人生|言叶

TEXT 

The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States has tightened air quality standards to help improve public health. Industry lobbied for them to be left alone, but campaigners including the Environmental Defence Fund wanted tougher measures. It's spokesman is Dr. John Balbus.
The first part was a modest improvement in the health standard, but the other two parts were not very good in what them do. The health standard that EPA announced will tighten that the level that's allowed and that __ identify as being healthy or unhealthy for people, but they only lowered a little bit. The top scientists __ the EPA and asked them to lower to a range of 60 to 70 parts per billion. And just by comparison, the European Commission's target is 61 parts per billion. [Reference]

The Serbian president Boris Tadic has dissolved parliament and called an earlier general election. It'll be held on May 11. The move follows the collapse of the Serbian government over differences on the Kosovo issue.

Plant scientists have warned that a virulent strain of wheat fungus could further put up crises and cause hunger in many countries. The strain of black stem rust known as Ug-99 originated in East Africa in 1999. By last year, it has spread to Yemen and it's now been found in Iran. The fungus stops wheat plants absorbing nutrients and can wipe out whole harvest. The scientists in Britain and Mexico say few of the wheat varieties grown in Africa and Asia have immunity to Ug-99. They're testing other NATO varieties and said breeding resistent crops could take several years.

Leaders from the 27 European Union member states are gathering later today in Brussels for a summit expected to focus on climate change, energy security and concerns about the global economy. The EU is seeking to lead global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The summit will try to work out how to implement 20% reduction by 2020. From Brussels xxx reports.
Many leaders argue that time is the essence if European Union is to take a lead in the international negotiations. The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to be one of those calling for cuts in purchase taxes on energy-saving goods. One thing that's caused a stir in the run-up to the summit has been a report that the leaders would have __ them __ by the EU's foreign policy chief xxx. It warns of the possibility of mass migration into Europe as a result of the effects of climate change. The leaders will also be looking at the issue - security of energy supplies, and they'll discuss the slow-down in the global economy and the upheavals in the world financial markets.

Police in India have arrested more than 100 Tibetan exiles who were persisting with attempts to march to the border with Tibet. The authorities have warned the Tibetans on Monday that they wouldn't be allowed to proceed. The marchers who oppose Chinese rule in their homeland wanted to protest at China's staging of this year's Olympic Games.

NOTE

lobby = seek to influence (a legislator)
lobby for sb. to do sth.
lower a little bit

dissolve =  formally end or annul (an assembly, marriage, etc.)

crisis => crises
put up ...(eg. crises)
stop ... doing sth. (eg. stop wheat plants absorbing nutrients / stop me going out of the door)
wipe out =  destroy completely (eg. wipe out whole harvest)
have immunity to ...

focus on ...
concerns about ...
seek to do sth.
lead ...(eg. global) efforts to do sth.
Time is the essence.
take a lead in ...
taxes on ...
run-up = the preparatory period before a notable event
in the run-up to ...(eg. the summit / the game)
It warns of the possiblity of ...
the slowdown in ...
upheaval = a violent or sudden change

persist with ... (eg. He persisted with his questioning.)
at ...(eg. China's / this year's) staging of ...