VOA慢速英语2014 美国务卿克里称打败伊斯兰国需要很多年

 

Kerry: It Will Take Years to Defeat Islamic State 美国务卿克里称打败伊斯兰国需要很多年

U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday it will take years to defeat the Islamic State militant¹ group. He also said that airstrikes against the group have made it “much harder” for them to launch new attacks.

Mr. Kerry spoke² in Brussels, Belgium, at the opening of a meeting with foreign ministers to discuss efforts to fight the Islamic State. He said that the U.S.-led airstrikes will continue. There have been more than 1,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since August.

However, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said U.S.-led strikes in Syria have made no difference in fighting Islamic State militants³. The Syrian leader described himself Wednesday as a captain trying to save his ship.

Mr. Assad also said, “You can’t end terrorism with aerial strikes.”

Suicide bomber⁴ kills three in Somali capital

A suicide car bomber has attacked United Nations vehicles in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The explosion killed at least three people and wounded seven.

The attack Wednesday happened near the city's international airport, which is home to some foreign embassies and a United Nations base.

A U.N. spokesman said no U.N. workers were injured or killed.

The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ebola spreading faster in Sierra Leone

New information shows the Ebola outbreak is spreading faster in Sierra Leone than other West African countries.

In its latest update Wednesday, the World Health Organization said Sierra Leone reported 537 new cases in the week ending November 30. That is 150 more than the number of cases reported the week before.

The worst affected⁵ area was the capital, Freetown, where more than 200 new cases were reported.  

The WHO’s latest report says the number of Ebola cases worldwide is more than 17,000. Almost all are in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. More than 6,000 people have died of the disease.

American couple cleared of daughter’s death leaves Qatar

Qatar has ended a travel ban against an American couple who were found innocent of any charges in the death of their daughter.

The U.S. ambassador to Qatar posted on Twitter that the couple will be permitted to leave Qatar Wednesday.  The ambassador said all requirements have been met to clear the way for their departure.

The ambassador had been working with Qatari officials to let Matthew and Grace Huang leave the country.

Eight-year-old Gloria Huang died in January of 2013. The couple was found guilty of child endangerment last March in connection with her death. But, on Sunday, a court in Doha cancelled that ruling.

Words in the News

aerial – adj. performed using an airplane

ban – n. an official rule saying that people are not allowed to use or do something

endanger – v. to cause (someone or something) to be in a dangerous place or situation

ruling – n. an official decision made by a judge or referee⁶.

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 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 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 referee   

n.裁判员．仲裁人，代表人，鉴定人

参考例句：

• The team was left raging at the referee's decision.队员们对裁判员的裁决感到非常气愤。
• The referee blew a whistle at the end of the game.裁判在比赛结束时吹响了哨子。