers at:视而不见
put one's finger in one's eye:哭泣
snap one's fingers at :向...捻拇指(以示轻蔑等)
turn(twist,wind,wrap)sb. round one's (little) finger:任意摆布
with a wet finger:不费吹灰之力
finger lauguage:手势语
fingerman:(盗贼等的)眼线
My little finger told me.我自然知道罗.

 

080326 VOA 【士兵突击行动——三多249号】

Meningitis is an infection of the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord. Both bacterial and viruses can cause it. Virusal(Virus) meningitis is the more common form. But bacterial meningitis is more dangerous.

Each year almost four hundred thousand children under the age of five die from meningitis caused by a bacterial known as HIB (heib*). Millions more suffer hearing loss(lose), brain damage or other disabilities as a result of the disease. hib or Haemophilus influenzae (him influence in) type B require intensive treatment with antibiotics. But most of the children are poor and live in (the) developing countries.

hib vaccines for babies have been available since nineteen ninety-one. But for most of that time their use was limited to industrial (industry) countries mostly because of (the) cost.

Uganda began widespread child vaccinations against hib in two thousand two. Now a study has found that in (the) areas where cases were counted(contact) the disease rate fell by eighty-five percent in the first four years. Then it fell to zero in two thousand six.

翻译：

髓膜炎是脑膜和脊柱上的一种传染病，细菌和病毒都可以致病。病毒性髓膜炎是最常见的形式。但是细菌性的髓膜炎更加危险。每年几乎有4000,000个五岁以下的孩子因为一种叫HIB的细菌引起的髓膜炎而死亡。成千上万的人忍受的这种疾病引起的失聪，脑损坏等其他缺陷。Hib或者B型Hi急需抗生素来治疗。但是大多数孩子都很贫穷并且生活在发展中国家。

针对婴儿的hib疫苗从1991年开始使用。但是大多数时间疫苗的使用在工业国家里收的限制很大程度上因为成本。乌干达在2002年开始大范围的针对hib的儿童防疫。现在以调查发现在病例有统计的地区发病率在头四年降低了85%，然后在2006年发病率降到了0%。

单词：

Infection                n. 传染,影响,传染病

meningitis              n. 髓膜炎

antibiotics              n. 抗生素,抗生学

available                a. 可用的,有效的

vaccine                  n. 疫苗; v. 疫苗的,牛痘的

widespread            a. 分布(或散布)广的,普遍的

【勿讲中国式英语】CLASS53 -- 前沿

【英文对比翻译】 IBM公司一直处于电脑行业的前沿

Chinese Style -- IBM is always in the front line of computer industry.

American Style -- IBM is always at the cutting edge of computer industry.

点评：
front line 是“前线，第一线”的意思，常指最危险或最艰苦的地方。例如：Many doctors are in the front line of the fighting against SARS（许多医生战斗在抗击“非典”的第一线）。at the cutting edge 最早出现在20世纪50年代，它最初指“锐器的锋利部位”，现在常隐喻“处在（高科技的）最前沿。

---

 

080325 VOA 【士兵突击行动--三多249号】

The stoves are designed to have a lifetime of up to three years, at a (that) cost about 15 dollars. After India, the plan is to market them to China and Brazil and to other countries around the world. Envirofit (In*) expects 25,000,000 dollars from the shell foundation and other donors over the next five years to support its efforts.

Nongovernmental organizations and local stores in some cases will sell the stoves in villages. the price in different countries will be based on demand and local economic conditions. M says Envirofit will also (also will) work with local micro lending organizations to help support the sale(s) of the stoves.

Envirofit (In*) says it will use any future profits from the stoves for further research and development. The group wants to develop combination technology to be able to use energy from the cook stove to provide things like heat or light.

Two students at Colorado State university Tin and N started Envirofit(in*) international in two thousand three. The group has ties to the university. Envirofit(In*fit) developed from research work in the engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado state.

翻译：

炉子的设计寿命可达3年，成只有15美元。继印度之后，这个计划将在中国、巴西和世界上的其他国家运作。E公司期望在以后5年从S基金和其他捐助者获得2500万美元来支持这个计划成果。非营利组织和当地的商店将在村庄出售这种炉子。在不同国家的价格将根据需求和当地经济条件来制定。M称E公司也和当地小额借款组织合作来帮助支持炉子的销售。

E公司说它将使用炉子的利润来做进一步的研究和发展。这个集团想发展联合技术来使用炉子的能量做其它的事，比如取暖或者照明。科罗拉多州立大学的两个学生T和N在2003年建立了E，这个公司依附于这个大学。E依靠科罗拉多州动力和能量转换实验室的研究工作来进行发展。

单词：

Brazil               n.巴西

Laboratory       n. 实验室;实验大楼

lifetime            n. 一生,终身

donor              n. 捐赠人

 

080324 VOA 【士兵突击行动——三多249号】

Breathing smoke from cooking stoves or open fires is a common cause of lung infections in developing countries. Indoor(Indus) air pollution is blamed for  an estimated four thousand deaths every day, mostly, women and children.

