CNN 2008-06-28_在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Hello, I'm Melissa Long here at the CNN Center in Atlanta, with a look at what is happening NOW IN THE NEWS in this Friday, June 27th.

It's all about unity¹ today for the Democratic Party and for Democratic Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They are coming together at their first joint² campaign rally in New Hampshire in a town called Unity. At a private fundraiser last night, Clinton introduced Obama to her top donors³. These are some exclusive pictures from that fundraiser. Both Clinton and Obama appealed to their supporters to come together. In another show of unity, Obama and his wife each donated 2,300 dollars for Clinton's campaign debt.

In Zimbabwe, voters say choice has nothing to do with today's run-off election. Observers say government supporters are forcing people to vote despite the fact that Robert Mugabe's chief rival withdrew from the race. Analysts⁴ say the ruling party wants a large turnout to bolster⁵ the election's credibility. But so far, independent observers say turnout has been low. The opposition⁶ leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the results will not reflect the will of the people, but rather their fear.

The US is praising North Korea's decision to blow up part of a nuclear facility. This happened this morning. The cooling tower over a main nuclear reactor⁷ was brought down at the Yongbyon nuclear site. The State Department says it's an important step toward making sure North Korea has no nuclear capabilities⁸. The reactor itself was shut down last year.

A raging wildfire has forced hundreds of residents from their homes in Gila, Arizona. Officials say a two-day fire has blackened more than 2,500 acres of land. And a major wildfire in California is threatening more than 500 homes in the Big Sur area. Thunderstorms expected today may help the firefighters. Crews from 41 states are there assisting.

Families in Winfield, Missouri are heading for higher ground today. The Pin Oak Levee finally succumbed⁹ to the rising waters of the Mississippi. The levee was the last one standing¹⁰ in Lincoln County. It protected about 100 homes from the river. Today's breach¹¹ will not only flood those homes, but thousands of acres of nearby farmland.

And those are the headlines making news at this hour on this Friday. Do stay with CNN for more on these stories or other news of the day.

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收听单词发音

1 unity
n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调
参考例句：
When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。 We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 joint
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。 We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 donors
n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者
参考例句：
Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。 About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。来自《简明英汉词典》

4 analysts
分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )
参考例句：
City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。 I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 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。

6 opposition
n.反对，敌对
参考例句：
The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。 The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 reactor
n.反应器；反应堆
参考例句：
The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。 Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

8 capabilities
n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力
参考例句：
He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。来自辞典例句 Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

9 succumbed
不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )；屈从；被压垮；死
参考例句：
The town succumbed after a short siege. 该城被围困不久即告失守。 After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. 在持续炮轰数日后，该城终于屈服了。

10 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 breach
n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破
参考例句：
We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。 He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。