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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The Beijing Hour
Morning Edition
Paul James with you on this Tuesday, April 28, 2015.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, coming to you live from the Chinese Capital.
Coming up on our program this morning...
Officials in Nepal are warning the death toll1 from Saturday's earthquake, which is already close to 4-thousand, is expected to continue to rise.
Chinese authorities have laid out a new long-term strategy for the Traditional Chinese Medicine sector2.
World leaders are coming together in New York to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In Business.... new stats show industrial production in Liaoning has contracted through the first quarter.
In Sports.... China's round-the-world sailing squad3 holding a slight lead in the current leg to the northeastern United States.
Top News
Nepal government declares national crisis as quake toll tops 4000
The Nepalese government now says the death toll from Saturday's earthquake is now close to 4-thousand.
Damaged roads, broken communication lines and landslides6, as well as a lack of earth-moving equipment in rural areas is making relief efforts that much more difficult.
More than 1.4-million people in Nepal have been displaced by the 7.8-magnitude quake and its subsequent aftershocks.
The Chinese government is set to dispatch another search and rescue team into Nepal later on today.
Chinese Foreign Ministry7 spokesperson Hong Lei says the crews will join the 55 other PLA members who arrived in Kathmandu yesterday.
"The Chinese military rescue team and medical team totaling 170 members will leave for Kathmandu in groups. The 186-ton relief supplies prepared by the Chinese government, including tents and blankets, will be delivered to Nepal by four planes."
For more on what's happening on the ground in the quake zone, CRI's Spencer Musick spoke8 earlier with Prakash Babu Paudel, a local journalist based in Kathmandu.
Back anchor:
Prakash Babu Paudel, a local journalist based in Kathmandu, speaking to CRI's Spencer Musick.
25 dead in Tibet following Nepal earthquake, aids being rushed in
Anchor
Officials in Tibet are warning the death toll from this past weekend's earthquake in neighboring Nepal is likely to rise now that transportation and communication links in the region are being restored.
So far the number of dead in Tibet stands at 25.
CRI's Qi Zhi has more.
Reporter
The city and region of Xigaze, Tibet's 2nd largest city, which is home to more than 700-thousand, has been dramatically impacted by this weekend's massive quake in Nepal.
Highways in the counties have been blocked by multiple landslides.
But the focus of the relief efforts now is in the town of Zham, a border community linking Tibet in southwest China and Nepal.
Most of the buildings in the town have been deemed unsafe to live.
Over a dozen sections on the only highway into the town have been blocked.
People living in Zham have had to endure more than 20 aftershocks so far.
This has led to a number of landslides in the town, which lies on the southern slopes of the Tibetan plateau.
Zham is in urgent need of tents, drinking water, food and medicine for the 35-hundred people displaced by the quake.
15 residents were critically injured during Saturday's quake.
Food stocks in the city are only expected to last until Friday.
Emergency aid is being rushed into Tibet, with military helicopters dropping goods in Nyalam and Gyirong counties.
However, the relief efforts are being hindered by bad weather.
Yang Lei with the Chengdu Military Area Command in neighboring Sichuan says the topography of the region itself is also a major challenge.
"Our main challenge is the weather in this high-altitude region. We have to fly pass two key mountain passes, the Kunlun Pass and the Tanglha Pass -- both are at more than 5,000 meters above the sea level. The weather at these two passes is highly unpredictable, especially in the afternoon. We're also facing intermittent10 rain and snow these days in the northern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau."
Li Yigang with the National Earthquake Response Support Service says the rescue teams themselves also face particular challenges.
"First and foremost we have to face the lack of oxygen in the region, which will affect the rescuers' body condition and their work efficiency. Second, the highland12 areas are prone13 to geological disasters and we're already seeing key roads blocked, preventing the delivery of relief materials and personnel."
A total of 66 telecom base stations were damaged in the first earthquake.
29 of them have since been repaired.
Meanwhile, a delegation16 of central government officials representing different departments has arrived in Tibet to help coordinate17 the disaster relief efforts.
For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.
China cancels spring climbs on Tibetan side of Mt. Qomolangma
Chinese authorities have announced the spring climbing season on the Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma, or Mount Everest, has been canceled in the wake of Saturday’s massive earthquake.
