NPR 2012-05-28

 The United Nation Security Council is meeting in an emergency session today to discuss Syria. Members are to hear from the head of the UN observer mission in Syria about Friday’s massacre¹ in the town of Houla. UN officials say at least 90 people were killed, including 32 children under the age of 10. The Syrian government is denying that its troops are responsible.

 

 

Election officials in Egypt are still tabling the ballots² in that country’s presidential vote. Kimberly Adams in Cairo reports the speculation³ about the winners is spreading, causing distress⁴ to some of the supporters of that country’s revolution.

Election official’s quoted in state-run media, say estimate is showing definitive⁵ winners are speculation. But various political groups and media organizations are releasing their own vote counts, indicating a runoff between former Mubarak Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and Muslin Brotherhood⁶ candidate Mohammed Morsi. Many supporters of the country’s revolution, like 30-year-old Merete are upset with the possibility of that choice, saying it represents the same political dynamic as before the revolution.

Again, you have their regime, represented by Ahmed Shafiq. And the Muslim Brotherhood represented by Mohammed Morsi. So it is nothing has changed. So it is absolute this *.

Official results are scheduled for release on Tuesday. For NPR news, I’m Kimberly Adams in Cairo.

 

 

Hundreds of thousands of bikers are roaring for the streets of the nation’s capital today. NPR’s Asama Holed reports on the annual Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally.

It all began 25 years ago when a couple thousands bikers descended⁷ on Washington DC. They came to demand government accountability for prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action(作战失踪). Now the ride is a Memorial Day tradition. David Pete lives in North Carolina. He’s come to Washington 8 times for Rolling Thunder.

Because there are men left overseas, they should be here and until the government does something about it to bring them back, they’re not going to be.

David Pete served 20 years in the navy. Many like him come to remember POWs. Others are braving the hot summer temperature just to member sacrifice made by complete strangers. Asama Holed, NPR news, Washington.

 

 

Some weekend events are being cancelled along the southeastern coast. Tropical storm Beryl is approaching, prompting warnings for the entire Georgia coastline, as well as parts of Florida and South Carolina. It brings strong winds and * rain. Some flood is expected. The * expect Beryl to make landfall tonight, early tomorrow.

 

 

It may be a holiday weekend, but firefighters in the Western US are working harder than usual. In southwestern New Mexico, a wild fire in the * has grown to 85,000 acres. The blaze has destroyed 12 cabins. Strong winds are carrying smoke and ash for miles.

 

 

This is NPR news from Washington.

 

 

Next weekend Britain celebrates Queen Elisabeth 60 years in the throne(王权) with her Diamond Jubilee⁸. Larry Miller⁹ reports from London, the royals are enjoying their most supporting 15 years.

More than 2/3 of British say the country will be worse off without the royal family. When Princess Diana died in 1997, that figure was just 48%. And there were questions about whether the monarchy¹⁰ was an ecumenism. Now just 10% surveyed by the Guardian¹¹ want to * the Queen’s reign¹² and abolish the monarchy. After Elisabeth dies or abdicates(让位), 39% say Prince Charles should be the man who would be king while 48% want the crown pass to a son, the newly married * Prince William. Royal favor is running high before next weekend celebrations. On the downside, the Bank of England says it’s likely the 4 days without productivity will keep Britain in recession. For NPR news, I’m Larry Miller in London.

 

 

Lady Gaga is apparently¹³ very popular in Indonesia, but she’s decided¹⁴ to cancel a concert there next month. It’s sold out more than 50,000 seats. But a group called the Islamic Defender’s objected to her revealing costumes and provocative¹⁵ dance moves. It said thousands of protestors would confront the singer on her way from the airport. Others had bought tickets with plans to try to stop the concert by force. Police say they would not issue the necessary permit unless Lady Gaga agree to tone it down. She refused to * give the money back.

 

 

In car racing¹⁶, Dario Franchitti of Japan won the Indianapolis 500 today. And a record was broken; the thermometer hit 93 degrees, being the hottest in Indy 500 history.

1 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

4 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

5 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

6 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

7 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

8 jubilee   

n.周年纪念；欢乐

参考例句：

• They had a big jubilee to celebrate the victory.他们举行盛大的周年纪念活动以祝贺胜利。
• Every Jubilee,to take the opposite case,has served a function.反过来说，历次君主巡幸，都曾起到某种作用。

9 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

10 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

11 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

12 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

13 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

16 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。