VOA慢速英语2014 30国承诺抗击伊斯兰国

 

30 Nations Pledge to Fight Islamic State Group 30国承诺抗击伊斯兰国

About 30 countries have promised to support Iraq in its fight against Islamic State militants¹ by "all means necessary," including military aid.

Delegates met in Paris. They are continuing efforts to build a coalition² to fight the Islamic State group. The group has taken control of large areas in northern and western Iraq and in eastern Syria.

French President Francois Hollande led the conference of 30 nations and the United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League. Mr. Hollande told the gathering³ that there was “no time to lose.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived at the meeting after visiting several Middle East nations.  He sought support for President Barack Obama’s plan to fight the Islamic State militants.

Mr. Kerry said several Arab nations offered to give military aid and carry out airstrikes, if needed. Syria and Iran were not invited to the meeting. And Russian officials said that any expanded airstrike into Syria would require a U.N. Security Council resolution.

Hundreds of African migrants feared dead

As many as 500 African migrants are feared dead in the Mediterranean⁴ Sea. Reports say attackers crashed their boat into the migrants’ boat off the coast of Malta last week.

Christiane Berthiaume is the spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration⁵. She said survivors⁶ reported that the attackers were involved in the human trafficking trade. She reported that the survivors said the traffickers ordered the migrants to change boats. The migrants refused, saying it was too dangerous. Ms. Berthiaume said a violent dispute broke out.  She said the traffickers then crashed their boat in the boat that carried the migrants.

She described the incident as “the worst shipwreck⁷ in years.” The migrants were trying to get to Europe.

The Philippines answers China’s threat with offer to U.S. Navy

The Philippines and China are trapped in a territorial⁸ dispute in the South China Sea. In recent years, both countries have clashed in the waters near the island of Palawan, in the west Philippines.

Now, the Philippines says it may permit the United States to base some of its navy forces on the island as part of the new defense⁹ agreement.

Philippine military spokesman Ramon Zagala said, “the very purpose of that base is to enhance our defense capabilities¹⁰ westward¹¹ to the West Philippines Sea. Oyster¹² Bay is one of those that we want to offer to the United States so we can develop it.”

Kashmir flooding kills almost 300

Flooding in India’s Kashmir Valley has affected¹³ more than 2.5 million people.

The flooding is considered the worst in more than one hundred years. Almost 300 people were killed. Between 250,000 and 300,000 people were rescued after the Jhelum River burst its banks more than a week ago.

More than 75,000 people remain in homes that are partly under water in Indian Kashmir’s main city, Srinagar.

1 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。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

5 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

6 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

7 shipwreck   

n.船舶失事，海难

参考例句：

• He walked away from the shipwreck.他船难中平安地脱险了。
• The shipwreck was a harrowing experience.那次船难是一个惨痛的经历。

8 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

9 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。

10 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

11 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

12 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

13 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。