CNN 2011-02-27

You've been talking on our blog about one student athlete's decision not to compete. Today, we're sharing some of your opinions on it. I'm Carl Azuz. This is CNN Student News!

Evacuation attempts, the international response, and the impact on oil. Those are the latest headlines related to what's going on in Libya. First today, we're tackling the evacuations. Governments around the world are trying to get their citizens who are in Libya out. They're setting up flights and ferries to try and make that happen. The U.S. chartered a boat to take Americans from the Libyan capital of Tripoli to the nearby island nation of Malta. That ship wasn't able to leave on Wednesday because of bad weather. It was expected to head out from Tripoli today.

Then, the international response. Protests like this one are still raging in Libya. Reports are that the Libyan government has responded with force, and some officials estimate that up to 1,000 people might have been killed in the violence. The United Nations says "those responsible for brutally¹ shedding the blood of innocents must be punished." The U.S., promising² that Libya's government will be held responsible for acts of violence against protesters. And the Arab League suspended Libya on Tuesday.

Finally, oil. Production plants in Libya are shutting down because of the violence. Yesterday, that caused oil prices in the U.S. to jump higher than $100 per barrel at one point. It's the first time in more than two years that oil prices have been that high.

In New Zealand, people are holding on to hope as rescuers search for survivors³ of Tuesday's devastating⁴ earthquake. The powerful tremor⁵ hit Christchurch, one of New Zealand's biggest cities. At least 75 people were killed. Hundreds of others are missing. And rescuers are digging desperately⁶ through the ruins of toppled buildings in parts of Christchurch. Scenes like this one from Tuesday are providing small glimmers⁷ of hope. Here, you can see one of the victims of the quake, someone who'd been trapped in a building, being carried out by relief workers. Around 30 people were rescued yesterday.

1 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

4 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

5 tremor   

n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震

参考例句：

• There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
• A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 glimmers   

n.微光，闪光( glimmer的名词复数 )v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A faint lamp glimmers at the end of the passage. 一盏昏暗的灯在走廊尽头发出微弱的光线。 来自互联网
• The first glimmers of an export-led revival are apparent. 拉动出库复苏的第一缕曙光正出现。 来自互联网