美联社新闻一分钟 2007-06-20

1. It's the worst single loss of U.S. firefighters since 9/11. The city of Charleston, South Carolina lost nine firefighters in a furniture warehouse¹ fire. The roof collapsed² as they fought the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation³.

2. Sectarian violence strikes central Baghdad. A suspected Sunni truck driver bomber⁴ attacks a Shiite shrine⁵ killing⁶ at least 78 people, wounding more than 200. The day brought other attacks in Iraq putting the death toll⁷ at 142 people.

3. The DA in the Duke lacrosse case has been suspended. Mike Nifong already has been disbarred for his handling of the case. Now a judge has suspended him after learning Nifong planned to stay in office in another month stripping Nifong of his badge and keys.

4. That wisecracking, sometimes sobering judge in the Anna Nicole Smith's case is leaving the bench. Judge Larry Seidlin in the Broward County isn't offering specifics on his plans. Courthouse rumors⁸ say he is considering a deal for a television courtroom show.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. disbar: [transitive]
to make a lawyer leave the legal profession

2. badge: [countable]
a small piece of metal, cloth, or plastic with a picture or words on it, worn to show rank, membership of a group, support for a political idea etc

3. wisecrack: [countable]
a clever and funny remark or reply

4. sobering: adjective
making you feel very serious

 

1 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

2 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 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。

5 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》