Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has cleared a major hurdle in his bid to win a second four-year term. But Thursday's Senate Banking Committee executive meeting turned out to be a roller-coaster ride for Bernanke, who was not present, but was subjected to alternating sessions of praise and stinging criticism.

美聯儲主席本•伯南克為贏得第二任期清除了一個重大障礙.但是周四金融委員會執行會議對于伯南克來說像坐過山車一樣驚險.伯南克本人并不在場,但是遭受了人們的高度贊揚和嚴厲批評.

Roller coaster: a situation that keeps changing very quickly 不斷變化的局勢

The last few weeks have been a real roller coaster.

過去的幾個星期,形勢真是變幻莫測.

Hurdle原意: (供人或馬跳躍的)欄架,跨欄
a problem or difficulty that must be solved or dealt with before you can achieve something 難關;障礙

The next hurdle will be getting her parents' agreement.

下一個難關是征得她父母的同意.

Well we've cleared the first hurdle; let's see what happens next.

好的,我們已經克服了第一個障礙;讓我們看看后面還有什么.