英国新闻听力 美国足球战胜西班牙队

A bomb blasted at a market in the Iraqi capital Baghdad has killed at least 60 people and injured more than a hundred. It comes shortly before American troops are due to withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities. Jim Muir reports.

The bomb apparently¹ hidden under a pile of vegetables on a motorized cart went off in the early evening just as people were crowding the streets after the heat of the day. It exploded in the Mraidi Market. It sells vegetables and birds inside a city, the densely² populated Shiite suburb that’s been attacked so often and so provocatively³ in the past. As the number of those killed continued to mount, it became clear that this was one of the most deadly single bomb attacks so far this year. It comes just days before American forces are to complete their withdrawal⁴ from all Iraqi towns and cities by the end of the month. There has been a surge of violence in recent days clearly linked to that deadline.

There’ve been reports of fresh clashes between riot police and demonstrators in Iran. Eyewitnesses⁵ said the security forces use batons⁶ and tear gas to break up protests by about 200 people in Teheran, although this can’t be independently confirmed.

Both the government and the opposition⁷ insisted that they won’t back down of their dispute over the reelection of President Ahmadinejad. Jeremy Bowen reports from Teheran.

Iran’s Supreme⁸ Leader Ali Khamenei is going about his business as if he had shrugged⁹ off the challenges of the opposition. He said that neither the system nor the people would give in to pressure to annul¹⁰ the election whatever the price. The opposition has been taken heavy blows from the hard hand of the state. Mir-Hossein Mousavi who believes he is the rightful president needs to get people out onto the streets, but he’s struggling to provide a lead. When he attempted to re-open his newspaper, the premises¹¹ were raided and 25 members of staff arrested.

The United States and Venezuela are to return their ambassadors to each other’s capitals following tit-for-tat expulsions last year. It follows an easing of tension since President Obama came to office. Charles Scanlon reports.

President Hugo Chavez has made clear that he wants to return to full diplomatic relations with the US, part of a more conciliatory tone he’s adopted since President Obama took office. His government says that both of Venezuela and the US will return their ambassadors in the coming days following an angry dispute last September. The US remains¹² a major market for Venezuelan oil, but despite their common trade interests, there‘s still plenty of friction¹³ between the two countries. President Chavez is today welcoming Ecuador into a regional organization that seeks to resist US influence in Latin America.

The American FBI says it’s uncovered a multimillion-dollar scam to defraud¹⁴ country’s health-care system. Officials say 53 people including some doctors have been accused of making false claims to the government medical insurance scheme Medicare. They say elderly people were paid to make claims for illnesses they never had.

America’s Central Bank, or Federal Reserve says the pace of economic decline in the United State is easing and a gradual resumption of growth could be expected. In its latest report, the Fed points to evidence that consumers’ spending is beginning to stabilize¹⁵. Andrew Walker reports.

The statement issued after a two-day policy-making meeting is consistent with a growing but not universal view that the US economy could now be close to a turning point. Early on Wednesday the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development published a new global forecast which was somewhat less gloomy than precious ones. What’s also widely shared is the view that the recovery when it comes will not be very strong in the early stages, so the Fed expects to maintain its exceptionally low interest rate for what it calls an extended period.

The Russian energy giant Gazprom has signed a joint¹⁶ Venture Agreement with Nigeria’s state-run oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum¹⁷ Corporation. President Dmitri Medvedev who’s in Nigeria says it’s part of Russian plans for investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector¹⁸ that could amount to billions of dollars. The plans include the development of a pipeline¹⁹ to carry Nigerian gas across the Sahara to Europe.

Scientists have unearthed²⁰ what they say is the world’s oldest music instrument, a flute²¹ made from a vulture-bone found in a cave in Germany. The flute is more than 35,000 years old from the time that humans began settling in Europe. Fragments of two other primitive²² flutes²³ carved from ivory were also discovered. Archaeologists say it suggests that early modern humans had a complex and creative culture.

In a major upset, the United States football team has beaten the European Champion Spain by 2 goals to 0 in the semifinal of Confederation’s Cup in South Africa. The American victory ended Spain’s 35-game unbeaten run, and prevented the Spaniards from setting a new world record of 36 matches without defeat.

伊拉克首都巴格达一个市场发生炸弹爆炸事件，已造成至少六十人死亡，一百多人受伤。爆炸就发生在美国军队计划开始从伊拉克撤军之前。Jim Muir报道。

很明显，炸弹隐藏在一辆机动货车的蔬菜堆下面，人们经历了一天的炎热之后傍晚涌到街头，随机炸弹爆炸。爆炸发生在莫莱迪市场。该市场位于市内，主要出售蔬菜和鸟类，是目前为止被攻击的最频繁最猛烈的什叶派居住地。随着死亡人数不断上升，这显然成为今年来死亡人数最多的单次爆炸事件。爆炸事件距离美国按计划月底从伊拉克所有城镇撤军还有几天。最近暴力事件急剧上升，显然与美军撤退期限有关。

