AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-01-22_在线英语听力室

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1.President Barack Obama got down to work today, his first full day in office. Officials say he called a number of leaders in the Middle East, telling them he'll work to consolidate¹ the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

2.Treasury² Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner says he was careless in failing to pay 34,000 dollars in Social Security and Medicare taxes earlier this decade. But he told the Senate Finance Committee he now has paid all that he owes.

3.Senator Ted³ Kennedy has been released from the hospital. He suffered a seizure⁴ during an inaugural⁵ luncheon⁶ at the Capitol yesterday. Kennedy's office confirmed that he left Washington Hospital Center this morning where he had been resting.

4.Maybe these cowboys should give up their skis and keep their boots on. You are looking at the annual downhill cowboy skiing competition that involves slalom and lassoing skills. Of course that’s it if they can stay on their feet.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.seizure: n.

a sudden condition in which someone cannot control the movements of their body, which continues for a short time [= fit]

2.luncheon: n.

formal lunch

3.slalom: n.

a race for people on skis or in canoes down a curving course marked by flags

4.lassoing: n.

an act of using a lasso (a rope with one end tied in a circle) to catch cattle and horses, especially in the western US

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收听单词发音

1 consolidate
v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并
参考例句：
The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。 The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

2 treasury
n.宝库；国库，金库；文库
参考例句：
The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。 This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

3 ted
vt.翻晒，撒，撒开
参考例句：
The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。 She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

4 seizure
n.没收；占有；抵押
参考例句：
The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。 The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

5 inaugural
adj.就职的；n.就职典礼
参考例句：
We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。 Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

6 luncheon
n.午宴，午餐，便宴
参考例句：
We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。 I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

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AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-01-22