A nonprofit group based in the American State of Colorado is working to save lives. Researchers at Envirofit(*fit) international have developed a clear burning cook stove that uses less fuel and reduces smoke. they say it cuts the smoke and dangerous gases by up to 80% compare to open fires or simple traditional stoves.

The cook stove was designed to produce the greatest amount of heat in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of fuel. It can burn wood, animal waste, or crop(crup) waste. the Shell foundation has formed partnership with Envirofit to market the cook stoves.

The British charity established by the shell(*) group in the year 2000 has invested ten million dollars in a pilot(the polar) project for India. M at Envirofit tells us that as many as ten million(s) stoves will be sent to southern India by the end of this(the) year. She says the stoves are being manufactured in China and will begin arriving in May.

翻译：

在发展中国家中，厨炉或者户外火产生的烟是造成肺病的普遍原因。每天估计有4千多人死于室内空气污染，并且这些人中大部分是妇女和儿童。基于美国科罗拉多州的一个非营利组织正在营救生命。在E的研究者研制了一种清洁燃烧的厨炉，这种炉子节省燃料并减少产生的烟。他们说新的厨炉与户外火或者传统的炉子相比能减少80%的烟和有害气体。

设计的这种厨炉使用最少量的燃料在最短的时间内产生最多的热量。他能燃烧木头、动物粪便、农作物秸秆。S基金已经和E形成合作伙伴来市场运作这种厨炉。在2000年，S集团建立的英国慈善机构已经为印度的P项目投资1000万美元。E公司的M告诉我们到今年年底将有1000万个炉子被送到印度南部。她说这些炉子在中国生产并将于5月到货。

单词：

Colorado               n. 科罗拉多 (州)[美国]

Indus                    n. 印度西北部的河流,印第安座

Blamed                 a. 该死的,混蛋的； v. 谴责； vbl. 谴责

blame for              归咎于

 

080323 VOA 【士兵突击行动--三多249号】

Boeing offered a version of its seven sixty-seven airplane for the new tankers. Northrap G and EADS based their tanker on the Airbus A380. That plane is larger and would be able to carry more fuel.

There is debate about the possible effect(fact) on American jobs, because production would be split between Europe and the United States. There is also dispute about what the deal would mean for national security. In any case, Boeing says the Air Force changed requirements in the middle of the competition. Boeing and Airbus each had(has) record numbers of orders last year for commercial airplanes.

Demand is strong in Europe and Asia. But this week EADS reported a loss of 685000000 dollars last year after a profit in 2006. Airbus has had delays with its huge new A380 passenger plane.

A weak dollar also played a part in the loss.

Boeing has its own problems with its new 787 dream liner. To build it, the company is using a new system of suppliers around the world. Boeing says the dream liner could enter service early next year. Many buyers are waiting but the new plane has not even had its first flight. The latest progress report is expected by the end of the month.

翻译：

波音公司提供的加油机是他的767飞机。而EADS的加油机是基于空中客车A380的，这款飞机更大，并能装载更多的燃料。这引起了可能影响美国就业率的争论，因为产品是在欧洲和美国生产的。另外，在这宗交易对国家安全意味着什么也存在争议。不管怎样，波音称空军在竞争中改变了需求。去年，波音和空中客车在商用飞机上都有一系列的订单。

在欧洲和亚洲，商用飞机的需求是巨大的。但是EADS称，去年亏损了6.8亿美元，而2006年还在盈利。空中客车已经推迟了其大型新客机A380。美元的贬值也是亏损的原因之一。波音自己的新型梦飞机787也有问题。为了生产新飞机，波音公司使用了新的全球供货系统。波音称梦飞机最早将于明年投入使用。许多购买者在等待，但是新飞机甚至连一次都没飞过。最新的进展报告将在月底出来。

单词：

effect              n. 结果,影响,效果； v. 招致,引起,完成

lose                      v. 遗失,损失,失败

loss                       n. 丧失,损耗

（这两个词，词性不同）

 

080322 VOA 【士兵突击行动--三多249号】

 

 

Must a country buy from its own defense suppliers?

This is one of the questions in Washington in a(the) dispute over a deal worth at least 35 billion dollars. The contract will supply the Air Force with 179 tankers. The Air Force says it has a series needs for new planes to refuel aircraft in mid-flight.

 

Boeing has a long history of supplying tankers to the(The) Air Force. But on February 29th The Air Force awarded the contract to another American company Northrop Gruman(North*), teamed with EADS. EADS is the European Aeronautic Defense and Space company. The parent(present )of Air Bus. This week Boeing protested the decision.

