Energetic America

I am translating an article «Energetic America» for my exam and need some help.

«If the twin scourges of mankind are sin and ignorance, America's energy problems, according to the political and environmental left, are caused by our sins against nature. In this view, the problem goes all the way up to the Oval Office, which is supposed to be living in sin with the energy industry. If the left is correct, America's energy situation must be hopeless.»

In this paragraph I can't understand what is meant by the word «left». My dictionary says only that «left» is a side (there are left and right sides) and also it has a small sentence that the left is a kind of opposing political forces. Please, clear it up.

«Put in common units, nuclear fuel in 2003 costs about 50 cents per million BTUs (roughly the energy content of nine gallons of gasoline), compared with about 85 cents for coal, $4.90 for natural gas, and $4.50 for crude oil (see chart below).»

Here I would know exactly how native speakers pronounce «$4.90» and «$4.50». As «four-point-ninety-dollars» or «four-dollars-ninety-cents» or in another way?

Thanks

I believe the paragraph is referring to the political left, since the current Oval Office is on the political right. I think there is also this concept in Russian politics, but the "left" are considered more liberal and the "right" are more traditional. Liberal critics often accuse Bush et. al. of being a slave to the energy industry (and rightly so, if you ask me.)

"Four dollars ninety cents" is correct, or "four dollars and ninety cents."

Very detailed answer! Куча благодарностей and a lot of $$!

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Originally Posted by Tu-160

Here I would know exactly how native speakers pronounce «$4.90» and «$4.50». As «four-point-ninety-dollars» or «four-dollars-ninety-cents» or in another way?

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Or just Four-Ninety, since the money is implied. I don't normally say the "cents" or "dollars" in everyday speech, but if you were writing it out, you would write it the way Линдзи suggested.

More questions…

How do you pronounce abbreviation OPEC, as one word or as four letters?

And what does «breadwinner» mean here?:

«First, the sustained economic growth in the 1950s and 1960s was accompanied by stable or declining prices for energy. This period of large American families and generally one household breadwinner was still an era of rising prosperity.»

OPEC is pronounced as one word (Ow-Peck)
A breadwinner is someone who provides for the family or a household, who earns the money with which the family can be sustained.

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Originally Posted by Jasper May

OPEC is pronounced as one word (Ow-Peck)

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You crazy Netherlander! I say "OH-peck."

You nitpicking Thailander-Americaman! I meant the 'ow' in e.g. 'bow' or 'row'.

And before you reply, you nitpicking Thailander-Americaman, I did not mean 'bow' as in 'bend down' but as in 'bowtie' and not 'row' as is 'fight' but as in 'queue'. Ha.

Leftist Netherlander! Surely you know that "ow" alone is generally pronounced "ow" as in "Owch! That hurts!"

Pah! Communist Thailander-Americaman surely know too that the exclamation of the pain is written 'ou' in "Ouch! That hurts!"

I'll give you both four dollars and eighty nine cents to shutup. :lol:

As much as I hate to say this...He's got you there Pravit. It is spelled o-u-c-h. (hope I don't lose too mant "Pravit points" for that) Then again it would have been more correct to say "Oh-peck".
:D so you're both even, now maybe we should listen to Dogboy.

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Originally Posted by Tambakis

As much as I hate to say this...He's got you there Pravit. It is spelled o-u-c-h. (hope I don't lose too mant "Pravit points" for that) Then again it would have been more correct to say "Oh-peck".
:D so you're both even, now maybe we should listen to Dogboy.

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I originally intended to write "Ow! That hurts!" But for clarification purposes I added in the "ch."

Yeah, sure... :roll:

:lol: hehehe

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Originally Posted by Tu-160

If the left is correct...

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The left cannot be right :)

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Originally Posted by Zeus

The left cannot be right :)

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That's awful....... I salute you :D

well it is obvious the right isn't right but i'm not sure if the left will be right either.

In order to reignite this argument,

OW not OU!
Don't be ridiculous Jasper!
:wink: :lol:

Hey, I never said 'Ou'! :) I said 'Oh'. Besides, I do not wish to be reminded of this blunder :) (although Pravit himself made a comparable one :wink: )