美联社新闻一分钟 AP NEWS 2007-12-16

1. After intense talks spanning two weeks, the US has made a U-turn on climate change. First rejecting negotiations¹, US finally agreed to a compromise: a two-year plan to develop a replacement² for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol³.

2. In a nationally-televised address, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf lifted the country's six-week-old state of emergency. He also vowed⁴ to hold free elections next month. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto says the move is a good first step, but she says she's still concerned the elections may be rigged.

3. A 19-year-old man has died in Illinois after being in an icy pond for almost two hours. Officials say witnesses saw the teenager standing⁵ near the pond without any shoes on. Some time later, clothing was found near the bank of the pond including his coat.

4. More than 10,000 wreaths line Arlington National Cemetery⁶. Volunteers placed one at each tombstone. The wreaths come from Maine and they've been decorating veterans' graves at Arlington for the past 16 years.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

3 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。