CNN 2010-02-20

full main engine start... two... one... zero... booster ignition.... and liftoff of Shuttle Endeavour with NASA's final space station crew compartment¹ to bring the bay window view to our celestial² backyard.

 

AZUZ: The second time was the charm for NASA as the space shuttle Endeavour took off early Monday morning. It was supposed to launch on Sunday, but as we told you about yesterday, that plan was delayed because of weather. The shuttle and its crew are on a two-week mission to the international space station. When they get there, they'll deliver some new components³ to the station, and they'll do a few spacewalks. The mission is scheduled to last two weeks, all together. This is actually one of the last missions for the space program. It's scheduled to end in 2011. And with just four more flights to go, Endeavour's 4 a.m. departure might have been the shuttle program's last night launch you'll get to see.

AZUZ: Another story we have for you today, the nation of Iran marking a milestone⁴ later on this week. On Thursday, the country will celebrate the anniversary of when it became an Islamic republic. This goes back to 1979, when supporters of the Ayatollah Khomeini, a religious leader, overthrew⁵ the country's government. Khomeini became the supreme⁶ leader of Iran, and the nation officially became an Islamic state. The United States and the European Union are worried about potential violence during Thursday's celebrations. At similar events recently in Iran, like the one you see right here, anti-government protesters have fought with police. The U.S. and European Union are urging the Middle Eastern nation to "end its abuses against its own people." Iranian leaders have denied any accusations⁷ that the government has abused citizens.

 

Meantime, Iran's controversial nuclear program, back in the spotlight⁸. The country says it's going to start enriching uranium -- processing it -- to 20 percent. What does that mean? Experts say it's enough to set off a nuclear reaction. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. The U.S. and other nations disagree; they've accused Iran of trying to create nuclear weapons.

 

1 compartment   

n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间

参考例句：

• We were glad to have the whole compartment to ourselves.真高兴，整个客车隔间由我们独享。
• The batteries are safely enclosed in a watertight compartment.电池被安全地置于一个防水的隔间里。

2 celestial   

adj.天体的；天上的

参考例句：

• The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
• Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

3 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

4 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

5 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

6 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

7 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

8 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。