美联社新闻一分钟 2007-07-10

1. A scorching¹ heat wave is engulfing² the East Coast. The combination of heat and humidity pushed temperatures near triple digits⁴ in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. Forecasters expect the record-breaking temperatures to continue through much of the week.

2. President Bush is under more pressure than ever to change course in Iraq. A steady stream of Republicans are joining the drumbeat of Democrats⁵ calling for a new direction and a reduction of troop levels. Meantime, debate on a military spending bill is underway in the Senate.

3. The NAACP is hoping to finally lay the N-Word to rest. Members marched in the symbolic⁶ funeral procession through downtown Detroit. But there was no mourning, just cheering for the so-called "death of a racial epithet⁷".

4. Miss New Jersey⁸ has received a second threatening package. Amy Polumbo's attorney says someone is trying to force the beauty queen to give up her crown. This latest package contains a threatening letter and possibly some new photos of the 22-year-old.



WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. scorching: ADJ usu ADJ n emphasis
Scorching or scorching hot weather or temperatures are very hot indeed. (INFORMAL)

2. triple : ADJ ADJ n
Triple means consisting of three things or parts.

3. digit³: N-COUNT
A digit is a written symbol for any of the ten numbers from 0 to 9.

4. record-breaking : ADJ ADJ n
A record-breaking success, result, or performance is one that beats the previous best success, result, or performance.

5. a stream of: N-COUNT with supp, usu N of n
A stream of vehicles or people is a long moving line of them.

6. drumbeat: N-COUNT oft N of n
People sometimes describe a series of warnings or continuous pressure on someone to do something as a drumbeat. (mainly AM JOURNALISM)

7. underway: ADJ v-link ADJ
If an activity is under way, it has already started. If an activity gets under way , it starts.

8. downtown: ADJ ADJ n
Downtown places are in or towards the centre of a large town or city, where the shops and places of business are. (mainly AM)

9. epithet: N-COUNT usu with supp
An epithet is an adjective or short phrase which is used as a way of criticizing or praising someone. (FORMAL)

10. beauty queen: N-COUNT
A beauty queen is a woman who has won a beauty contest.

1 scorching   

adj. 灼热的

参考例句：

• a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
• a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评

2 engulfing   

adj.吞噬的v.吞没，包住( engulf的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A photographer had fused the lights,engulfing the entire house darkness. 一位摄影师把电灯的保险丝烧断了，使整栋房子陷于黑暗当中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A professional photographer had fused the lights,engulfing the entire house in darkness. 一位职业摄影师把保险丝烧断了使整所房子陷于黑暗当中。 来自辞典例句

3 digit   

n.零到九的阿拉伯数字，手指，脚趾

参考例句：

• Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.她的电话号码和我的只差一个数字。
• Many animals have five digits.许多动物有5趾。

4 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

7 epithet   

n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语

参考例句：

• In "Alfred the Great","the Great"is an epithet.“阿尔弗雷德大帝”中的“大帝”是个称号。
• It is an epithet that sums up my feelings.这是一个简洁地表达了我思想感情的形容词。

8 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。