 

The government Accountability(**bility) will study the appeal and expects to have a report by June 17th. Boeing says it found problems in the process used to reach the decision. The Air Force has(says) called the process fair and open. But the decision not to give the contract to the Chicago based company has angered law-makers in Congress from states with Boeing factories. These include Washington state and Kansas.

翻译：

一个国家必须购买自己国家的生产的武器吗？

这是华盛顿在一宗至少价值350亿美元的交易上所争论的问题之一。这个合同将供应空军179架加油机。空军说在中途航线上对加油机有一系列的需求。波音公司供应空军加油机，有着很长的历史了。但是在2月29日空军将合同给了另外一家美国公司NG，这是一家和EADS合作的公司。EADS全称是欧洲宇航防务集团——空中客机的母公司。这星期波音抗议这个决定。

政府将研究这个上诉并将在6月17日之前给出一个报告。波音公司称达成那个合同的过程是有问题的。而空军则称过程是公平和开放的。但是合同没有给芝加哥公司的决定激怒了波音所在州的国会立法人，包括华盛顿州和堪萨斯州

 

 

总结：

a the 分不开。Parent & present 写的时候以为是，同位语：现在的空中客车，当时觉得of放那里很别扭；没想到是 母公司

 

单词：

Aeronautic                    a. 航空的

Accountability                     n. 有责任,有义务

Kansas                         堪萨斯州

EADS                          欧洲宇航防务集团（EADS）

 

080322 VOA 【士兵突击行动--三多249号】

 

 

Must a country buy from its own defense suppliers?

This is one of the questions in Washington in a(the) dispute over a deal worth at least 35 billion dollars. The contract will supply the Air Force with 179 tankers. The Air Force says it has a series needs for new planes to refuel aircraft in mid-flight.

 

Boeing has a long history of supplying tankers to the(The) Air Force. But on February 29th The Air Force awarded the contract to another American company Northrop Gruman(North*), teamed with EADS. EADS is the European Aeronautic Defense and Space company. The parent(present )of Air Bus. This week Boeing protested the decision.

 

The government Accountability(**bility) will study the appeal and expects to have a report by June 17th. Boeing says it found problems in the process used to reach the decision. The Air Force has(says) called the process fair and open. But the decision not to give the contract to the Chicago based company has angered law-makers in Congress from states with Boeing factories. These include Washington state and Kansas.

翻译：

一个国家必须购买自己国家的生产的武器吗？

这是华盛顿在一宗至少价值350亿美元的交易上所争论的问题之一。这个合同将供应空军179架加油机。空军说在中途航线上对加油机有一系列的需求。波音公司供应空军加油机，有着很长的历史了。但是在2月29日空军将合同给了另外一家美国公司NG，这是一家和EADS合作的公司。EADS全称是欧洲宇航防务集团——空中客机的母公司。这星期波音抗议这个决定。

政府将研究这个上诉并将在6月17日之前给出一个报告。波音公司称达成那个合同的过程是有问题的。而空军则称过程是公平和开放的。但是合同没有给芝加哥公司的决定激怒了波音所在州的国会立法人，包括华盛顿州和堪萨斯州

 

 

总结：

a the 分不开。Parent & present 写的时候以为是，同位语：现在的空中客车，当时觉得of放那里很别扭；没想到是 母公司

 

单词：

Aeronautic                    a. 航空的

Accountability                     n. 有责任,有义务

Kansas                         堪萨斯州

EADS                          欧洲宇航防务集团（EADS）

翻译：我可以用这台计算机上网吗？
Can I surf the Internet with this computer here?

翻译：我下班回到家，喜欢喝杯葡萄酒放松放松。
When I get home from work I like to relax with a glass of wine.

翻译：听他的劝告，我卧床休息
On his advice I am staying in bed.

翻译：他沉迷于网上冲浪。
He is addicted to surfing on the internet.(surfing internet也可以)

---

 

080321 VOA 【士兵突击行动——三多249号】

 

Response to intervention supplies that extra help. R.T.I. provides specially designed instruction for children who have scored low on general tests. Professor F says the process usually involves about eight to ten weeks of small group tutoring(totally).

 

The intensive work use (the) research based method of instruction. The students are tested, sometimes as often as every week to measure progress. Those who improve as instruction of intervention go back to their normal classroom activities. Those who do not might be declated(declare) learning disabled.

 

But professor F says most school systems require additional testing to confirm the presence(present) of disability(ies). Some teachers and administrators believe response to intervention can reduce the number of students put into special services.

 

Professor F tells us this has not been proven(proved). But studies have shown that R.T.I. can solve learning problems for some students especially young children. And, at the same time, it can identify others who need much more help.