美联社新闻一分钟 2008-05-20_在线英语听力室

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

1. The massive custody¹ case involving hundreds of children taken from a West Texas ranch² is underway. Four hundred and sixty-three children are in foster care following allegations that members of a polygamist sect³ forced underage girls into marriage and sex at the compound. The hearings are expected to last three weeks.

2. In Washington, the Supreme⁴ Court upheld a law that sets a five-year mandatory⁵ prison term for promoting child porn. The court dismissed concerns the law could apply to mainstream⁶ movies that depict⁷ adolescent sex, classic literature or innocent e-mails.

3. Tears flowed as people across China mourned the victims of last week's devastating⁸ earthquake. It's estimated 50,000 people were killed in the 7.9 quake. The government is warning a strong aftershock is still possible.

4. And a change of scenery for Big Brown. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner traveled by van from Baltimore to New York's Belmont Park. Big Brown is trying to become the first Triple Crown champ since 1978.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. porn = pornography

magazines, films etc that show sexual acts and images in a way that is intended to make people feel sexually excited

2. mainstream adj [only before noun]

accepted by or involving most people in a society

点击

收听单词发音

1 custody
n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留
参考例句：
He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。 He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

2 ranch
n.大牧场，大农场
参考例句：
He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。 The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

3 sect
n.派别，宗教，学派，派系
参考例句：
When he was sixteen he joined a religious sect.他16岁的时候加入了一个宗教教派。 Each religious sect in the town had its own church.该城每一个宗教教派都有自己的教堂。

4 supreme
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。 He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 mandatory
adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者
参考例句：
It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。 There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

6 mainstream
n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的
参考例句：
Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。 Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

7 depict
vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述
参考例句：
I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。 Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

8 devastating
adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的
参考例句：
It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。 Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

美联社新闻一分钟 2008-05-20