有报告称，伊朗防暴警察和示威者之间发生新的冲突。目击者称，安全警察使用警棍和催泪瓦斯驱散德黑兰参加抗议活动的200多人。然而，消息还没有得到可靠证实。

政府和反对党双方据称不会放弃他们之间对总统内贾德再次当选的争议。Jeremy Bowen在德黑兰报道。伊朗最高领袖哈梅内伊继续其工作，似乎其并不在意反对派的挑战。他说，无论是政府还是人民都不会向反对派投降，无论付出什么代价，都不会将选举结果作废。反对派由于政府的强硬路线受到重大打击。认为自己才是合法总统的穆萨维需要将人们再次请上街头，但是他正在努力找出领导者。在他试图重开报纸时，报社遭遇突然袭击，25名员工被捕。

在经历了去年的驱逐之后，美国和委内瑞拉将派遣大使重回双方首都。自奥巴马上台之后，双方之间的紧张关系有所缓和。Charles Scanlon报道。

委内瑞拉总统查韦斯表明，他希望与美国恢复全面的外交关系，自奥巴马上台以来，他的语调一直比较温和。政府称，去年11月份双方发生强烈争端，在未来几天，委内瑞拉和美国双方都将派遣大使重回对方首都。美国仍然是委内瑞拉主要的石油市场，但是即使双方之间存在共同的贸易利益，两国之间仍有很多摩擦。查韦斯今天欢迎厄瓜多尔加入一个区域性组织，该组织拒绝美国在拉丁美洲的影响力。

美国FBI称其揭露了一起价值数百万美元的诈骗案，企图欺骗国家的医保系统。官员称，53人，包括一些医生，被指控向国家医保部门虚假报销。他们说，涉案人员付钱给一些老年人，指使他们报销从未患过的疾病。

美国中央银行联邦储蓄称美国经济下滑的速度有所缓解，预期将会逐渐恢复增长。在最新的报告中，美联储指出，有证据表明消费者的支出开始稳定。Andrew Walker报道。

该声明发布在两天的政策制定会议之后，越来越多的人但并不是普遍的看法认为美国经济开始接近转折点。周三早上，经济合作和发展组织发表了对全球经济相对更加乐观的新预测。另一个比较普遍的观点是，当经济复苏开始出现时，在早期阶段不会非常明显，所以美联储将继续保持现在非常低的利率水平，作为扩展期。

俄罗斯能源巨头，该公司已经与乌克兰的Naftogaz与尼日利亚国有石油公司尼日利亚国家石油公司签署联合协议。俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫在尼日利亚说，这是俄罗斯在尼日利亚石油和天然气部门数十亿美元投资的一部分。该计划包括发展管道，将尼日利亚天然气通过撒哈拉运输到欧洲。

科学家发掘出据称世界上最古老的乐器，在德国一个山洞中发现的秃鹰骨头制作的长笛。该长笛已有35,000年的历史，从人类开始在欧洲定居的时候就有了。科学家还发现了两个用象牙制作的长笛的碎片。考古学家称，这表明，早期的现代人类拥有复杂和创造性的文化。

在南非的联合会杯足球赛半决赛中，美国队以2：1击败欧洲冠军西班牙队。美国队的胜利结束了西班牙队35场连胜的记录，阻止了西班牙队创造36场不败的世界纪录。

1 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。

2 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

3 provocatively   

参考例句：

• Democracy or dictatorship, the golden ships still hung in the sky and shone provocatively. 民主也好，独裁也罢，那些金晃晃的飞船依然高悬天际，闪熠发光，向我们挑衅。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

5 eyewitnesses   

目击者( eyewitness的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The examination of all the eyewitnesses took a week. 对所有证人的质询用了一周的时间。
• Several eyewitnesses testified that they saw the officers hit Miller in the face. 几位目击证人证明他们看见那几个警官打了米勒的脸。

6 batons   

n.（警察武器）警棍( baton的名词复数 )；（乐队指挥用的）指挥棒；接力棒

参考例句：

• There were many riot policemen with batons. 有许多带警棍的防暴警察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Chinese police fight? Number one is a person with batons to fight! 满街飘的中国国旗，是一个老华侨在事发时那出来分给大家的，很感动，真的，从来一向多一事不如少一事的中国人今天团结到一起站出来反抗。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

9 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 annul   

v.宣告…无效，取消，废止

参考例句：

• They have the power to alter or annul inappropriate decisions of their own standing committees.他们有权改变或者撤销本级人民代表大会常务委员会不适当的决定。
• The courts later found grounds to annul the results,after the king urged them to sort out the "mess".在国王敦促法庭收拾烂摊子后，法庭随后宣布废除选举结果。

11 premises   

n.建筑物，房屋

参考例句：

• According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定，场内不准饮酒。
• All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行，不用送到外面去做。

12 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。

13 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

14 defraud   

vt.欺骗，欺诈

参考例句：

• He passed himself off as the managing director to defraud the bank.他假冒总经理的名义诈骗银行。
• He is implicated in the scheme to defraud the government.他卷入了这起欺骗政府的阴谋。

15 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

16 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

17 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

18 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

19 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

20 unearthed   

出土的（考古）

参考例句：

• Many unearthed cultural relics are set forth in the exhibition hall. 展览馆里陈列着许多出土文物。
• Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。

21 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

22 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

23 flutes   

长笛( flute的名词复数 )； 细长香槟杯（形似长笛）

参考例句：

• The melody is then taken up by the flutes. 接着由长笛奏主旋律。
• These flutes have 6open holes and a lovely bright sound. 笛子有6个吹气孔，奏出的声音响亮清脆。