NPR美国国家公共电台 2013-01-25

　　From NPR news in Washington, I am Windsor Johnson.

 

　　Democratic lawmakers in both houses of Congress have today introduced legislation that would ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition¹ clips. NPR’s Craig Windham reports the measure would exclude more than 2,000 guns used for hunting and sporting purposes.

 

　　One of the main sponsors of the bill, California Senator Dianne Feinstein, says polls show most Americans support an assault weapon’s ban.

 

　　“These weapons do not belong on the streets of our towns or cities, in our schools, in our malls, in our workplaces, in our movie theaters. Enough is enough.”

 

　　And Philadelphia police commissioner² Charles Ramsey says the need for a ban was underscored by the massacre³ of young children in Newtown, Connecticut.

 

　　“If the slaughter⁴ of 20 babies does not capture and hold your attention, then I give up.”

 

　　But Feinstein and other lawmakers who back the ban say they know it faces an uphill battle in Congress. Craig Windham, NPR news, Washington.

 

　　Defense⁵ Secretary Leon Panetta has lifted a ban on women serving in combat. At a Pentagon news conference today, Panetta says women have become an important part of the military’s ability to succeed.

 

　　“Female service members have faced the reality of combat, proven their willingness to fight and yes to die to defend their fellow Americans.”

 

　　In a written statement, President Obama says this milestone⁶ reflects the courageous⁷ and patriotic⁸ service of women for more than two centuries of American history. The President has nominated Mary Jo White as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. White served for nearly a decade as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, specializing in the prosecution⁹ of white color crimes. The President has also nominated Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

 

　　A gauge¹⁰ of future economic activity in the US suggests strong growth in the month ahead. NPR’s Dave Mattingly reports on the latest outlook from the conference board.

 

　　The ongoing¹¹ rebound¹² in housing, gains on Wall Street, and declines in new claims for jobless benefits are among the improvements cited by the conference board. Its index of leading economic indicators¹³ jumped a half percent in December. Five of ten indicators were positive. Among the negatives, manufacturing which has seen the slowdown in new order, some of that is tied to Europe’s economic struggles. The index looks at economic conditions three to six months out. Dave Mattingly, NPR news, Washington.

 

　　At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 51 points at 13,829, the NASQAQ Composite down 21 at 3131, the S&P up a fraction of a point. This is NPR news in Washington.

 

　　Egyptian protesters and security forces fought near Cairo’s Tahrir Square today. Three members of the security forces were reportedly hit with buckshot. As Kimberly Adams reports from Cairo, demonstrators were trying to break down walls keeping them in the square on the eve of anniversary of Egypt's revolution.

 

　　Videos posted on Youtube showed a small but determined¹⁴ group of protesters using chains and long metal pipes to bring down a section of concrete wall blocking one of the entrances to Cairo’s Tahrir Square. State-run media reported protesters fired buckshot and threw Molotov cocktails¹⁵ at police when they tried to prevent further destruction to the walls. Police fired tear gas at the demonstrators, causing several to faint. Protesters have kept vehicles traffic out of Tahrir Square since late November. Concrete walls and police have capped protesters in, preventing them from entering streets leading to government offices and the nearby American embassy. Several opposition¹⁶ groups are planning major protests on Friday, which will be the two-year anniversary of Egypt's revolution. For NPR news, I am Kimberly Adams in Cairo.

 

　　The trial for the five men accused of gang raping¹⁷ and murdering a woman on a New Delhi bus is underway. The prosecution delivered opening statements Thursday. It was a closed courtroom and there are no details available about the proceedings¹⁸. The men are facing a maximum sentence of death by hanging if convicted. The 23-year-old female student and a male friend were attacked on December 16 as they were returning home after an evening movie. The woman died of massive injuries in a Singapore hospital two weeks later.

 

　　I am Windsor Johnson. NPR news in Washington.

1 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

2 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

3 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

4 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

5 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。

6 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

7 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

8 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

9 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

10 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

11 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

12 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

13 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

14 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

15 cocktails   

n.鸡尾酒( cocktail的名词复数 )；餐前开胃菜；混合物

参考例句：

• Come about 4 o'clock. We'll have cocktails and grill steaks. 请四点钟左右来，我们喝鸡尾酒，吃烤牛排。 来自辞典例句
• Cocktails were a nasty American habit. 喝鸡尾酒是讨厌的美国习惯。 来自辞典例句

16 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

17 raping   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的现在分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• In response, Charles VI sent a punitive expedition to Brittany, raping and killing the populace. 作为报复，查理六世派军讨伐布列塔尼，奸淫杀戮平民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The conquerors marched on, burning, killing, raping and plundering as they went. 征服者所到之处烧杀奸掠，无所不做。 来自互联网

18 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