美联社新闻一分钟 2006-07-13

1. Islamic militants¹ crossed the border from Lebanon into Israel. They killed 8 Israeli soldiers and took 2 others prisoner. Israel's prime minister called the raid an "act of war" and promised a response that will be "restrained but very very painful."

2. More problems have been found in Boston's Big Dig tunnel. Authorities say there are loose bolts in 60 areas of the tunnel and an extensive check has been ordered for the whole Boston-area Highway System.

3. One of the Shuttle Discovery astronauts lost a spatula² while out on a spacewalk today. The spatula was being used as the astronauts tested some new repair techniques. NASA says things even bigger than the spatula have been lost in space before.

4. A cast member on MTV's The Real World is getting a taste of real world justice. Paula Meronek was arraign³ed on a misdemeanor assault charge after police said she bit her boyfriend during a domestic dispute. If convicted, she could face up to a year in prison.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. bolt: noun-count
A fastener consisting of a threaded pin or rod with a head at one end, designed to be inserted through holes in assembled parts and secured by a mated nut that is tightened⁵ by applying torque.

2. spatula: noun-count
A small implement⁶ having a broad, flat, flexible blade that is used especially to mix, spread, or lift material.

3. arraign: verb
To call (an accused person) before a court to answer the charge made against him or her by indictment⁷, information, or complaint.

4. misdemeanor: n-count
An offense⁸ less serious than a felony.

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 spatula   

n.抹刀

参考例句：

• He scraped the mixture out of the bowl with a plastic spatula.他用塑料铲把盆里的混合料刮了出来。
• She levelled the surface of the cake mixtured with a metal spatula.她用金属铲抹平了蛋糕配料。

3 arraign   

v.提讯；控告

参考例句：

• She was arraigned today on charges of assault and kidnapping.她今天因被控人身侵犯和绑架而受到提审。
• He was arraigned for criminally abetting a traitor.他因怂恿他人叛国而受到传讯。

4 arraigned   

v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责

参考例句：

• He was arraigned for murder. 他因谋杀罪而被提讯。
• She was arraigned for high treason. 她被控叛国罪。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 indictment   

n.起诉；诉状

参考例句：

• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
• They issued an indictment against them.他们起诉了他们。

8 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。