英语短文

The production of passenger vehicles around the world reached an all-time high this year: 80 million new cars and light trucks, according to a study by the Worldwatch Institute in Washington. The new production record is heightening concerns among environmentalists, since petroleum-fueled automobiles are a major source of air pollution and climate-changing carbon emissions.

With the new cars and light trucks added to the global fleet, the world is nearing a milestone - one billion vehicles on the roads. Most are petroleum-fueled internal combustion engines, whose emissions cause environmental problems like air pollution and contribute to global warming.

Michael Renner of the Worldwatch Institute, wrote the analysis of worldwide auto production.

The strongest producer by far right now is China, which had a tremendous period of growth over the last decade and have overtaken Germany, Japan and the U.S., which used to be the three big producers worldwide," Renner said.

Hybrid and electric vehicles represent less than two percent of the total output, the study says.

But representatives of the auto industry say they care about the environment. Steven Brooks, an analyst at https://www.360docs.net/doc/9616074567.html,, which compiles data on the automobile market, says the industry is responding to the desire for greener products.

"There are 43 different vehicles that are going to get introduced into the shopping arena by the end of 2015, like this Honda CR-Z here. This is a hybrid electric vehicle," Brooks said.

But Renner says unless we move to cleaner and more efficient fuels, as well as alternative propulsion systems, electric cars won't solve the environmental problem. "If we don't significantly change the bases on which our electricity systems are functioning, in other words if we use large amounts of coal and fossil fuels to produce electricity, then going with the electrical vehicles is not getting us all that far," Renner said.

Industry experts say hydrogen fuel cells and experimental new materials, such as strong, lightweight magnesium and carbon composites, could dramatically improve energy efficiency in tomorrow's passenger vehicles. But such improvements are still years away. In today's car market, Steven Brooks says, gasoline prices are still driving people's vehicle choices.

"The mid-size sedans are still the number-one-selling segment in the country, but the adoption of the small and hybrid vehicles is on the rise as the gas prices go up," Brooks said.

According to the United Nations, emissions from road transport constitute more than 20 percent of greenhouse gases.

The Worldwatch study notes that even in developing countries, car travel distances have doubled in the past decade. Experts agree that to counter the public health and environmental impact of this trend, governments must develop better systems of public transportation.

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - In U.S presidential politics, Democrat Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, have championed small-business growth as a way to fuel an economic recovery in the United States. In the southern state of North Carolina, where both men are popular, small business owners are deeply divided over which candidate can best address their needs.

Larry Guinn manufactures de-mountable interior wall partitions at his factory in Summerfield, North Carolina. He worries about the future.

"I am not going to hire many people. I just see more and more unemployment in the country, and that is not good for America," Guinn said.

Not far away in Greensboro, immigration lawyer Jeremy McKinney prepares to defend another client in court. He thinks the country is on the right course.

"From out vantage point I do not see any reason to change the captain of the ship," McKinney said.

Both men are small business owners, but on opposite ends of the political divide when it comes to presidential politics and which candidate has the right plan to drive economic growth. Guinn, a Republican, supports Mitt Romney over President Obama.

"If we do not get someone in there who knows and understands how businesses operate and what is required of them to be profitable and stay in business, I am not sure how much longer small businesses are going to be able to hang on," Guinn said.

Jeremy McKinney, a Democrat, credits President Obama's policies for the current economic recovery. He says his firm suffered its worse financial year in 2008, but now times are better. "Each year we have been able to climb back. And this year has been our best year ever in the history of this law firm. We can see the president and this administration and its policies creating this economic recovery in action," McKenney said.

Guinn says Romney's plan to cut corporate taxes will allow small business owners to hire more workers. But he worries President Obama's health-care reform law will cost his company more, because he currently does not provide health insurance for his workers.

"If I am at the point where I have to furnish insurance for all the employees that I would put on my solid payroll, I would almost have to use more casual [part-time] workers because I just could not afford the insurance program and still stay in business and make a profit," Guinn said. McKinney says the health-care law is already helping his business by providing tax credits to offset the costs of health-care coverage for his employees.

"With less than 50 employees we pay a lot more for our health insurance than large employers. That will hopefully change in 2014 as we combine with other small businesses to negotiate health-care contracts with insurance companies," McKinney said.

