美国国家电台 NPR 2012-11-20

 Diplomacy is intensifying¹ to bring an end to the cross border siege between Israel and Gaza's Hamas militants². Delegations³ are meeting in Cairo to help Egypt mediate⁴ a ceasefire. The White House says President Obama telephoned Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to talk about ways to deescalate the conflict in Gaza, he then called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has troops on standby on the border with Gaza. As Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem.

 

Thousands of Israeli troops are poised⁵ on the Gaza border, awaiting the order for a ground invasion. Israeli media reported that Israel agreed to wait at least 24 hours before entering Gaza to allow ceasefire talks to succeed. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Cairo to try to encourage both sides to accept a ceasefire. But fighting on both sides of the border continued. Israel bombed dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip and Hamas launched more than 100 rockets at southern Israel. In Gaza, thousands attended the funeral of four women and five children, killed in an Israeli air strike Sunday. For NPR News, I'm Linda Gradstein, in Jerusalem. 

 

President Obama is making a historic trip to Cambodia for the annual East Asia Summit. Mr. Obama raised concerns about the Cambodian government's human rights record in his meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen. The White House says the meeting was tense. Earlier, the President offered a hand of friendship to the once reclusive Myanmar, also known as Burma, in a symbolic⁶ move, he visited with pro-Democracy icon⁷ Aung San Suu Kyi and expressed optimism about Myanmar as he met with that country's President Thein Sein.

 

The confidence among home builders in the United States hasn't been this high in 6.5 years. NPR's Dave Mattingly reports on the latest survey from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo.

 

Stronger demand for new single family homes is driving the jump in builder confidence, the latest index is up five points from October to its highest rating since May of 2006. First Trust Chief Economist⁸ Brian Wesbury says it underscores the rebound⁹ in housing. 

 

If they are sensing that the market is improving, and that's what this survey tells them. That's a very good sign for future housing activity. 

 

Sales of new homes have jumped 27% over the past year. Dave Mattingly, NPR News, Washington.

 

Speaking of October was that solid month for sales of previously¹⁰ owned homes, the National Association of Realtors saw a more than 2% jump in the number of homes that switched owners. The pace of which these homes sold was about 11% higher than it was a year ago. 

 

At last check on Wall Street, Dow was up 175 points at 12,765.

 

This is NPR News. 

 

Colombia's main rebel group has announced a unilateral ceasefire ahead of peace talks with the Colombian government. FARC says the truce¹¹ will remain in effect until January 20th, hoping that will give both sides enough time to negotiate. Cuba will be hosting these talks. An earlier round of discussions was held in Norway last month.

 

Hurricane recovery and more headaches continue for many in New Jersey¹² and New York. In New York City, the odd-even gas rationing¹³ system has been extended through Friday. This as the average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline dropped seven cents over the past two weeks. 

 

The Twilight¹⁴ Saga¹⁵: Breaking Dawn II is the top draw at theaters worldwide, including the U.S. and Canada. NPR's Trina Williams reports moviegoers help the series to a stellar farewell. 

 

I have to report a crime. The Cullens, they have done something terrible.

 

The Volturi think Renesmee is an immortal¹⁶ child. 

 

She was born not bitten, she grows every single day.

 

Breaking Dawn II is the final episode in the vampire-versus-werewolf series. Domestic ticket sales are an estimated $141.3 million, worldwide, the popular hit, earns an estimated $340.9. Breaking Dawn II features a twist not included in the books which the movies are based. Last weekend's box winner Skyfall drops to second place. Civil War drama Lincoln expands nationwide and finishes at No. 3. Wreck-It Ralph is fourth and then Flight. Trina Williams, NPR News.

 

Dow was up 177 points at 12,766.

1 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

4 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

5 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

6 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

7 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

8 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

9 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

10 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

11 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

12 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

13 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

14 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

15 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

16 immortal   

adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的

参考例句：

• The wild cocoa tree is effectively immortal.野生可可树实际上是不会死的。
• The heroes of the people are immortal!人民英雄永垂不朽！