NPR 2012-04-16

 Labor¹ reforms in Colombia have cleared the way for the US-Colombia free trade agreement. NPR's Scott Horsley tells us the announcement came at the end of the Summit of the Americas.

 

The free trade agreement was passed by Congress last fall, but its effective day was on hold until Colombia satisfied a variety of labor conditions. The US labor secretary and the US trade representative say those conditions have now been met. The announcement means that most US exports to Colombia will be duty-free, beginning May 15th, and all remaining tariffs² will phase out over the next ten years. President Obama's been stressing the promise of increased exports throughout this weekend's summit meeting with leaders from around the Western Hemisphere. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Cartagena, Colombia.

 

Afghan insurgents³ launched a series of attacks early today. NPR's Quil Lawrence says they hit major targets.

 

A string of explosions in Kabul's diplomatic neighborhood announced what may be the beginning of the Taliban's "spring offensive" against US and Afghan government troops. Witnesses said a group of armed insurgents took over a building near several embassies and a NATO military base. The government launched rockets and locked down the city center with sniper fire. Within an hour, the Afghan government's quick reaction force along with NATO soldiers arrived and laid siege to the building. Witnesses reported several other bombing attacks in Kabul, including one near the parliament building. At about the same time, insurgents hit government targets in three other eastern provinces. Quil Lawrence, NPR News, Kabul.

 

Tornados⁵ have left a trail of destruction across the Midwest and the Plain States. Kansas Public Radio's Bryan Thompson describes how the weather assault unfolded.

 

Across a large part of Kansas, residents heard this sound Saturday night, in some cases, repeatedly. Tornado⁴ sirens warned people to take cover, and in many cases, they did. That may help explain why no deaths have been reported in Kansas at least so far, and neither have any severe injuries. Wichita sustained extensive damage, including two large aircraft plants and McConnell Air Force Base. Some of the worst damage and at least a few injuries took place at a mobile home park on the south side of Wichita. There were at least 120 reports of tornados in the four states. For NPR News, I'm Bryan Thompson in Salina, Kansas.

 

From oysters⁶ a la Russe to seared foie gras, rack of lamb and at least a dozen more specialties⁷, Ryan Roberts of Cullen's restaurant in Houston pulled out all the stops for a 12,000-dollar a person Titanic⁸ memorial dinner.

 

"A lot of the dishes are classic French and Russian dishes 'cause the Czar was still in power. So there's some Russian influence there."

 

The menu was drawn⁹ from the last dinner served on the Titanic, which sank 100 years ago. Proceeds went to charity.

 

This is NPR News in Washington.

 

An uncollected class of artists became part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this weekend. Amanda Rabinowitz of member station WKSU has details on a group of musicians ranging from Laura Nyro to Guns N' Roses.

 

Members of the rock band Guns N' Roses reunited and performed some of their hits without lead singer Axl Rose, who last week declined to attend the induction¹⁰ ceremony. Another LA '90s rock band inducted is the Red Hot Chili¹¹ Peppers. Bassist Flea¹² says the band had released its first album in 1984, feels like it's just getting started.

 

"All we've wanted to do is to resonate the way that our own hearts beat with music and make our own music the way we make it, and I feel like we've barely scratched the surface of what's possible."

 

Other 2012 inductees include The Beasties Boys, British bands The Small Faces and The Faces and the late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro. For NPR News, I'm Amanda Rabinowitz in Cleveland.

 

In a boating race off the coast of San Francisco, a powerful wave engulfed¹³ a yacht, leaving one sailor known dead, four missing. Three other crew members were rescued. Seas were rough with waves running at about ten feet when a larger wave washed over the 38-foot Low Speed Chase. All of the competitors were wearing life vests and cold weather gear.

 

At the box office this weekend, "The Hunger Games" took the No. 1 spot for the fourth week in a row with ticket sales of 21.5 million dollars just this weekend. Debuting¹⁴ in second place, "The Three Stooges" followed by the horror movie "Cabin in the Woods."

 

I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

3 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

4 tornado   

n.飓风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• A tornado whirled into the town last week.龙卷风上周袭击了这座城市。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

5 tornados   

n.龙卷风，旋风( tornado的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• And the national weather service reports several tornados touch down. 国家气象中心报告预测龙卷风将来袭。 来自互联网
• They had stock footage of lightning, tornados, and hurricanes. 他们存有关于闪电、龙卷风和飓风的电影胶片。 来自互联网

6 oysters   

牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We don't have oysters tonight, but the crayfish are very good. 我们今晚没有牡蛎供应。但小龙虾是非常好。
• She carried a piping hot grill of oysters and bacon. 她端出一盘滚烫的烤牡蛎和咸肉。

7 specialties   

n.专门，特性，特别；专业( specialty的名词复数 )；特性；特制品；盖印的契约

参考例句：

• Great Books are popular, not pedantic. They are not written by specialists about specialties for specialists. 名著绝不引经据典，艰深难懂，而是通俗易读。它们不是专家为专业人员撰写的专业书籍。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Brain drains may represent a substantial reduction in some labor force skills and specialties. 智力外流可能表示某种劳动力技能和特长大量减少。 来自辞典例句

8 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

9 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

10 induction   

n.感应，感应现象

参考例句：

• His induction as a teacher was a turning point in his life.他就任教师工作是他一生的转折点。
• The magnetic signals are sensed by induction coils.磁信号由感应线圈所检测。

11 chili   

n.辣椒

参考例句：

• He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。
• It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉，辣椒，和其他的调味品。

12 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

13 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 debuting   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• New debuting analog thermostat welding machine, easy to operate. 新登场模拟式调温电焊台，操作简单。
• With the new tablet device that is debuting next week, Apple Inc. 苹果公司的新型平板电脑将于下周发布。