AP美联社一分钟新闻 2008-08-11_在线英语听力室

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1. Despite Georgia's call for a ceasefire, it appears the war between the former Soviet¹ state and Russia over the breakaway province of South Ossetia continues to escalate². Russian news agencies say the Defense³ Ministry⁴ claims to have sunk a Georgian missile boat that was trying to attack Russian navy ships in the Black Sea. Russia says more than 2,000 people have died since fighting broke out Friday.

2. Witnesses who called 911 have described a chaotic⁵ scene after a charter bus crashed Friday in Texas, fatally injuring 17 people. The bus carrying Vietnamese-Americans to a religious festival in Missouri, smashed into a guardrail after blowing a tire that safety inspectors⁶ say was an illegal retread.

3. The price of gasoline continues to drop nationwide. According to the Lundberg Survey, the average price of a gallon of regular was $3.85 Friday. That's down almost 15 cents from two weeks ago.

4. The so-called "Redeem⁷ Team" or USA's basketball squad⁸ has taken its step toward a gold medal. The team which features a slew⁹ of NBA players went against host country China, which features Rockets star Yao Ming. China kept it reasonably close through half time but Team USA pulled away, winning 101-70.

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1 Soviet
adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃
参考例句：
Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。 Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

2 escalate
v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级
参考例句：
It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。 Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

3 defense
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
参考例句：
The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。 The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 ministry
n.(政府的)部；牧师
参考例句：
They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。 We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 chaotic
adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的
参考例句：
Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。 The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

6 inspectors
n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官
参考例句：
They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。来自《简明英汉词典》 Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。来自《简明英汉词典》

7 redeem
v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等）
参考例句：
He had no way to redeem his furniture out of pawn.他无法赎回典当的家具。 The eyes redeem the face from ugliness.这双眼睛弥补了他其貌不扬之缺陷。

8 squad
n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组
参考例句：
The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。 A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

9 slew
v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多
参考例句：
He slewed the car against the side of the building.他的车滑到了大楼的一侧，抵住了。 They dealt with a slew of other issues.他们处理了大量的其他问题。

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AP美联社一分钟新闻 2008-08-11