美联社新闻一分钟 2006-06-28

1. Flood warnings and watches were in effect Tuesday afternoon for much of the Mid-Atlantic region. A deluge¹ over the past two days has forced people from their homes and put tourists and government workers out of dozens of federal buildings in the nation's capital.

2. Israeli tanks are now on the move as warplanes attack several bridges in central Gaza. The action comes in response to a weekend Palestinian attack in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and a third was captured.

3. The surgeon general says there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The latest report issued today finds secondhand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and heart disease and has immediate² adverse³ effects on the cardiovascular system.

4. The seven crew members of the space shuttle Discovery have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center to prepare for this weekend's scheduled launch. Earlier this month, NASA's top safety and engineering officers recommended against a launch until further design changes were made to prevent the foam⁴ problem that doom⁵ed Columbia in 2003, but they were overruled.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. flood watch :
A Flood watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for very heavy rain and flash flooding. In the United States, the National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for flooding on a per-county basis.

2. deluge : n-count
A deluge is a sudden, very heavy fall of rain.
= downpour

3. surgeon general : n-title
The Surgeon General of the United States is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Public Health Service, and - ex Officio - is the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the Government of the United States. The Surgeon General is nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate for a 4-year term of office. In carrying out all responsibilities, the Surgeon General reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health, who is the principal advisor⁷ to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on public health and scientific issues. The current Surgeon General is Richard Carmona, appointed by President George W. Bush.

4. cardiovascular : adj
Cardiovascular means relating to the heart and blood vessels⁸. (MEDICAL)

5. doom : verb
If a fact or event dooms⁹ someone or something to a particular fate, it makes certain that they are going to suffer in some way.

6. overrule : verb
If someone in authority overrules a person or their decision, they officially decide that the decision is incorrect or not valid¹⁰.
= override

1 deluge   

n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥

参考例句：

• This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily.雨大的时候，这条小溪能变作洪流。
• I got caught in the deluge on the way home.我在回家的路上遇到倾盆大雨。

2 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。

3 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

4 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

5 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

6 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

8 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 dooms   

v.注定( doom的第三人称单数 )；判定；使…的失败（或灭亡、毁灭、坏结局）成为必然；宣判

参考例句：

• The ill-advised conceit of the guardian angel dooms the film from the start. 对守护天使的蹩脚设计弄巧成拙，从一开始就注定这部电影要失败。
• The dooms of the two are closely linked. 一条线拴俩蚂蚱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？