在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

1.It's the first full day on the job for new Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. He was sworn into office last night after the state Senate voted to convict Rod Blagoivich. The former governor will now focus on fighting federal corruption¹ allegations.

2.The family of the Southern California woman who gave birth to octuplets this week, says she has six other young children at home. The new mom's mother says her daughter did take fertility treatments, but never expected to give birth to eight children. All eight babies are said to be doing well.

3.The Commerce Department is set to release a report that is expected to show the economy shrank at an annual rate of more than 5% in the final quarter of 2008. That’s much faster than the 0.5% contraction² rate in the previous quarter. If the forecast is right, the final quarter of last year will be the weakest in 27 years.

4.Triple-digit temperatures are making it tough for firefighters to get a handle on growing wild fires in Australia. More than 500 firefighters are battling the blazes right now. So far the flames have destroyed five homes.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.fertility:n.

the ability of a person, animal, or plant to produce babies, young animals, or seeds

2.triple-digit: n.

relating to the numbers 100 to 999 [=triple-figure]