美联社新闻一分钟 2007-02-18

1. Gridlock in the US Senate on Saturday as the body debated Iraq strategy. When the votes were counted, they fell short of the tally¹ needed for a non-binding resolution rejecting a troop buildup. The House passed its resolution.

2. A house fire in southwestern Pennsylvania killed a woman and 6 young children. Authorities found space heaters throughout the home. But the cause of the blaze isn't known.

3. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Baghdad, speaking at the US Embassy then meeting with Iraqi officials. Her visit came as back-to-back car bombs tore through Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

4. And a new do for Britney Spears -- the singer sporting a shaved head at this Los Angeles area tattoo² parlor³. Her appearance caused a frenzy⁴ at the parlor with fans and photographers crowding outside. She got a new tattoo, reportedly a pair of red and pink lips.

 

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. gridlock: n-uncount
You can use gridlock to refer to a situation in an argument or dispute when neither side is prepared to give in, so no agreement can be reached.

2. tally: n-count
A tally is a record of amounts or numbers which you keep changing and adding to as the activity which affects it progresses.

3. buildup: n-count
A buildup is a gradual increase in something.

4. sport: verb
If you say that someone sports something such as a distinctive⁵ item of clothing, you mean that they wear it without any shyness. (WRITTEN)

5. tattoo: n-count
A tattoo is a design that is drawn⁶ on someone's skin using needles to make little holes and filling them with colored dye.

6. parlor: n-count
Parlor is used in the names of some types of shops which provide a service, rather than selling things.

1 tally   

n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致

参考例句：

• Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
• The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。

2 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

3 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

4 frenzy   

n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动

参考例句：

• He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
• They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。

5 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。