VOA慢速英语2014 法国将对IS进行更多空袭

 

France to Increase Airstrikes Against IS Militants 法国将对IS进行更多空袭

France says it is sending six military planes to the Middle East as it seeks to increase strikes against the Islamic State militant¹ group.

The French Defense² Minister told parliament Wednesday that the fighter jets will be based in Jordan. He said they will support French military aircraft already in the area.

The United States, Britain and France are carrying out airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq. The U.S. is doing the same in Syria.

French officials also said Wednesday they have identified a second French citizen in a video that shows the American victim of an Islamic State beheading. The French investigators³ say the 22-year-old man is from the Paris area. They say he left for Syria about a year ago.

Pope Francis condemns⁴ attack in Jerusalem

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church has condemned⁵ the deadly attack on a Jewish religious place in Jerusalem. The two Palestinian attackers killed five people in the attack Tuesday. Pope Francis said Wednesday that he is following the increasing tensions in Jerusalem and other areas with concern. He urged both sides to end the cycle of violence and hate and make brave decisions for peace.

The four rabbis killed had double citizenship⁶. Three were American and one was British. A police officer also was killed. Police killed the attackers.

Hamas praised the attack, calling it an answer to continued Israeli crimes.

Ukraine rejects Russia’s proposal for talks 

Russia’s foreign minister called Wednesday for direct talks between Ukraine and separatists in that country’s eastern area. Ukrainian officials quickly rejected the idea. Prime Minister Aseniy Yatsenyuk said his government would not negotiate with what he called “Russian terrorists.” He also called on Russia to honor the ceasefire agreement reached in September between Ukraine and the separatists. Mr. Yatsenyuk accused Russia of making hostages out of the people in Ukraine’s east.

World Bank: Ebola may cost West Africa less than expected

A World Bank official says West Africa’s economic losses from the Ebola epidemic⁷ may not be as severe as thought. The bank’s chief economist⁸ for Africa says he thinks the outbreak will cost between three and four billion dollars. In October the World Bank had predicted the economic impact could be as high as $32 million. But the bank says success in efforts to contain the disease has helped lower the expected costs.

Deadly Snow in New York

And finally, unusually cold weather has hit the United States and some areas have seen heavy snow fall. More than 1.5 meters of snow fell during a fierce winter storm in the state of New York Tuesday. Officials blamed the storm for five deaths in the state. Weather experts say the area could see another 60 centimeters of snow by Thursday night.

Words in the News

behead – v. to cut off the head of (someone) especially as a punishment

cycle – n. a set of events or actions that happen again and again in the same order: a repeating series of events or action

epidemic – n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people

impact – n. a powerful or major influence or effect

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 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。

3 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 condemns   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

6 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

7 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

8 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。