澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-11-24

 The threat of war on the Korean peninsula looms¹ after one of the worst clashes in 60 years. Two South Korean soldiers were killed and 19 other people were injured when the North fired 50 artillery² shells at the southern island of Yeonpyeong. South Korea returned fire with 80 shells and has threatened Pyongyang with missile strikes. The former US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill says China must take an active role in easing the tensions. 

 

Cambodian authorities say the number of people killed in a stampede is likely to rise. At least 378 people were killed and 750 injured when panic struck in the capital Phnom Penh yesterday. 

 

Mine authorities in New Zealand have defended their decision to show CCTV vision of Friday’s explosion. There’s been no contact from the miners and authorities say the situation is getting bleaker³ by the hour. 

 

Liberal Senator Julian McGauran has called for the Indigenous⁴ welcome to country to be dropped from the opening of Parliament each day. The Indigenous statement of recognition has been made at the start of each sitting along with the Lord’s Prayer. 

 

And the date has been set for a British royal wedding in April next year. Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry on the 29th of April. Westminster Abbey has been chosen as the venue⁵. The royal family and the Middletons will pay for the wedding.

1 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

3 bleaker   

阴冷的( bleak的比较级 )； （状况）无望的； 没有希望的； 光秃的

参考例句：

• Horoscopes are merely harmless escapism from an ever-bleaker world. 占星术只不过是让人逃避越发令人沮丧的世界的无害消遣罢了。
• On the ground the mood is bleaker. 具体形势更加严峻。

4 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

5 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。