美联社新闻一分钟 2005-12-29

1. A UN official calls Iraq’s recent elections credible¹, saying there's no need to re-run the vote that gave a lead to the Shiite religious bloc² dominating the government.

2. At least 4 people are dead and dozens of homes destroyed in wildfires racing³ across thousands of acres of grassland⁴ dried out by the worst Texas drought in decades.

3. Israeli jets blast a Palestinian militant⁵ group base outside the Lebanese capital Beirut, hours after rockets fired from Lebanon hit a northern Israeli border town.

4. Consumer confidence surges in December as declining gas prices and improving job opportunities raise spirits, boding⁶ well for spending in the new year.

5. Officials now say it was wear and tear not a collision with a bird that damaged Oprah Winfrey’s private jet, forcing it to return to the airport.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. bloc : n.
a group of countries or people that have similar political interests:
e.g.The European Union is a powerful trading/trade bloc.

2. bode⁷ : v. bode bodes⁸ boding boded
to be a sign of something that will happen in the future, usually something particularly good or bad:
e.g.These recently published figures bode ill for the company's future.

3. wear and tear :
the damage which happens to an object in ordinary use during a period:
e.g.Seat covers on trains take a lot of wear and tear.

1 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

2 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

3 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

4 grassland   

n.牧场，草地，草原

参考例句：

• There is a reach of grassland in the distance.远处是连绵一片的草原。
• The snowstorm swept the vast expanse of grassland.暴风雪袭击了辽阔的草原。

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 boding   

adj.凶兆的，先兆的n.凶兆，前兆，预感v.预示，预告，预言( bode的现在分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待

参考例句：

• Whispers passed along, and a boding uneasiness took possession of every countenance. 到处窃窃私语，人人脸上露出不祥的焦虑。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• The lady shook upon her companion's knees as she heard that boding sound. 女士听到那不详的声音，开始在她同伴的膝上颤抖。 来自互联网

7 bode   

v.预示

参考例句：

• These figures do not bode well for the company's future.这些数字显示出公司的前景不妙。
• His careful habits bode well for his future.他那认真的习惯预示著他会有好的前途。

8 bodes   

v.预示，预告，预言( bode的第三人称单数 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待

参考例句：

• This bodes ill for the failure of the programme. 这是那项计划有凶兆。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• This bodes him no good. 这对他是不祥之兆。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》