美联社新闻一分钟 2006-12-10

1. A gunman identified as Joe Jackson fatally shot 3 people and held a hostage at gunpoint in Chicago over what authorities are calling a patent dispute surrounding a toilet seat invention. Police shot and killed Jackson, freeing the hostage without injury.

2. Will there be a space flight tonight? NASA officials are hoping to launch Space Shuttle Discovery this evening, but a windy forecast threatens the lift-off.

3. Two US pilots detained in Brazil arrived in Long Island today to a rousing welcome from family and friends. The pilots are accused of playing a role in the crash that killed 154 people in the Amazon jungle.

4. Even though a Savanna¹ man shivered for hours to create this scene, it's really a heart-warming story. Jim Long, bundled in his winter jackets, spread machine-made snow all over his lawn to create a winter wonderland for his wife

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. hold at gunpoint : PHR
If you are held at gunpoint, someone is threatening to shoot and kill you if you do not obey them.

2. rousing : ADJ
Lively, exciting, inspiring, moving, spirited, stimulating², stirring...

3. savanna : N-VAR
A savanna is a large area of flat, grassy³ land, usually in Africa.

4. wonderland : N-COUNT
You can refer to a place as a wonderland when it is strange and very beautiful or exciting.

1 savanna   

n.大草原

参考例句：

• The savanna is also the home of meat-eaters--the lion,leopard,and hyena who feed on the grasseaters.大草原也是食肉动物的家乡--狮子、豹、鬣狗--它们都是以草食动物维持生命的。
• They sped upon velvet wheels across an exhilarant savanna.他们的马车轻捷地穿过一片令人赏心悦目的大草原。

2 stimulating   

adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。

3 grassy   

adj.盖满草的；长满草的

参考例句：

• They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
• Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。