美联社新闻一分钟 2006-09-03

1. This new videotape from Al Qaeda invites Americans to convert to Islam. The terror group's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and an American wanted for possible terror ties both made statements. The 41-minute video was posted on an Islamic militant¹ Web site.

2. A weakened but still dangerous Hurricane John is pounding Mexico's Baja peninsula. It's ripped the roofs off shack²s, sent billboards⁴ flying, knocked out power and let tourists drench⁵ed in the upscale tourist resorts of Los Cabos.

3. The crew of the space shuttle Atlantis is again preparing for launch. The six crew members flew back to the Kennedy Space Center ahead of Wednesday's planned liftoff. The shuttle was supposed to have launched Sunday but was delayed because of bad weather.

4. And the Los Angeles Zoo is showing off its newest, tall addition. The yet-to-be-named male giraffe was born at the zoo Aug. 17th, coming in at a whopping 6 feet 4 inches tall and 158 pounds-- and growing.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. convert : verb
If someone converts you, they persuade you to change your religious or political beliefs. You can also say that someone converts to a different religion.

2. shack : n-count
A shack is a simple hut built from tin, wood, or other materials.

3. drench : verb
To drench something or someone means to make them completely wet.= soak

4. giraffe : n-count
A giraffe is a large African animal with a very long neck, long legs, and dark patches on its body.

5. whopping : adj
If you describe an amount as whopping, you are emphasizing that it is large. (INFORMAL)

1 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。

2 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

3 shacks   

n.窝棚，简陋的小屋( shack的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They live in shacks which they made out of wood. 他们住在用木头搭成的简陋的小屋里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most people in Port au-Prince live in tin shacks. 太子港的大多数居民居住在铁皮棚里。 来自互联网

4 billboards   

n.广告牌( billboard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Large billboards have disfigured the scenery. 大型告示板已破坏了景色。 来自辞典例句
• Then, put the logo in magazines and on billboards without telling anyone what it means. 接着我们把这个商标刊在杂志和广告看板上，却不跟任何人透漏它的涵意。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年4月号

5 drench   

v.使淋透，使湿透

参考例句：

• He met a drench of rain.他遇上一场倾盆大雨。
• They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.他们将消防水管对着人们，把他们浇了个透。

6 drenched   

adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体）

参考例句：

• We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨，淋得浑身透湿。
• The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》