NPR美国国家公共电台 NPR 2014-04-23

 The Obama administration says it is looking into whether toxic¹ chemicals may have been deployed² in the areas of Syria that currently control by rebel forces. White House spokesman Jay Carney says there is evidence of new chemical weapon used in ongoing³ conflict NNN President Bashar al-Assad and anti-government forces. 

 

We have indications of the use of toxic industrial chemical probably chlorine in Syria this month in the opposition⁴ dominated village of Kfar Zeita. We are examining allegations that the government was responsible. 

 

On Sunday, French President Francois Hollande at the European radio interview said there are several elements suggesting recent use of chemical weapons in Syria but no definitive⁵ proof. US is working with the UN and other agents to get more details.

 

More than 32,000 runners took part in this year’s Boston Marathon about 5,000 more than last year. NPR’s Jeff Brady reports for the first time since 1983 an American won first place in the men’s division.

 

The third try at the Boston Marathon was a success for runner Meb Keflezighi.

 

I am almost 39, and just ran a personal best, and just won the Boston Marathon, I mean it could not happen at a better, a better time, and I am blessed.

 

Keflezighi finished the 26.2 mile course in 2 hours 8 minutes 37 seconds. Rita Jeptoo from Kenya won the women’s division. She also won last year and said she chose to return after the tragic⁶ bombing that left three people died.

 

To support people in here in Boston and to show people in here in Boston we are together.

 

This year’s field also included 5,000 runners who are not able to finish last year because of the attacks. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Boston.

 

The Obama administration is signing with US steel company in dispute over imports of steel reinforcing bar or rebar, products widely used to strengthen concrete structures. NPR’s John Ydstie reports Commerce Department has decided⁷ the cheap rebar from Mexico and Turkey unfairly harm US producers.

 

The decision by Commerce Department means steel rebar imported from Turkey and Mexico will be subject to immediate⁸ duties, the duty’s range from 10% to 66% on rebar from Mexico and roughly 2% product imported from Turkey. Manufactures from those two countries denied they are violating trade laws but US steel producers say the two countries are unfairly undercutting US prices. For example, they say the Turkish government is subsidizing steel from that country. The issue prompted 31 members of congress both Democrats⁹ and Republicans to sign a letter to the Commerce Department calling for a full enforcement of US trade laws. A final ruling on the case will come this summer. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

 

Public reports say automaker Ford¹⁰ will name its current Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields to succeed Alan Mulally to Chief Executive of the company. Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the company says the 60-year-old Mulally will step down at the end of the year. 

 

On Wall Street, the DOW was up 40 points.

 

This is NPR.

 

Suicide bombings in Iraq have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and left nearly 70 others injured Monday. The deadest attack at town south of Baghdad, a suicide bomber¹¹ warped¹² explosive laden¹³ vehicle in a police checkpoint, killing¹⁴ five policemen and seven civilians¹⁵. According to one police officer, 19 people were hurt. Bombings in NNNN become near deadly occurrence as the country counts down the parliamentary reelections to be held April 30th.

 

Saudi Arabia is reporting a jump in cases of MERS, a potentially fatal respiratory illness that recently emerge in the Middle East. NPR’s Jason Beaubien reports Saudi officials have announced roughly 50 new cases of the disease in the last week.

 

The MERS was first detected in Saudi Arabia two years ago, and country has only reported 244 cases since then so a spike¹⁶ of nearly four dozens of cases in a week is significant. Health officials are concerned because the disease appears to be similar to the SARS virus that killed hundreds of people in Asia in late 2002 and 2003. There is no cure or vaccine¹⁷ for MERS and it tends to kill about a third of people who come down with it. Late last week, health official in United Arab Emirates said four healthcare workers have been infected with MERS and now Malaysia and Greece are both reporting their first MERS cases among men who recently travel to Saudi Arabia. Jason Beaubien, NPR News, Washington. 

 

Device-maker Apple in their further effort to go green says our plans begin offering free recycling for all its used products. Company vows¹⁸ to move toward power its Apple store offices and data centers, using renewable energy to reduce pollution. Company releases details of its new program on environmental section on its website. Another thing is company’s plans to increase its line on solar and wind power.

 

1 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

2 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

3 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。

4 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。

5 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

6 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

11 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

12 warped   

adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾，

参考例句：

• a warped sense of humour 畸形的幽默感
• The board has warped. 木板翘了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

14 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

15 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

16 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

17 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

18 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。