NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-03-03

 The White House says the US will suspend participation¹ in meetings related to an upcoming GA session in Sochi Russia, as NPR's Tamara Keith reports. This is an effort to show there are consequences for Russia's military activity in the Crimea region of Ukraine.

President Obama spoke² on the phone for 90 minutes with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Ukraine. And based on the limited official reports from the White House and Kremlin, it seems the leaders spoke pass each other. According to the White House quote President Obama expressed his deep concern over Russia's clear violation³ of Ukrainian sovereignty. The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin discussed what he calls the provocative⁴ and criminal actions of ultra-nationalists, supported by the current authorities in Kiev. Obama suggested Russia can take these concerns to international organizations like the UN Security Council. The Kremlin says Russia retains the right to protect its interests. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

 

 

As the crisis in Syria enters its third year without an ending sign, Robert Ford⁵, the US ambassador to Damascus is stepping down. Susannah George reports. Ford's announcement follows failed peace talks and ongoing⁶ violence. 

Ford's resignation comes at a time when US-Syria policy appears stalled. Peace talks in Switzerland, which Ford was instrumental in arranging, have proven fruitless. And violence in many parts of the country is worsening. Ford has been the Obama administration's point person on Syria's civil war since Day 1. After concerns for his safety, Ford attempted to flee Damascus shortly after protests began in 2011. He spent months shuttling between Washington, Turkey and elsewhere in the region, meeting with Syrian leaders and fighters. Deputy assistant secretary of state Larry Silverman was appointed as Ford's temporary replacement⁷ Friday. For NPR News, I'm Susannah George.

 

 

Witnesses tell the Xinhua News Agency attackers, most of them wearing all black, entered a train station in southwestern China earlier today, armed with knives, and started injuring people. By the time it was all over, at least 29 people are reportedly to have been killed, including 5 of the assailants. More than 100 others were injured. Chinese authorities now believe Muslim Uyghur separatists were responsible. Today's attack comes right before the annual meeting of Parliament opens in Beijing. 

 

 

Officials in Washington State are taking steps to relieve the pressure at the Wanapum Dam, after 65-foot long crack was discovered along the base. A utility spokesman says of precautionary measure the water above the dam has been drawn⁸ down about 20 feet, while inspectors⁹ take a closer look at the crack.  

 

 

The St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston is apparently¹⁰ easing its restriction¹¹ gay organization's participating. Under a tentative deal brokered¹² by Boston Mayor, parade organizers have agreed to let gay military veterans to march.  

 

 

This is NPR.

 

 

* Alaska is filled with party animals today. Mushers and their dogs are participating in the ceremonial start to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. It's a chance for locals, tourists, the mingle¹³ of those who will cover nearly 1,000 miles over 9 days. The official start will be tomorrow about 50 miles north of Anchorage. * is confident in her teams of 16 dogs. 

I've a fantastic team, me and the dog member 17. I know I can coach them and keep them full together. I think that's part of the wild-card. The team is a wild-card. It's the best one I've ever had.

The winner will receive a prize of $50,400 and a new truck. 

 

 

Hollywood will be handing out awards tomorrow night the Academy Awards. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports on some of the front runners. 

Two films this year dominate the predicted winners. The Best Picture Oscar could go to the saga¹⁴ '12 Years A Slave'. The stars of this film Chiwetel_Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o are also favored nominees¹⁵. Or the Best Picture Award could go to the space thriller¹⁶ 'Gravity'. 'Gravity's director Alfonso Cuaron is a shoo-in for Best Director. Other expected winners are 'Dallas Buyers Club' actors Matthew McConaughey, and Jared Leto.And Cate Blanchett for the 'Blue Jasmine. Mandalit del Barco NPR News.

 

1 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

4 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。

5 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

7 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

8 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

9 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》

10 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。

11 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

12 brokered   

adj.由权力经纪人安排（或控制）的v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的过去式和过去分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• a peace plan brokered by the UN 由联合国出面协商的和平计划
• Your husband brokered the deal to go in, transfrer the assets and get our man out. 你丈夫后来插了一脚，把生意都抢了过去，我们的人也被挤了出来。 来自电影对白

13 mingle   

vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往

参考例句：

• If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。
• Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。

14 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。

15 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

16 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。