美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-01-07

 The new year hasn¡¯t seen any new let-ups in the fighting in Syria. The Middle Eastern country¡¯s been ripped apart by a civil war. It started in March of 2011, with the government of President Bashar al-Assad fighting the rebels who want him out. Since then the war has ballooned. Different groups and even terrorists have joined in. The U.N. estimates that 6,000 Syrians have been killed. While experts and CNN correspondent don¡¯t know when this will end exactly, they believe it will include the removal of Syria¡¯s president. 

¡°Will rebels defeated the regime? I think there is very little doubt that will happen, it¡¯s not going to be one day which has a decisive changing of the flags over buildings in Damascus and then the whole country turns 180 degrees in terms with government. But there have been weeks now of consistent bad news for the regime.¡±

For a week, regime air bases and military outposts have fallen daily. 

Rebels now focusing on besieging¹ the bases from where the regime projects its brutal² force. Now it affects not only now people feel inside the regime in the circle, it affects how their sponsors feel, and of course, it boost morale³ for the rebels as well, so that real sense of momentum⁴ that¡¯s been in place now for months, is beginning to meet around the capital, and I don¡¯t think any observer at this point thinks that the Assad government really has a chance in terms of retaining long term power over the country. 

As the rebels increasingly make more military gains, the question is beginning to be asked, will Assad stay on fight to the end, as he has said or will he go? 

Yesterday was the first day back to school for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. They¡¯ve been out since a shooting happened at Sandy Hook in the mid-December. Seven miles away, in Monroe, Connecticut, what used to be a middle school was converted for them. Teachers spent part of their Christmas break decorating, putting in a welcome sign, paper snowflakes sent in from around the world, the school¡¯s pet turtle and familiar rugs and furniture so that the kids would have a smoother transition to the new place. Counselors⁵ and police were also there to help. The new school, Chalk Hill Elementary, also has more security. At least one parent interviewed by CNN says her son isn¡¯t afraid, he¡¯s just looking forward to seeing his friends. 

On their first day back, one of the first items of business for congressmen and women was to elect a new House speaker. This comes right out of the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, which says The House of Representatives shall chuse, note the spelling there, their speaker and other officers. The Speaker is the leader of the House. He or she is also a second in line to the presidency⁶ behind the vice⁷ president. The Constitution doesn¡¯t specifically mention what the Speaker should do, but today that job includes presiding over the House, often speaking to the media, communicating House priorities and representing constituents⁸ back home. The Speaker also represents the majority party in the House, an since Republicans have control with 234 representatives to the Democrats¡¯ 201, it will certain to be a Republican. Yesterday, they reelected John Boehner as House Speaker, he got 221 votes, and that means he¡¯ll be doing the job for at least the next two years.

1 besieging   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They constituted a near-insuperable obstacle to the besieging infantry. 它们就会形成围城步兵几乎不可逾越的障碍。
• He concentrated the sun's rays on the Roman ships besieging the city and burned them. 他把集中的阳光照到攻城的罗马船上，把它们焚毁。

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

4 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

5 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

6 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》