VOA慢速英语:US Banks Under Pressure to Lend More

1.And now that they're back on their feet, we expect extraordinary commitment from them to help rebuild the economy.

back on their feet站起来，恢复

例句：help disaster victims get back on their feet
      妥善安置受灾群众生产生活

2.New profits and freedom from the pay limits tied to federal aid mean bankers can again receive big bonuses.

这句话的主干是New profits and freedom mean bankers can again receive big bonuses.from the pay limits tied to federal aid交代了一个背景：接受政府资助的银行高管在薪资支付方面有所限制。

3.But critics say banks are profiting mainly from trading activities, not from making loans to small businesses or homeowners.

are from ,not from是……而不是……也可以换成not……but……，表示选择。

4.An estimated seventeen percent of the labor force either lacks a job or is not working enough to pay all the bills.

either or不是...就是..., ...或..., 要么...要么...

例句：Either call me tonight or I'll speak to you tomorrow.
      要么今晚打电话给我，要么我明天再跟你说。

      There's either mashed, boiled, or baked potatoes.
      有土豆泥、煮土豆，还有烤土豆。

5.Typically the real estate sector leads the economy in a recovery, meaning that it tends to pick up before some other things.

pick up拾起, 捡起; 抬起

例句：He picked up the child and put her on his shoulders.
      他抱起孩子, 让她骑在自己的肩膀上。

      I picked up your book by mistake.
      我拿错了你的书。

安排接取; 使搭乘; 搭救

例句：The ship calls at each port on this coast to pick up passengers and mail.
      那艘轮船在沿海每个港口停下, 搭载乘客和接取邮件。

爬〔站〕起来; 振作起来

例句：It's hard to pick yourself up after such a terrible shock.
      经历这样可怕的打击后, 就很难再振奋起来了。