美联社新闻一分钟 2005-12-16

1. With violence at a relative low, large numbers of Iraqis turn out to vote. Turnout is strong in Sunni areas too, and ballot¹ shortages are reported in some precincts.

2. The White House reportedly agrees to Senator John McCain's call for a law banning cruel, inhuman/inhumane and degrading treatment of foreign terror suspects.

3. A record plunge² in gas prices pushes consumer prices down by the largest demand in 56 years, while industrial production posts a solid gain.

4. German officials say the European Union will address claims by Iran's president that the Holocaust³ is a myth at this week’s EU summit.

5. And in Manila, students at the University of the Philippines stage their annual Oblation Run, sprinting⁶ around campus with nothing on but masks

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. turnout
2 turnout turnouts
The turnout in an election is the number of people who vote in it, as a proportion of the number of people who have the right to vote in it.
In 1988 the turnout was 50%.
Election officials said the turnout of voters was low.
A high turnout was reported at the polling booths.
N-COUNT: usu sing also turn-out.

2. precinct
2 precinct precincts
A precinct is a part of a city which has its own police force and fire service. (AM)
The shooting occurred in the 34th Precinct.
N-COUNT: usu ord N

3. stage
5 stage stages staging staged
If you stage an event or ceremony, you organize it and usually take part in it.
Russian workers have staged a number of strikes in protest at the republic's declaration of independence.
At the middle of this year the government staged a huge military parade.
VB
= hold

4. sprint⁵
4 sprint sprints⁷ sprinting sprinted⁸
If you sprint, you run or ride as fast as you can over a short distance.
Sergeant⁹ Horne sprinted to the car.
VB

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

3 holocaust   

n.大破坏；大屠杀

参考例句：

• The Auschwitz concentration camp always remind the world of the holocaust.奥辛威茨集中营总是让世人想起大屠杀。
• Ahmadinejad is denying the holocaust because he's as brutal as Hitler was.内贾德否认大屠杀，因为他像希特勒一样残忍。

4 oblation   

n.圣餐式；祭品

参考例句：

• Thinkers and poets throughout the ages have offered the courtesan the oblation of their mercy.各个时期的思想家和诗人都把仁慈的怜悯心奉献给娼家女子。
• Each family has their own ancestor for oblation.谁家也不缺个祖宗来供奉。

5 sprint   

n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过

参考例句：

• He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
• The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。

6 sprinting   

v.短距离疾跑( sprint的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Stride length and frequency are the most important elements of sprinting. 步长和步频是短跑最重要的因素。 来自互联网
• Xiaoming won the gold medal for sprinting in the school sports meeting. 小明在学校运动会上夺得了短跑金牌。 来自互联网

7 sprints   

n.短距离的全速奔跑( sprint的名词复数 )v.短距离疾跑( sprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• You can run sprints only so long before you're out of breath. 你死命地跑，只能跑那么一段时间，到了喘不上气的时候，只好停下来。 来自辞典例句
• The cheetah finds the open grasslands ideal footing for its lightning-quick sprints. 非洲猎豹把开阔的草原作为它们闪电猎食的理想处所。 来自互联网

8 sprinted   

v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sprinted for the line. 他向终点线冲去。
• Sergeant Horne sprinted to the car. 霍恩中士全力冲向那辆汽车。 来自辞典例句

9 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？