AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-01-05_在线英语听力室

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

1. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn¹ his nomination² to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary. Obama has accepted Richardson's withdrawal³. A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a lucrative⁴ New Mexico state contract.

2. Backs by tanks, artillery⁵ and aircraft, thousands of Israeli soldiers have been advancing to Gaza, effectively cutting the coastal⁶ territory in two and surrounding its biggest city. The death toll⁷ in Gaza stands at more than 500.

3. President-elect Barack Obama shouldn't expect Congress to have an economic recovery plan waiting for him when he takes office. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says it would be tough to get a massive spending plan together that soon. Hoyer hopes that something will be available for Obama to sign by mid-February.

4. Former employees and clients of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff are hoping to recoup some of their losses by selling Madoff memorabilia on eBay. Madoff put his investment firm's name on hats, T-shirts, beach towels and umbrellas. Dozens of the keepsakes are now being offered on the internet auction⁸ site.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. recoup: v.

to get back an amount of money you have lost or spent.

2. keepsake: n.

A keepsake is a small present that someone gives you so that you will not forget them.

点击

收听单词发音

1 withdrawn
vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出
参考例句：
Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。 All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

2 nomination
n.提名，任命，提名权
参考例句：
John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。 Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 withdrawal
n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销
参考例句：
The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。 They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 lucrative
adj.赚钱的，可获利的
参考例句：
He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。 It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

5 artillery
n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)
参考例句：
This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。 The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

6 coastal
adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的
参考例句：
The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。 This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

7 toll
n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)
参考例句：
The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。 The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

8 auction
n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖
参考例句：
They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。 They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

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AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-01-05