英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-09-20

 Tony Abbott is being urged to re-consider his election promise not to change the GST. Western Australia's Liberal Premier¹ Colin Barnett says the tax is not raising enough money and needs to be broadened or increased. The ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has backed his call and she's urging other state and territory leaders to do the same.

 

Three people have died in seprate house fires overnight in Melbourne's west. Fire crews are unable to save two people trapped  in a burning unite at Deer Park in the early hours.And in Queensland,a two-year-old boy was killed when flames engulfed² a timber home in north Toowoomba. 

 

The American banking³ giant JP Morgan has been fined nearly a billion dollars for violating security laws.The bank lost more than six billion dollars as a result of complex deals known as the "London Whale" trades.

 

Pope Francis says the Catholic church is too focused on preaching about abortion⁴, gays and contraception and needs to be more merciful. He's warned the church's moral structure could "fall like a house of cards" unless it changes.

 

Security forces have again clashed with Muslim Brotherhood⁵ supporters in Egypt's capital Cairo. Violence erupted when hundreds of people and armed troops launched a raid on the Kerdasa district in an effort to re-assert control over the area. Several hours into the operaton, troops had to take cover as armed guards responded with gunfire.

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

4 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

5 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。