CNN 2012-02-26

 Some isotopes¹ can be radioactive and that includes the ones that were released down during the melt-down at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan last year.A lot of that material ended up in the Pacific ocean and scientists have been studying its impact on fish and plant lives.The results that were reported on Tuesday,are kind of a good news bad news situation.Bad news,the level of radioactive materials are higher than they were before the meltdown.The good news,they are not higher enough to pose a threat to the public.So there are at least some positive news there.The same can be said for Japan's economy right now.Kyung Lah reports on how bad things are for the island nation.

 

The economic news out of Japan is not just bad.It is historic.The government of Japan saying for the month of January,this country logged a recorded trade deficit³ of 18.6 billion US dollars,that is the highest since this country started to keeping track in 1979.It is higher than the aftermath of a 2008 financial crisis.It is certainly setting off some alarm bells of concerns of the health of this economy.There was also other bad news,that showing foreign investments out of Japan,was going overseas,both among foreign companies,international companies choosing not to do business here in Japan and also Japanese corporations pushing production outside of Japan.For the second straight year,that exodus⁴ was continuing.It is the second highest on record.So,again,alarm bells being set off, that there is something wrong with the state of the world's third largest economy.Kyung Lah ,CNN,Tokyo.

 

Today shout out goes out to Ms. Fernandez's Social Study Class,at Oliveira Middle School in Brownsville,Texas.What is the name for the soil that is frozen for more than 2 years?You know what to do here.Is it taiga, permafrost or savanna⁵?You've got three seconds.Go.Permafrost is the name for ground that has been constantly frozen for at least two years.That's your answer and that's your shout out.

It may be frozen but that doesn't mean there isn't anything underneath⁶.Fore² example,Russian scientists found some seeds a few years ago in Siberia.Now these things were chilling out under the permafrost for 300 centuries and now they have helped regrow an ancient plant.Chad Myers talks for CNN's Brooke Baldwin about how it all happened.

 

 

Scientists digging down in the permafrost,finding burrows⁷ from squirrels from 3000 years ago.The seeds,fur,fruits still in the burrows that squirrel didn't eat.They take it,they take it to their scientific lad,kind a little bit of magic,kind cloning,kind stuff.And they find the placenta part,the tissue of the middle.You couldn't plant the seed.Wouldn't be viable⁸.They wouldn't be viable.Placenta of part of the seed.And they took it,almost like,science fiction.This is like,you know,I am thinking,you know,OK, here comes dinosaurs,if you do it right.They tried to do it years ago.They tried to do it with woolly mammoth⁹ years ago,didn't work.The DNA¹⁰ of the woolly mammoth had broken down but they found the DNA of the plant.They cloned the plant,they made it,they planted the seed that they made.It grew a real plant.They took those seeds from that plants,plant it again and that is growing again.

 

 

Americans have been commemorating¹¹ Black History Month throughout February and a museum dedicated¹² to that topic broke ground yesterday.It's the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture and this is a virtual tour for what it will look like.The idea for a national Black History museum,first came about nearly a hundred years ago.President Obama talked about that long road during yesterday's ceremony.

 

 

This museum should inspire us as well.It should stand as proof that the most important things in life rarely come quickly or easily.It should remind us that although we have yet reached the mountain top,we can not stop climbing.

 

 

And finally,I hope you guys can  stomach another eating competition because that what we have stored for today's before we go segment.Now this time around,the chosen delicacy¹³ is one of my favorite,donuts,and the time limit is five minutes.The winner downed an even dozen,which is a little short of his personal record before you considering entry,keep in mind that these aren't your average pastry¹⁴ treats.They make extra large and they have filling too.So,winning won't be a cakewalk.This is one serious competition.No holds barred.That round today's show for CNN STUDENTS NEWS.I am Natisha Lance.

1 isotopes   

n.同位素；同位素( isotope的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the many isotopes of carbon 碳的诸多同位素
• Tritium is one of the mildest radioactive isotopes. 氚是最和缓的放射性同位素之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 fore   

adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部

参考例句：

• Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
• I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。

3 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

4 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

5 savanna   

n.大草原

参考例句：

• The savanna is also the home of meat-eaters--the lion,leopard,and hyena who feed on the grasseaters.大草原也是食肉动物的家乡--狮子、豹、鬣狗--它们都是以草食动物维持生命的。
• They sped upon velvet wheels across an exhilarant savanna.他们的马车轻捷地穿过一片令人赏心悦目的大草原。

6 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

7 burrows   

n.地洞( burrow的名词复数 )v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的第三人称单数 )；翻寻

参考例句：

• The intertidal beach unit contains some organism burrows. 潮间海滩单元含有一些生物潜穴。 来自辞典例句
• A mole burrows its way through the ground. 鼹鼠会在地下钻洞前进。 来自辞典例句

8 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

9 mammoth   

n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的

参考例句：

• You can only undertake mammoth changes if the finances are there.资金到位的情况下方可进行重大变革。
• Building the new railroad will be a mammoth job.修建那条新铁路将是一项巨大工程。

10 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

11 commemorating   

v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements. 他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The post office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers. 邮局发行了一个纪念美国著名演艺人员的系列邮票。 来自互联网

12 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

13 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

14 pastry   

n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry.厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• The pastry crust was always underdone.馅饼的壳皮常常烤得不透。