英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-10-29

 Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan to mark the symbolic¹ end of Australia's longest war. Opposition² leader Bill Shorten joined him on that trip.Mr Abbott told the troops war is ending not with victory or defeat， but with hope that Afghanistan will be a better place.

 

 

Eight people have died in Europe's worst storms in a decade. Most of the dead were crashed by falling trees. Winds up to 160 km/h have caused havoc³ right across Europe， bringing down trees and power lines. Trains, planes and ferries services have all been severely⁴ disrupted.

 

 

As Michael mentioned, police are investigating a double shooting in Sydney's southwest. One man is dead. Another is in a serious condition in hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg and stomach.  Paramedics found the two men in a garage at a home in Revesby early this morning.

 

 

Spain is the latest country to becoming embroiled⁵ in the US spy scandal.There are reports the US spy agency monitored tens of millions of Spanish phone calls. Spain has summoned the American ambassador in Madrid to answer these allegations.

 

 

The first trial arising from Britain's phone hacking⁶ scandal is now underway in London. Former News International boss Rebecca Brooks⁷ and former News of the world editor Andy Coulson are among the eight defendants⁸. They face a range of charges related to illegally hacking the voice mails of hundreds of people.

1 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

2 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。

3 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 embroiled   

adj.卷入的；纠缠不清的

参考例句：

• He became embroiled in a dispute with his neighbours. 他与邻居们发生了争执。
• John and Peter were quarrelling, but Mary refused to get embroiled. 约翰和彼得在争吵，但玛丽不愿卷入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 hacking   

n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动

参考例句：

• The patient with emphysema is hacking all day. 这个肺气肿病人整天不断地干咳。
• We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. 我们负责在丛林中开路。

7 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件