AS IT IS 2016-01-01 Trending Today: Mother of 'Affluenza Teen' Charged

AS IT IS 2016-01-01 Trending Today: Mother of 'Affluenza Teen' Charged

This is What's Trending Today....

U.S. officials have charged the mother of a young man known in the media as the “Affluenza teen.”

Tonya Couch and her son, Ethan, allegedly fled to Mexico in November. Ethan Couch was wanted by U.S. officials for violating his probation¹, in connection with a drunk-driving crash that killed four people in 2013.

Mexico deported² the mother of the Affluenza teen on Wednesday.  She is charged with “hindering the apprehension³” of her son. In other words, she is charged with helping⁴ her son flee to Mexico. If convicted, she could face between two and 10 years in jail.

The word “affluenza” is a play on the words “affluent⁵,” which means wealthy or rich, and “influenza⁶” -- or the flu. Ethan Couch got the nickname during his trial. A defense⁷ expert said that his wealthy parents treated him too softly. He said Couch was not able to tell right from wrong, and lacks a sense of responsibility.

?The 2013 crash happened when Couch was 16 years old and drunk. He crashed into a car that was on the side of the road. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 10 years of probation.

Ethan Couch missed a required meeting with his probation officer in Texas on December 10. Officials say they believe he fled in November, after a video surfaced showing him drinking at a party. That is a violation⁸ of his probation rules.  

The mother and son were taken into custody⁹ Monday in Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s west coast. U.S. officials located the two when Ethan Couch used one of their phones to order pizza.

It could be weeks before Ethan Couch is sent back to the United States. On Wednesday, his lawyers filed a petition to temporarily block his deportation¹⁰ from Mexico.

The phrase “Carrot Top” trended on Twitter after Tonya Couch’s return to the U.S. Many on Twitter commented on her resemblance to Carrot Top, the American comedian¹¹.

Words in This Story

apprehension - n. the act of arresting someone for a crime?

affluent - adj. having a large amount of money and owning many expensive things?

influenza - n. a common illness that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, severe aches and pains, and breathing problems?

probation - n.  a situation or period of time in which a person who has committed a crime is allowed to stay out of prison if that person behaves well and does not commit another crime

resemblance - n. the state of looking or being like someone or something else

1 probation   

n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期)

参考例句：

• The judge did not jail the young man,but put him on probation for a year.法官没有把那个年轻人关进监狱，而且将他缓刑察看一年。
• His salary was raised by 800 yuan after his probation.试用期满以后，他的工资增加了800元。

2 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

6 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

7 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。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

10 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

11 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。