Both small business owners are hoping for better times, but they paint the upcoming presidential contest as a stark choice between two competing visions of economic vitality.

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - The U.S. presidential election is approaching, and excitement is building in key states where voters could determine the outcome if the race is close. The contest between President Obama and Mitt Romney in North Carolina is too close to call and African Americans are turning out for early voting.

Early voting is underway in North Carolina and, for African American voters like Walter Gilmore, there's a sense of urgency.

"I am just worried in general for jobs. So many people in North Carolina are unemployed and then trying to get people back to work here instead of shipping jobs overseas," said Walter Gilmore, a North Carolina voter.

A record turnout among African Americans helped Barack Obama narrowly win the state four years ago. In the presidential contest this time, the Republican - Mitt Romney - seems to have the edge but it's close. North Carolinians are divided on who they want to lead the country.

These college students are voting for the first time.

"What won North Carolina was the early African-American vote especially the college students. We have a big influence," said one.

"We need every vote, every vote so encourage him to come and do one stop," said another.

Alma Adams knows first hand how important it is for Democrats to get African Americans to the polls. She's served in North Carolina's legislature for more than 18 years. She says turnout among blacks so far is impressive.

"That says to me that people really want to get involved in this process and they understand the urgency of it, and that is so critical," said Adams.

Adams is popular here because she supports quality education, jobs and increasing the state's minimum wage.

"We need to try to find ways to get people back to work get good jobs for people, good benefits," she said.

Republican Party candidate Olga Wright is challenging Adams for her seat in the state legislature. She's one of only a few African-American Republicans running for office here.

She promotes popular ideas like improving education and helping at-risk families. Wright says convincing Democrats to support her is an uphill battle.

"I separate myself from the political divisiveness that propels everything. You know people will not look at me because I am a registered Republican. Party does not matter," said Wright.

On the campaign trail, Adams tells constituents she will fight against budget cuts to programs that matter to her community.

"So we have got one or two things to do - run for office and try to help make a difference there or control those people who are elected to serve you," she said.

Adams and other community leaders say the fact that more African Americans are involved in the political process is a hopeful sign.

A Washington Gym Combines Politics and Exercise

Not many people can say they have punched the president. But at the Washington Sports Club in Alexandria, Virginia, participants get their shot at Barack Obama - and his rival Mitt Romney.

It’s just one exercise in a new class that combines exercise with politics. Instructor Aimee Richardson says the class is helping people in the natio n’s capital deal with the stress of the long election season.

“This is Washington, D.C. People are all politics. When you take a topic that people are passionate about, and you put it in a setting where you can really kick some butt ((beat someone up)), that combination can be really empowering for people. I think people are working harder because of the theme of the class," said Richardson.

Katie Rodriguez, another instructor at the gym and a participant in the class, agrees.

“It’s really fun to get all of that political theme out of my living room, out of my computer, and into doing some physical activity and doing something about it. It felt great. It was really hard!" said Rodriguez.

Inside the gym, “balancing the budget” means something completely diffe rent than it does on Capitol Hill. “Running for Office” is very literal. The term “swing states” actually involves swinging a kettle bell. And whether you’re hoping for Michelle Obama’s arms or Paul Ryan’s abs, bi-partisanship is important when you’re “Crossing Party Lines” after a push-up or sit-up.

Sarah Heckenberg, who works at a non-profit organization in the Washington area, says the combination of politics and exercise keeps her going.

“I like it because it’s hard to stay motivated when you exercise, and anytime you can add a theme when you exercise, I think that’s very helpful," said Heckenberg.

Just as on Election Day, participants will have to make an important choice: Obama or Romney. But here, just for one day, they can make that choice as many times as they want.

“I did notice I was attacking one candidate instead of the other, and Aimee had to remind me to use both of my arms and give me a certain number of punches on each side," said Rodriguez. “When you start boxing, people are hesitant, you en courage them to get into it, and they can get pretty ugly. They can get pretty mean with those hits," said Richardson.

This Washington Sports Club only has one more Fit for Office class before Election Day, and before things go back to politics as usual in Washington.