VOA Special English -  学习笔记8.28－ECONOMICS REPORT（下）

Countries like the United States that have lost manufacturing jobs to foreign competition could see some of those jobs return. But a new report says American businesses are also looking at other ways to deal with high fuel prices. The report is from a transportation research company based in London, Eyefortransport.
诸如美国之类的国家，因外国竞争失去工作，目前发现许多工作又返回了。但是，一份新报告说，美国公司也在寻求其它方式，应对高价燃油的问题。该报告来自伦敦的运输研究公司（运输观察）。

26 注意第一句话的结构，尤其是to 的用法，在这里是“由于、因为”的意思。
27注意第二句的base

It says that for years the industry has tried to reduce costs by moving goods through the supply chain as quickly as possible. Now, high fuel costs are making some companies restructure their operations. Fewer but larger loads are being shipped.
报告说，多年来，业界试图通过尽快在供应链中传送货物，从而降低成本。目前，高价燃油使一些公司重组其作业，即运输更少但更大的货物。

28供应链:the supply chain
chain [tʃein] n. 链,连锁,束缚 v. 用铁练锁住,束缚,囚禁
动词过去式:chained 过去分词:chained 现在分词:chaining 第三人称单数:chains
The Government fear the strike may produce a chain reaction in other industries.
政府害怕罢工可能在其他行业产生连锁反应.
29 restructure one’s operation 重组活动，重组作业
restructure[ri'strʌktʃə] v. 更改结构,重健构造
operation [ɔpə'reiʃən] n. 手术, 行动，活动, 操作
30 load [ləud] n. 负荷,重担,装载量 v. 装载,装填,担负,给(枪)装子弹,[计算机] 装入

And companies are moving more goods by rail and by water, along coasts and inland waterways. Not only does that save fuel, the report says, it also helps shippers and carriers improve their "green" image.
另外，许多公司采用铁路和水路（海运和内陆航道）运输更多的货物。报告说，这不仅节约燃油，而且有助于货主和承运人改善其“绿色”的形象。

31 not only...but(also) 不仅...而且
not only...but...as well a. 不仅...而且(不仅...而且...)

With these changes, it says, American manufacturers are looking for low-cost countries closer to home -- known as near shoring. At the same time, there appears to be a common belief in the industry that some carriers are raising fuel charges just to increase profits.
报告说，随着这些变化， 美国制造企业正在寻求离家更近的低成本国家，即就近外包（采购）。目前，业界普遍的看法是某些承运人只是提供燃油加价，从而提高利润。

32被称为就近外包（采购）/即就近外包（采购）: known as near shoring
shoring ['ʃɔ:riŋ] n. 利用支柱的支撑,支柱 on the shore 在岸边
33 通常的看法： a common belief