英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-09-03

 The ABC’s Vote Campass shows voters trust Tony Abbott slightly more than Kevin Rudd. With just days to go before the federal election, voters have rated the opposition¹ leader more highly on questions of trust and competence². More than one million people have now responded to the online survey. 

 

Kevin Rudd has given a passionate³ defense⁴ of gay marriage and his own Christianity. The prime minister was being quizzed about his support for same sex marriage by a pastor⁵ on the ABC’s Q&A program last night. Mr Rudd defended his change of heart, saying people don’t choose their sexuality.

 

France has now released an intelligence report which it says shows evidence of a massive and coordinated⁶ chemical attack by the Syrian regime. The report includes satellite images, showing last month’s attack came from government held areas near Damascus. French MPs are preparing to debate possible action against Syria. 

 

Police are heading to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney this morning to retrieve⁷ a body that was at site yesterday. An air service helicopter was on a training flight when it saw the body. Police believe it could be missing Sydney man Gary Tweddle who vanished in the area almost six weeks ago. 

 

And a 64-year-old American woman has become the first person to swim from Cuba to the United States without a shark cage. Diana Nyad took 53 hours to reach Key West in Florida. She says her successful swim shows you’re never too old to realize the dreams.

1 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。

2 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

3 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

6 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 retrieve   

vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索

参考例句：

• He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
• The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。