NPR 2012-03-21

 The case of an unarmed black teen who’s fatally shot by a neighborhood watch captain will go before a grand jury in central Florida in April. Authorities say Trayvon Martin was killed during a confrontation¹ with George Zimmerman last month in a gated community. Zimmerman says it was self-defense. But an attorney for Martin's family, Benjamin Crump, says 911 calls released to the public reveal just the opposite.

 

“George Zimmerman said to the police about he’ll be suspicious and up to no good is completely contradicted by this phone log, showing all day he was just talking to his friends.”

 

Martin's death has sparked protests for Zimmerman to be charged.

 

Voting in the primary is underway in the crucial state of Illinois. Turnout appears steady, especially in many Republican areas of that state. But NPR's Cheryl Corley's report said some election officials are reporting big problems with their ballots³.

 

Big problems indeed, election officials say nearly a quarter of the counties in Illinois are reporting that some primary ballots are just too large and don't fit in voting scanning machines. The Illinois State Board of Election says all votes will be counted, but it might take longer than usual in the counties where there are problems. It's a smooth operation though in Winnetka, a suburb north of Chicago. That's where Republican Allison Buchi, a stay-at-home mom, came out to vote for Mitt⁴ Romney in the Republican presidential race.

 

“I think he has the best chance at beating Obama.” 

 

“That's simple?”

 

“That's simple.”

 

Even some Democrats⁵ have asked for Republican ballots here. Cheryl Corley, NPR News.

 

The US commander of the Afghanistan war says coalition⁶ forces are on track to ensuring Afghanistan doesn't become a haven⁷ again for al-Qaeda or Taliban control. The Gen. John Allen paints a complicated picture of the US path toward withdrawing in two years. On Capitol Hill today, Allen reminded congressional members of the dangers NATO and US forces will continue to face.

 

“Just since the first of January, the coalition has lost 60 brave troops in action from six different nations. Thirteen of them were killed at the hands of what appeared to have been Afghan security forces, some of whom were motivated, we believe, in part by the mishandling of religious materials.”

 

Allen on Capitol Hill today.

 

Peyton Manning is officially a Denver Broncos. Pro² Football's four-time MVP finalized⁸ a 96-million-dollar, five-year contract with Denver today, two weeks after the quarterback was cut from the Colts. Manning, who have been recovering from multiple neck surgeries, told reporters moments ago that he’s gearing up for a tough workout.

 

“I’m gonna start right away on that process. I have a lot work to do in getting to where I wanna be from a health standpoint and, you know, learning this offense⁹. This is going to take a ton of work, and so sooner I can get started, the better.”

 

Manning will wear No. 18 on his jersey¹⁰ as he did in Indianapolis.

 

Before the close, Dow was down 70 points.

 

This is NPR.

 

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck near the Mexican resort town of  Acapulco. There have been no immediate¹¹ reports of injuries or major damage, but authorities are warning of possibly strong aftershocks in the coming hours. 

 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has notified members of Congress that ten European countries and Japan should be exempt¹² from sanctions because they have reduced their reliance on Iranian oil. Details from NPR's Michele Kelemen.

 

A top State Department official is praising Japan for cutting its imports from Iran by somewhere between 15% and 22%. The official called that extraordinary, given the great hardship Japan has been facing since the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The official who spoke¹³ to reporters on background says Japan and the European Union, which is imposing¹⁴ an embargo¹⁵ on Iranian oil, should serve as models to others hoping to avoid US sanctions. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

 

In France, a search is intensifying¹⁶ for the gunmen who killed a teacher and three children at a Jewish school yesterday, as well as three soldiers last week in the Toulouse area. 

 

Stocks have been trading lower today in part because of investors’ concern about the Chinese economy. Asian shares fell sharply yesterday following a report that home prices had fallen in 45 Chinese cities last month. The trouble in the Chinese economy, of course, threatens the global economic recovery. 

 

Before the close on Wall Street, Dow was down nearly 70 points, more than 0.5%, at 13,170; NASDAQ off four points, with the S&P 500 down four.

 

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

3 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

5 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》

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

8 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

10 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

11 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

12 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。

13 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

14 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

15 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

16 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史