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1. At least three people are dead after severe storms hit the Midwest. In Indiana, rescuers in boats are still plucking people from rising waters, as parts of the state brace¹ for more flooding. The storm also brought tornados², this one touched down near Chicago.

2. Investigators³ in Texas say a fire at the historic Governor's Mansion⁴ in Austin was likely arson⁵. State officials say the damage borders on catastrophic. No one was inside the 152-year-old building when the blaze broke out. It had been undergoing a ten-million-dollar renovation⁶.

3. The national average price for unleaded gas now tops the four-dollar-a-gallon mark. The highest average prices are in states like Alaska, California, Connecticut and Washington state. AAA says gas prices have gone up an average of about 33 cents a gallon since this time last month. Analysts⁷ say that's about 90 cents since this time last year.

4. Rafael Nadal has won his fourth straight French Open. Nadal won six consecutive⁸ games, dispatching Roger Federer with ease. It's the third straight year the two have met in the final.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.pluck from: v.

If someone is rescued from a dangerous situation, you can say that they are plucked from it or are plucked to safety.

2.brace for: v.

to mentally or physically⁹ prepare yourself or someone else for something unpleasant that is going to happen.

3.border on: v.

to be very close to being something extreme.

4.unleaded:a. 无铅的

Unleaded fuel contains a smaller amount of lead than most fuels so that it produces less harmful substances when it is burned.

5.AAA:

the American Automobile¹⁰ Association; an American organization that provides services for people who own cars.

6.dispatch: v.

to deal with someone or to finish a job quickly and effectively.