澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-12-24

 Egypt's main opposition¹ is calling for an investigation² into alleged³ electoral fraud during a referendum for the new constitution. Preliminary results show the new constitution has been passed with more than 60 percent of the vote after a second round of polling. 

 

 

 

America's National Rifle Association has defended its call for armed guards to be stationed at schools. The gun lobby is rejecting calls for gun reform in the wake of a school shooting that killed 26 people, 20 of them young children. 

 

 

 

Back home, Catholic Cardinal⁴ George Pell has used his Christmas message to apologize to those who've been sexually abused by fellow Christians⁵. Cardinal Pell says he's shocked and ashamed by the abuse suffered at the hands of priests and teachers.

 

 

 

More firefighters will be brought in this morning to help battle a bushfire burning in the southeast of South Australia. The blaze is now within containment⁶ lines after earlier burning out of control. It's burnt out more than 5,000 hectares of scrub and grassland⁷ since midday yesterday. And in Victoria, fire authorities say a 300-hectares-grass fire, which was threatening the town of Langkoop in the state's west , is under control.

 

 

 

Shoppers will be out in force across the country today to get in their last-minute Christmas shopping. Some shopping centres have been open all night to cash in on the final pre-Christmas buying spree. The Australian Retailers⁸ Association is predicting consumers will spend more than 40 billion dollars in the lead-up to Christmas.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

4 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

6 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

7 grassland   

n.牧场，草地，草原

参考例句：

• There is a reach of grassland in the distance.远处是连绵一片的草原。
• The snowstorm swept the vast expanse of grassland.暴风雪袭击了辽阔的草原。

8 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。