美联社新闻一分钟 2006-03-21

1. Sunday marked the 3rd anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. With dwindling¹ public support, President Bush took to the road Monday giving a speech in Cleveland. He talked about the progress being made in Iraq.

2. It's spring, but you wouldn't know it in South Dakota after a weekend snowstorm dumped nearly 18 inches in some parts, forcing the closure of Interstate 90 for a day.

3. The trial of Andrea Yates has been delayed until June. The Houston mother of five was previously² convicted for drowning her children in 2001, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Her defence attorney's asked for the delay because some key witnesses weren't able to testify.

4. And it's a boy for real estate mogul Donald Trump³. The Apprentice⁴ star's third wife gave birth Monday morning. The new little Trump's name is Barron.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. dwindle⁵ : verb
to become smaller in size or amount, or fewer in number:
e.g. Her hopes of success in the race dwindled⁶ last night as the weather became worse.

2. interstate : noun [C]
a fast wide road which goes between states and connects important cities in the United States

3. mogul : noun [C]
an important person who has great wealth or power:

1 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

5 dwindle   

v.逐渐变小（或减少）

参考例句：

• The factory's workforce has dwindled from over 4,000 to a few hundred.工厂雇员总数已经从4,000多人减少到几百人。
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority.他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。

6 dwindled   

v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
• His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》