美联社新闻一分钟 2005-12-08

1. Defending his Iraq strategy, President Bush says reconstruction¹ has been 'uneven²' but spreading economic progress is giving people hope for a democratic future.

2. The trial of Saddam Hussein and 7 codefendants adjourns³ for 2 weeks after a truncated⁴ session which the ousted⁶ president did not attend.

3. In a newly posted Internet video, Al-Qaida's deputy leader calls for attacks on Gulf⁷ oil plants and a united insurgent⁸ effort to oust⁵ American forces from Iraq.

4. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signals a shift in US interrogation policy, saying no US personnel may use cruel or degrading practices at home or abroad.

5. And President Bush may be top dog at the White House but his Scottish terriers, Barney and Beasley are the stars of the new White House holiday video

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. uneven
3 uneven
If you describe something as uneven, you think it is not very good because it is not consistent in quality.
This was, for him, an oddly uneven performance.
The acting⁹ is wildly uneven.
ADJ-GRADED
= patchy

2. truncated
truncated
A truncated version of something is one that has been shortened.
The review body has produced a truncated version of its annual report.
...a rock about eight feet high, shaped like a truncated cone¹⁰.
ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n

3. shift
2 shift shifts shifting shifted
If someone's opinion, a situation, or a policy shifts or is shifted, it changes slightly.
Attitudes to mental illness have shifted in recent years.
The emphasis should be shifted more towards Parliament.
V-ERG

+ shift shifts
Also a noun.
...a shift in government policy.
...the shift in opinion away from the Prime Minister.
N-COUNT: usu N prep

4. top dog
top dog top dogs
If a person or organization is top dog, they are the most successful or powerful one in a particular group. (INFORMAL)
Reynolds has never concealed¹¹ his ambition to be the top dog.
N-COUNT

5. terrier
terrier terriers
A terrier is a small breed of dog. There are many different types of terrier.
N-COUNT

See also bull terrier, pit bull terrier.

1 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

2 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

3 adjourns   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Congress adjourns in 3 weeks, we can't do this alone. 距国会开会只有3个星期，我们不能单干。
• And so, at six in the morning, a victorious Convention adjourns. 这样，早上六点，胜利的国民议会休会了。

4 truncated   

adj.切去顶端的，缩短了的，被删节的v.截面的( truncate的过去式和过去分词 )；截头的；缩短了的；截去顶端或末端

参考例句：

• My article was published in truncated form. 我的文章以节录的形式发表了。
• Oligocene erosion had truncated the sediments draped over the dome. 覆盖于穹丘上的沉积岩为渐新世侵蚀所截削。 来自辞典例句

5 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

6 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

7 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

8 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

9 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

10 cone   

n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果

参考例句：

• Saw-dust piled up in a great cone.锯屑堆积如山。
• The police have sectioned off part of the road with traffic cone.警察用锥形路标把部分路面分隔开来。

11 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。