4月29日午间英语新闻：洛杉矶重启公共交通口罩令

Industrial firms' Q1 profits 8.5% higher
一季度工业企业利润同比增8.5%

Profits at China's industrial firms rose 8.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday, suggesting a steady start for the industrial economy this year. In the first three months, 24 out of 41 industries saw a year-on-year expansion in their profits, while 15 others logged declines. Revenue at major firms, each with annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan, went up 12.7 percent year-on-year to 31.27 trillion yuan. 
国家统计局4月27日发布的数据显示，1-3月份，全国规模以上工业企业实现利润总额同比增长8.5%，实现平稳开局。在41个工业大类行业中，24个行业利润总额同比增长，15个行业下降。规模以上工业企业，即年主营业务收入为2000万元及以上的工业法人单位。1-3 月份，规模以上工业企业实现营业收入31.27 万亿元，同比增长12.7%。

At the end of March, their assets totaled 144.61 trillion yuan, up 10.6 percent year-on-year, while their liabilities reached 81.68 trillion yuan, up 10.5 percent. The ratio of liabilities to assets stood at 56.5 percent, unchanged from a year ago.
3月末，规模以上工业企业资产总计144.61万亿元，同比增长10.6%；负债合计81.68万亿元，增长10.5%；资产负债率为56.5%，同比持平。

重点词汇
1、liability
英 [ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti]  美 [ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti] 
n. （法律上应承担的）责任，义务；惹麻烦的人（或事）；负债，债务；倾向；可能性

US consumers remain pessimistic
外媒：美国民众对经济前景越发悲观

After a brief flirtation with good cheer, US consumer confidence is on the back foot again. The latest Forbes Advisor-Ipsos Consumer Confidence Biweekly Tracker dropped 4% from two weeks ago, to 53.1. That's a solid 7 points below its pre-pandemic level.
在短暂乐观情绪之后，美国消费者信心再次受到打击。最新的福布斯益普索消费者信心双周追踪调查显示，消费者信心指数较两周前下降4%至53.1，较疫情前水平下降了7个百分点。

The increased pessimism dovetails with the 63% of respondents who said that they believe inflation will go up in the near future. Americans continue to see their purchasing power eroded by price increases. 
消费者对美国经济愈加悲观，63%的受访者认为在不久的将来通胀将继续上升。美国民众的购买力继续被物价上涨所侵蚀。

重点词汇
1、flirtation
英 [flɜːˈteɪʃn]  美 [flɜːrˈteɪʃn] 
n. 一时兴起，逢场作戏；短暂的风流韵事；调情

2、pessimism
英 [ˈpesɪmɪzəm]  美 [ˈpesɪmɪzəm] 
n. 悲观，悲观情绪；（哲）悲观主义

US vice president tests positive for COVID-19
美国副总统哈里斯新冠阳性

US Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on rapid and PCR tests on Tuesday, her spokesperson said. "She has exhibited no symptoms, will isolate and continue to work from the vice president's residence," the spokesperson said in a statement.  Harris, 57, has not been a close contact to President Joe Biden or the first lady "due to their respective recent travel schedules," the statement said.
美国副总统卡玛拉•哈里斯的发言人4月26日发表声明称，哈里斯当天新冠病毒快速检测和PCR检测结果均呈阳性。该发言人表示，现年57岁的哈里斯目前没有症状，她将在副总统官邸隔离并继续工作。发言人称，由于各自近期行程不同，哈里斯不是总统拜登和第一夫人的密切接触者。

LA County once again requiring masks on public transit
洛杉矶重启公共交通'口罩令'

Los Angeles County is once again requiring travelers to mask up when aboard public transit or in indoor transportation hubs, such as airports. LA County public health officials issued a new COVID-19 health order effective April 22 that will make masks mandatory on all public transit, including buses, trains, taxis and ride-share services. 
洛杉矶郡在公共交通和机场等室内交通枢纽内重启“口罩令”。4月22日，洛杉矶郡公共卫生局颁布的防疫新规生效，要求民众乘坐公共汽车、火车、出租车、网约车等所有公共交通工具时必须佩戴口罩。

Health officials cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's claim that mask-wearing on public transit is essential to stopping the spread of COVID-19. The California Department of Health also issued updated guidance that strongly urges residents across the state to wear masks on public transit, but does away with requirements. The CDC also said that it continues to recommend that people wear masks in "all indoor public transportation settings."
洛杉矶郡公共卫生局官员援引美疾控中心声明称，在乘坐公共交通工具时佩戴口罩对阻止新冠病毒传播是必要的。加利福尼亚州卫生部也颁布了最新指导意见，强烈呼吁该州民众在公共交通上佩戴口罩，但并未强制要求。美疾控中心仍然建议民众在“所有室内公共交通环境”中佩戴口罩。