英语听力精选进阶版 9985

 

The United Nation Security Council has promised action against North Korea over its third nuclear test, calling it a clear threat to international peace and security. The US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the test was a serious provocation¹.

The International Community - this council - has been quite clear: the actions of North Korea are a threat to regional peace and security, international peace and security. And there are not acceptable, there will not be tolerated, and there will be met with North Korea's increasing isolation² and pressure under United Nations sanctions.

The South Korea Foreign Minister called the test unacceptable threats and direct challenge to the whole international community. Japan called the test a grave threat, and Russian urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear arms program. Earlier China, North Korea sole major ally summoned Pyongyang's ambassador to convey strong dissatisfaction.

President Obama is expected to announce in a few hours time that he will withdraw nearly half of all the American troops serving in Afghanistan within a year. Mr Obama will announce the decision during his first State of the Union address since his reelection in November. From Washington Here's Mark Mardell.

It sets a brisk place without feeling too much like an over a hasty rush towards the exit. It a lot seems to demonstrate to the American people that the war of the last decade really are drawing to an end. A firm timetable is also intended to concentrate the minds of Afghanistan leaders on the fact they have fairly short period of time to train their own people to take over the job. It is relatively³ a little coverage⁴ of the handover the continuing conflict in the American media that President wants to show in tonight's speech his intense focus on the economy and domestic problems.

The Vatican says Pope Benedict will not play any role in the election of his successor or the running of the Church following his decision to step down. The Vatican also confirmed that the resignation was not due to any specific illness. A spokesman said Pope has been wearing a heart pacemaker for sometime, but was generally in good health. Pope Benedict will hold his final open air general audience in Saint Peter's Square on February 27th.

The leaders of nine ethnic⁵ groups have been in conflict with the Burmese government have attended the national ceremony from Union Day which commemorate⁶ an agreement that led to Burma's independence from Britain. Michael Bristow has more.

Union Day marks an agreement signed by Burma’s government and the country’s ethnic minorities in 1947. In it, they jointly⁷ called for independence but this is the first time in decades that they have celebrated⁸ the anniversary together. The leaders of nine ethnic groups, 16 were invited attended the ceremony in Naypyitaw although there was a notable absence. No one attended from the Kachin rebels who won’t agree to autonomy. Michael Bristow reporting.

World News from the BBC

A former head of Italy's military intelligence Nicolo Pollari has been sentenced to ten years in jail for his role in the abduction of a terrorism suspect. The appeals court also jailed his deputy and three other agents over the arrest of the suspect and an Imam during the US extraordinary rendition program ten years ago. The Imam was snatched on the streets in Milan and flown to Egypt where he says he was tortured.

Police in Britain has raided two meat production plants as a part of a growing Europe wide investigation⁹ into the sale of horse meat wrongly labeled as beef. Both plants have now been close down. Tim Reid has more details.

The first plant in West Yorkshire is believed by the Food Standards Agency to have supplied horse carcasses to a company in Aberystwyth within West Wales. Officials are said to be investigating allegations that the meat products involved were sold as beef for kebabs and burgers but were in fact horsemeat. The revelations have come on the day the environment secretary Owen Paterson was forced to answer claims that the government had shown a lack of urgency in dealing¹⁰ with the crisis.

Several European countries have been implicated¹¹ in the horsemeat scandal. Horsemeat was first discovered last month in burgers imported from France and then sold in Britain and Ireland.

Parliament in Spain has paved the way for bullfighting to be given special cultural status. A petition signed by more than half a million people was voted through easily. If it becomes law, it could overturn a ban on bullfights that came into effect in the region of Catalonia last year. And they also bid tax breaks for promoters of bullfighting which is a centuries old tradition in Spain. Government figures show that the number of bullfights each year is falling and correspondents say the conservatives are keen to keep the controversial tradition alive.

 

1 provocation   

n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因

参考例句：

• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
• They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。

2 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

7 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 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。

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

11 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》