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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

From the CNN Center in Atlanta on this first of December, can you believe it? Good morning to you, I'm Brooke Baldwin. Well, thank you for checking in with us. Let's take a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

From speculation¹ to confirmation², Barack Obama is set to announce his nomination³ of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state this morning and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as homeland security chief. Susan Rice, a Clinton administration steward⁴, is expected to be the pick for U. S. ambassador to the United Nations, and D. C. attorney Eric Holder⁵ is expected to be Obama's choice for attorney general.

Also filing some other key positions here. Defense⁶ Secretary Incumbent⁷, we should say Robert Gates, is expected to keep his current job. And Democratic officials also say retired⁹ General Jim Jones will be named national security advisor¹⁰.

Meanwhile, President Bush is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to India. This comes of course in the aftermath of a 60-hour terror siege in Mumbai that killed close to 200 people including six Americans. The White House says President Bush has assured Indian officials that the United States will put its full weight behind that ongoing¹¹ terror investigation¹².

Plans under way to bolster¹³ U. S. security. The Pentagon expects to have some 20, 000 uniformed troops trained to work with state and local officials if there is a terrorist attack. But critics say such a plan would strain the military, giving them too large role in our domestic law enforcement. The Bush administration has pushed for a heightened homeland security, or rather, homeland military role since the middle of this decade.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin back in the spotlight¹⁴ today and back on a campaign trail as well. The former Republican vice-presidential nominee¹⁵ is in Georgia today, trying to give Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss a big boost before tomorrow's runoff election. Chambliss is facing Democrat⁸ Jim Martin in this runoff. And the runoff was ordered as neither candidate received the 50% plus one vote needed on Election Day to win outright¹⁶.

Holiday shopping season getting off to a pretty good start. A survey found shoppers spent about 7% more in malls and websites during this past Thanksgiving weekend than they did last year. And for Cyber Monday, that is today, the National Retail¹⁷ Federation¹⁸ is expecting more than 84 million people to shop online from either home or work.

And be sure, of course, to stay with CNN. com 24/7 for news from all around the world, and that we'll have updates right here throughout the day.

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收听单词发音

1 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。

2 confirmation
n.证实，确认，批准
参考例句：
We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。 We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

3 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。

4 steward
n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员
参考例句：
He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。 He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员，到过世界各地。

5 holder
n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物
参考例句：
The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。 That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

6 defense
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
参考例句：
The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。 The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 incumbent
adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的
参考例句：
He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。 It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

8 democrat
n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员
参考例句：
The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。 About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 retired
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。 Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

10 advisor
n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者
参考例句：
They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。 The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

11 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。

12 investigation
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。 He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

13 bolster
n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励
参考例句：
The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。 He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

14 spotlight
n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目
参考例句：
This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。 The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

15 nominee
n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者
参考例句：
His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。 Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

16 outright
adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的
参考例句：
If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。 You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

17 retail
v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格
参考例句：
In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。 These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

18 federation
n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会
参考例句：
It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。 Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。