澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-09-07

After two weeks, Australians should find out today just who'll be getting the keys to the Lodge¹. The three independents yesterday wrapped up a deal with both major parties on parliamentary reform. And West Australian National's MP Tony Crook² has confirmed he'll side with the Coalition³. Now, that clears the way for Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter to announce who they'll back to form a minority government.

It's another anxious day for residents in Victoria's flood-affected areas. Up to 200 homes are under threat in Shepparton in the state's northeast. Nearby in Wangaratta, dozens of people have been huddled⁴ in an emergency centre. And in western Victoria, floodwaters are expected to peak in Horsham this morning.

Residents of earthquake damaged Christchurch have been warned about the spread of disease. As the clean-up continues, New Zealand's government has approved an initial emergency package. Up to 2/3 of the city's 160,000 homes are now damaged.

In Pakistan, a suicide bomber⁵ has killed 19 people, including four children. The attacker rammed⁶ a truck laden⁷ with explosives into a police station in the country's northwest. The Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility for that attack.

And Greenpeace says it will appeal against the conviction of two Japanese anti-whaling protestors charged with stealing a box of whale meat. The pair received a one-year suspended jail sentence. They say they were trying to uncover corruption⁸ in the Japanese whaling industry.

1 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

2 crook   

v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处)

参考例句：

• He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子，他要我向他认错。
• She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

5 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。

6 rammed   

v.夯实（土等）( ram的过去式和过去分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• Two passengers were injured when their taxi was rammed from behind by a bus. 公共汽车从后面撞来，出租车上的两位乘客受了伤。
• I rammed down the earth around the newly-planted tree. 我将新栽的树周围的土捣硬。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 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。

8 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。