curb

據國際風險評估機構RMS估計，"卡特里娜"颶風至少毀壞了美國十五萬處產業，損失金額在二百五十億至一千億美元之間，已成為美國有史以來經濟損失最大的一次自然災害，而且對2006年全球經濟都會產生影響。請看外電報道：

The physical and psychological damage caused by Hurricane Katrina is likely to reverberate across the global economy in ways that willcurbgrowth well into 2006, economists say.

A spike in already-high energy costs in the United States and around the world tops the list of risks, especially since oil prices are unlikely to return to the levels of early 2004 when they were 50 percent lower than they are today, according to International Monetary Fund Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato.

句中的curb意思是 (to place) a control or limit on something which is not desirable，即"抑制；控制"。如：A child's development can be curbed by poor nutrition.（孩子的成長會因營養不良而受到抑制。）再如：The government should act to curb tax evasion.（政府應采取措施限制逃稅現象。）

（中國日報網站編）