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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The levees and protective sandbag barriers in Fargo, North Dakota have so far worked in holding back the waters of the Red River, which is some 20 feet above flood stage. The National Weather Service says the river seems to have crested1 at 41 feet, about two feet shy of the tops of the barriers and Fargo's Mayor Dennis Walaker says that's good news. "Every foot means so much to the Red River valley and the good news is that the river right now is relatively2 flat." Walaker says frigid3 temperatures in Fargo froze water that might otherwise have flowed into the swollen4 river. President Obama praised the volunteers, who pitched in to fill millions of sandbags." In the face of an incredible challenge, the people of these communities have rallied in support of one another. And their service isn't just inspirational. It's integral to our response." Mr. Obama speaking at his weekly radio and Internet address.
A huge winter storm barreling across the lower Midwest has caused blizzard5 conditions in some areas today and knocked out electricity to thousands of homes and businesses. The storm is being blamed for at least three deaths. Frank Morris, from member station KCUR reports.
The storm blew across parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, laying down a thick coat of heavy, wet snow. Parts of Kansas got more than two feet. High winds cut visibility to just about zero and piled up six-foot tall drifts. Gusts6 also sent ice-caked trees crashing through power lines, cutting electricity to tens of thousands of people in Kansas and Oklahoma. Traffic wrecks7 claimed lives in both states. Troopers closed lots of major highways and searched by plane for stranded8 motorists. The governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius has declared a disaster emergency for most of the state. Destructive as the storm has been, many wheat farmers are glad for the precipitation, falling on thirsty young plants in abnormally dry fields. For NPR News, I'm Frank Morris in Kansas City.
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says his administration fully9 supports President Obama's new strategy for fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban. NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reports from Kabul.
Karzai told reporters that he welcomes the increased American focus on Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries10 in Pakistan. Those sanctuaries have soured relations between Afghanistan and Pakistani officials. He also says that the plan will help restore Afghan's faith in western efforts in their country. "It is exactly what the Afghan people were hoping for and were seeking. Therefore, it has our full support." The strategy also calls for sending forces to provinces in Southern and Eastern Afghanistan to fight the growing Taliban threat. Meanwhile, in the Southern province of Helmond, Afghan and coalition11 forces killed 12 militants12 Friday night during a raid of their compound. Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News, Kabul.
This is NPR News from Washington.
A high-level court in Spain has reportedly taken steps toward launching a criminal investigation13 of former Attorney General Albert Gonzales and five other former Bush administration officials over whether they violated international law regarding treatment of prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention14 facility. The New York Times obtained a copy of the complaint which it says is based on the Geneva Conventions and the 1984 Convention against Torture. At issue are allegations that detainees were tortured or mistreated.
The Obama administration is making an effort to show the international community that it cares about the problem of climate change. NPR's Kitty Adam reports.
President Obama has said that he wants to cut global warming by 80% over the next 40 years. To that end, he's sending a representative to Germany to participate in talks on green house gas emissions15. US participation16 in these talks marks a significant departure from the environmental policies of the last administration. President Bush refused to sign on to international agreements to address climate change. He rejected the Kyoto Protocol17, for example, saying not enough developing countries participated in it. Representatives from the UN say world leaders are eager to hear what the US has to say. The talks are scheduled to begin on Sunday. Leaders are hoping to sign a formal agreement as a result in December. Kitty Adam, NPR News, Washington.
The space shuttle Discovery glided18 in for a perfect landing at the Kennedy Space Center this afternoon after mission managers waited an extra 90 minutes for the weather there to clear. Discovery and its seven-astronaut crew delivered the final set of solar panels to the International Space Station, bringing the orbiting outpost up to full power.
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1
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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blizzard
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| n.暴风雪 | |
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gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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sanctuaries
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| n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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militants
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| 激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 ) | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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emissions
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| 排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体） | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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protocol
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| n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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