澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-02-14

 Firefighters are mourning two colleagues who've been killed in Victoria's Alpine¹ Region. The victims, a man in his thirties and a young woman, were in an emergency vehicle which was struck by a falling tree. They were working to control the huge Harrietville fire that's been burning for several weeks.

 

In Western Australia, an out of control bushfire is continuing to threaten homes in the state's southwest. Residents of Greenbushes, Hester Brook², Wandillup, Maranup and South Hampton have been advised to leave if it's safe to do so. The fire has burnt three thousand hectares and destroyed two properties, including the historic South Hampton homestead.

 

Around 30,000 Victorian teachers are expected to walk off the job today. It's the latest escalation³ in a long running disputes over pay and conditions. Most schools will be affected⁴ and around 170 are expected to close.

 

In one of his final public appearances, Pope Benedict has told an audience in Rome he is resigning for the good of the Catholic Church. He's thanked Catholic for their love and their prayers. The 85-year-old pontiff shocked the world this week when he announced that he was too frail⁵ to continue in the job.

 

And five children are among ten people reportedly killed in a NATO airstrike in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan officials say the victims were from two local families. But NATO says it's still investigating.

1 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

2 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

3 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。