美联社新闻一分钟 2006-03-26

1. Seven people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a group of partygoers at a Seattle home, then took his own life. Three others were hurt during the shooting rampage this morning. The victims are in their late teens and early twenties. There's no immediate¹ word on the motive².

2. One of the largest pro-immigrate rallies in Los Angeles is underway. Police estimate 100,000 people have packed the streets downtown. Similar rallies were held around the country yesterday.

3. Marry Winkler is returning to Tennessee to face charges in connection with her minister husband's death. Winkler was arrested Thursday night in Alabama after she fled with the couple's 3 young daughters. Authorities say Winkler confessed to shooting her husband. Officials say they know her motive, but they won't comment.

4. Tourists are flocking to the nation's capital for the Cherry Blossom Festival, one million people are expected to visit Washington during the two-week event. Tokyo gave Washington cherry trees as a gift back in 1912 to mark sixty years of friendly relations.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. rampage :noun [C or U]
violent and usually wild behaviour:
e.g. Rioters went on a/the rampage through the city.

2. pack : verb [I usually + adverb or preposition; T]
to come or bring together in large numbers or to fill a space:
e.g. Fans packed the stadium to watch the final match

3. cherry :noun [C]
a small, round, soft red or black fruit with a single hard seed in the middle, or the tree on which the fruit grows

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。