NPR 2012-05-18

 A prosecutor¹ is using John Edwards’ words against him in his campaign corruption² trial in North Carolina. Enclosing arguments today, Bobby Higdon said the former presidential candidate apparently³ forgot his own rhetoric(虚夸的言辞) when he said several years ago, the campaign finance laws were designed to protect the two Americans, the rich and the poor. Edwards is accused of scheming to hide his ex-marital affair during the 2008 campaign, using wealthy donors’ money. About the defenses, Edwards may have committed sins but did not commit any crimes.

 

 

The US has agreed to give additional support to an Israeli effort to shoot down missiles fired from the Gaza strip and Lebanon. As NPR’s Larry Abramson reports the decision was made as Israeli Defense⁴ Minister Ehud Barak met with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta today.

After a meeting in the Pentagon, Panetta said he told Barak the US will give Israel 70 million dollars in assistance for the Iron Dome⁶ missile defense system. Iron Dome has been successful in shooting down some of rockets that have rained down on Israel from bases in Gaza strip and Lebanon. In the past, the US has given Israel a total of 205 million dollars to support Iron Dome. Those amounts come on top of the three billion dollars in security aid that the US gives to Israel every year. Panetta made no mention of any discussions about possible Israeli plans to attack Iran’s nuclear installations. Larry Abramson, NPR news.

 

 

President Obama is declaring a new chapter in relations with the once reclusive(隐遁的) government of Myanmar, also known as Burma. In a statement today, the President praises Myanmar’s democratic progress, but he also expresses concern about human rights abuses. The administration says the sanctions will not be eased on anyone accused of violating human rights.

 

 

The Queen of Disco has died. Donna Summer, a wife, mother, grandmother, and a five time Grammy winning artist, passed away today from cancer in Florida, according to a family statement. She was 63 year old. NPR’s Elizabeth Blair has this appreciation⁷.

In the world of pop music in the 1970’s, Donna Summer was the complete package, a powerful sexy voice, song writing skills. And she was gorgeous. Donna Summer had numerous hits in the 1970’s. She was trained as a gospel singer and spent time singing backup for Three Dog Night. But her glamor⁸ and her music embody⁹ of the disco dance era and even foreshadow today’s technocrats¹⁰. Donna Summer was living in Englewood, Florida before she died. Elizabeth Blair, NPR news.

 

 

At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 82 points.

 

 

This is NPR news.

 

 

An out-of-control wild fire in Northern Colorado is forcing people from their homes, imposing¹¹ problems for fire fighters trying to get a hand on the blaze. It’s grounded more than 5,000 arcs. From member station KUNC, Kirk Siegler reports a * fire has tripled in size in just for last day.

The fire is burning through steep and rocky terrain¹² in a canyon¹³, popular with hikers and river rafters northwest of the city of Fort Collins. That’s about 70 miles north of Denver. The hot and windy weather is posing challenges for crews trying to contain the blazes. Dramatic TV footages are showing large flames screening up steep mountain slopes and gaffing(剥离) trees brush. One fire fighter has been treated for injuries. And despite some recent rains, the wild fire danger across drought district in Colorado remains¹⁴ high. National fire managers are warning this part of this country could be in for a long wild fire season. For NPR news, I’m Kirk Siegler in Denver.

 

 

* note this year can turn out to be a busier than usual firefighting season, not just for that region, but the entire country, the government is projecting the warmer than usual or warmer than normal weather to continue through the summer in 3 quarters of the nation. The Pacific Northwest in Alaska are expected to be cooler than average.

 

 

A billionaire reportedly has changed his mind above funding in anti-Obama ad campaign that highlights racial incendiary remarks from the President’s former pastor¹⁵. The decision by Joe Ricketts, funder of TD Ameritrade, was made after criticism surface from both the Obama and Mitt⁵ Romney campaigns.

1 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 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。

5 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

6 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

7 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

8 glamor   

n.魅力，吸引力

参考例句：

• His performance fully displayed the infinite glamor of Chinese dance.他的表演充分展示了中华舞蹈的无穷魅力。
• The glamor of the East was brought to international prominence by the Russion national school.俄罗斯民族学派使东方的魅力产生了国际性的影响。

9 embody   

vt.具体表达，使具体化；包含，收录

参考例句：

• The latest locomotives embody many new features. 这些最新的机车具有许多新的特色。
• Hemingway's characters plainly embody his own values and view of life.海明威笔下的角色明确反映出他自己的价值观与人生观。

10 technocrats   

n.技术专家，专家政治论者( technocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Few business barons remained. They were replaced by "technocrats," who became the heads of corporations. 企业巨头所剩无几，大多已被“技术专家”所代替，这些人成了公司的领导。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• However, bankers called the technocrats' bluff and proceeded to lend with gusto. 但是，银行家们称技术专家官员不过在虚张声势，并且还会乐观的继续借贷业务。 来自互联网

11 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

12 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

13 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

15 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。