美联社新闻一分钟 2007-04-13

1. A pair of brazen¹ attacks in Iraq is raising new questions about the security crackdown in the capital. Earlier today, a suspected suicide bomber² attacked the cafeteria inside the Iraq's parliament building. Also a truck bomber has destroyed a major bridge in Baghdad.

2. Don Imus is getting some support from the public. The radio host who may lose his job over a racial slur³ directed at the Rutgers women's basketball team is hosting his annual charity fundraiser. He told listeners this may be his last radiothon. And so far, he's getting more calls than in years past.

3. The author of such clean novels as "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cat's Cradle" has died. Kurt Vonnegut suffered brain injuries several weeks ago in a fall at his home in Manhattan. Vonnegut was 84.

4. Animal keepers at Chicago Shedd Aquarium⁴ are hoping the gift of rocks will lead to the gift of life. The keepers are giving their penguins⁵ some rocks. The stones are needed for them to build nests which signal to them that it's mating season.

 

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. brazen: adj.
If you describe a person or their behavior as brazen, you mean that they are very bold and do not care what other people think about their behavior.

2. slur: n-count
A slur is an insulting remark which could damage someone's reputation.

3. fundraiser: n-count
A fundraiser is an event which is intended to raise money for a particular purpose, for example, for a charity.

4. radiothon: n-count
=radio+marathon
A radiothon is a lengthy⁶ radio program to raise funds for a charity.

5. clean: adj.
If you describe something as a book, joke, or lifestyle clean, you think that they are not sexually immoral⁷ or offensive.

1 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

2 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

3 slur   

v.含糊地说；诋毁；连唱；n.诋毁；含糊的发音

参考例句：

• He took the remarks as a slur on his reputation.他把这些话当作是对他的名誉的中伤。
• The drug made her speak with a slur.药物使她口齿不清。

4 aquarium   

n.水族馆，养鱼池，玻璃缸

参考例句：

• The first time I saw seals was in an aquarium.我第一次看见海豹是在水族馆里。
• I'm going to the aquarium with my parents this Sunday.这个星期天，我要和父母一起到水族馆去。

5 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

7 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。