澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-12-30

 A major police operation is underway in Sydney's inner west. A number of streets have been blocked off around the Chinese consulate¹ in Camperdown. It follows reports of a robbery in the area. Gunshots were heard early this morning and it's believed one person is held up in the consulate. 

 

There has been more bloodshed in Syria despite the presence of Arab League observers. Activists² say security forces have killed about 40 people in the latest round of violence. Most of the deaths have occurred in areas being visited by the monitors. 

 

The Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory has reopened. Locals are now returning to their homes to assess flood damage caused by tropical cyclone³ Grant. Flash flooding took out bridges and railway lines with some drivers stranded⁴ for days. Dozens of cars and trucks were backed up for at least a kilometer, waiting to get across the damaged bridge. 

 

Sixty people have been evacuated⁵ after a fire broke out in block of flats in the inner Sydney suburb of Paddington early this morning. Two people have been taken to hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation. A firefighter suffered minor⁶ injuries when he fell through a burnt-out floor while fighting another fire in the crews. A man was also taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

1 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

4 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

5 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。