CNN 2009-12-23

Fridays are awesome¹, even when it is our last one of this semester. I am Carl Azuz, and you are tuned² in the CNN Student News. First up today, a quick check of our headlines.

Strike is off, the judge says plans for a walkout by a British Airway's Cabin Crew cannot happen. As we reported yesterday, this strike which would have last through the holidays could have effected a million passengers’ holiday travel plans. But the judge has blocked it from happening. Now the airline says it hopes the Cabin Crews Labor³ Union would take some time to think about its next steps. The union representatives say this dispute is not over and unless the two sides can come to a solution, they could vote to strike again, but after Christmas.

Running out of time, the warning from Secretary of State Hilary Clinton yesterday to the attendees at a global climate conference. This meeting is being aimed at coming up with a climate change agreement. The critics say that as of Thursday, there had been little if any progress. The talks seem to hit a sort of standstill yesterday, leaving the chances of making a deal before the summit ends today in question. To get the latest on whether or not they did make that agreement, head to CNN.com and that is also where you can check up on the debate over healthcare reform.

Right now, the debate is fierce, the version of the bill being considered by the US Senate is getting criticism from Republicans, Democrats⁴ and even an important labor group. President Obama is urging Senators to accept the compromise and pass it. But even if they do, it would still have to be combined with the House version and then both the House and Senate would have to approve that final bill.

1 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

2 tuned   

adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• The resort is tuned in to the tastes of young and old alike. 这个度假胜地适合各种口味，老少皆宜。
• The instruments should be tuned up before each performance. 每次演出开始前都应将乐器调好音。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》