AP 2011-12-24_在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

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1. Capitol Hill is in a stalemate heading into the holidays. House Republicans want Senators to return to Washington and negotiate a payroll¹ tax cut extension after the House rejected a Senate measure. The tax goes up for workers January 1st if nothing is done.

2. It's the last day of Autumn but it feels like winter in many states. Whiteout conditions and fierce winds have killed at least six people across five states. Most interstates throughout the Great Plains have reopened but large snowdrifts still remain.

3. Celebration of Hanukkah has begun in a big way in New York city. Senator Charles Schumer helped light what the Guinness World Records certified² as the world's largest Menorah. The Jewish festival lasts eight nights.

4. And a hotel in China has made a new kind of Christmas tree. Staff at a hotel in Lincang City are building tree from around 2000 used plastic water bottles. The staff decided³ to construct the tree to encourage recycling. The 16 foot tree has so far taken three days to build and should be ready for December 25th.

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1 payroll
n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额
参考例句：
His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。 I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

2 certified
a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的
参考例句：
Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。 The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

3 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。