英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-11-04

 The Electoral Commission will today officially declare the result of the Senate race in Western Australia, but it could be short-lived. The Green's Scott Ludlam has narrowly edged out the Palmer United Party for the 6th and final WA senate seat. But after nearly 1400 ballot¹ papers were lost, a high court legal challenge is expected to result in a fresh election early next year. We will be hearing from the electoral commissioner² very shortly. 

 

A man has been shot in Sydney's northwest as a spate³ of gun crime continues across the city. Police were called to a street in Winston Hills just after 11 o'clock last night when residents reported hearing gunshots. They found a 27-year-old man with wounds to his thigh⁴ and arm. Four hours later, shots were fired at a house at Rouse Hill, but it's not clear if those incidents are related. 

 

The New South Wales government has rejected an application from Eddie Obeid for legal aid. The former minister is the subject of a corruption⁵ inquiry⁶. It's understood Mr Obeid's lawyers were told the request was being denied unless he could provide further details of his financial situation.

 

Fire crews have gained the upper hand on two major bushfires in New South Wales. Fires in the Lower Portland area on the Hawkesbury River and near Alpine⁷ in the southern highlands have been downgraded from watch-and-act to advise. 

 

And in Thailand, at least six people have died after an overcrowded ferry sank off the resort of Pattaya. Three foreign tourists, two Russians and a Chinese are among the dead. It's feared more passengers could still be trapped.

 

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

3 spate   

n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵

参考例句：

• Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.警察正在调查这一地区发生的大量盗窃案。
• Refugees crossed the border in full spate.难民大量地越过了边境。

4 thigh   

n.大腿；股骨

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了，疼得很。
• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

7 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。