美联社新闻一分钟 2006-03-20

1. The Hawaiian Island of Kauai is bracing¹ for several more days of rain. This's just days after a dam burst into reservoir killing² up to 7 people; the state of emergency remains³ in effect on the rain-soaked island to March 26.

2. Violence continues in Iraq on the third anniversary of the US-led invasion. Two civilians⁴ were killed, ten others wounded when gunmen attacked US troops stations at the governor's office in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. No word that any American soldiers were hurt.

3. President Bush says he's "encouraged by the progress Iraqis are making toward forming a unity⁵ government." The president made the remarks after returning from Camp David. He also asked Americans to remember the sacrifices of US troops.

4. This little piggy, fits in your pocket? Five newborn piglets no bigger than a pint⁶ of beer have created a stir at a farm in Devon, England. The pigs known as Pennywell miniatures will only grow to half the size of a normal pig.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. brace⁷ :verb [R]
to prepare yourself physically⁸ or mentally for something unpleasant:
e.g. The passengers were told to brace themselves for a crash landing.

2. reservoir :noun [C]
a place for storing liquid, especially a natural or artificial lake providing water for a city or other area

3. piggy : noun [C] CHILD'S WORD
a pig:
e.g. Look at those lovely little piggies, Martha!

4. piglet :noun [C]
a baby pig:
e.g. The sow had eight piglets.

5. pint :noun [C]
a measure for liquid equal to about half a litre:
e.g. a pint of milk

6. miniature :noun [C]
a smaller-than-usual version of something

1 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 pint   

n.品脱

参考例句：

• I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
• In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前，花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。

7 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。

8 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。