In making the announcement, authorities also say the roughly 400 mountaineers who were on Qomolangma at the time of the earthquake have managed to make it back to safe locations.
Saturday's massive earthquake triggered a series of avalanches18 on the world's highest mountain.
The slides have left at least one Chinese national dead.
Another is still missing.
China's First Homegrown Seaplane near Completion as Tail Part Delivered
The tail section of the first seaplane developed in China AG600 has been delivered to its manufacturing base in Shaanxi.
Delivery of the AG600's tail section is the last component19 needed to finish the construction of the water bomber20.
Huang Lingcai, chief designer of the plane, says the tail section of the aircraft will be their biggest challenge.
"As you can see from the tail section, the tail itself is a regular shape. However, the lower portion is bowl-shaped. Because amphibious aircraft have special structural21 requirements, they are much more difficult to design."
The AG600 can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds.
Testing of the new aircraft is due to begin next year.
First national traditional Chinese medicine plan released
New long-term plans for the Traditional Chinese Medicine sector have been released by the Chinese government.
Li Hong with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology says technological24 advancements26 in the harvesting of TCM products is one of the priorities.
"The overuse of pesticides27 and fertilizers is very common in the artificially planting of Chinese medicine. This has led to a decrease of the quality and effectiveness of the herbs."
The new plans also involve a wide-ranging planting campaign.
Wang Liming with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology says the plan should help fill the gaps in the market for TCM products.
"We plan to take five years to artificially plant another 100 kinds of wild herbs. By 2020, we hope to meet 90 percent of the market need."
The 5-year program laid-out by the central government also gives provincial-level governments more control over the development of TCM farms.
The US and Japanese governments have laid-out new plans for increased defence cooperation.
This includes plans for increased cooperation in both regional and global areas.
The announcement comes following the first day of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's week-long visit to the United States.
His administration has reinterpreted the country's pacifist consitution to allow for the Japanese military to take part in military operations beyond the scope of self-defense.
Shinzo Abe is due to meet with US President Barack Obama later on this Tuesday.
Anchor:
A collection of activist30 groups from South Korea have sent off a joint31 letter to leading US politicians, asking US lawmakers to press Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to use his time in Washington this week to issue an apology for Japan's wartime aggression34.
Four different groups from South Korea have issued the request to US vice11-President Joe Biden, House Speaker John Boehner and Mark Lippert, the U.S. ambassador in South Korea.
Previous speeches by Japanese leaders to the US Congress have included apologies for the country's wartime past.
However, many observers are suggesting Abe is unlikely to address the issue in a significant way.
For more on what can be expected from Shinzo Abe's speech tomorrow, CRI's Tu Yun spoke earlier with Doctor Teng Jianqun, Director of Research with the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.
Back anchor
That is Dr. Teng Jianqun, Director of Research with the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, speaking with CRI's Tu Yun.
NPT Review Conference stresses nuclear safety
World leaders are gathering35 in New York to review and update the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukio Amano says one of the leading topics to be discussed will be North Korea.
"I remain seriously concerned about the nuclear programme of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). It is nearly six years since agency inspectors36 were asked to leave the DPRK."
Speaking to reporters ahead of the IAEA session, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif is calling on non-member states to join the NPT.
"We underlined the importance of universal adherence37 to the treaty, and call upon all non-parties to the treaty to accede38 to the treaty as non-nuclear weapons states and place all their nuclear facilities under IAEA fullscope safeguards."
The NPT conference, held every 5-years, is also expected to address the slow pace of disarmament by the US and Russia.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong is China's main representative at the conference.
Indonesia confirms the execution of 8 foreign death row
Indonesian authorities have confirmed the planned execution of a group of foreign nationals this week.
The Indonesian Attorney-General's office says the 9 foreigners currently on death-row have exhausted39 their legal options.
Word of the impending40 executions comes amid last-ditch attempts by the Australian government to have the lives of two of their nationals spared.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop41 is suggesting the ring leaders of the so-called "Bali Nine," Andrew Chan and Myruan Sukmaran, should not be executed while they appeal to Indonesia's Constitutional Court.
"There have been some allegations made in relation to the trial and I said that Australia, indeed the international community, would expect those legal processes to be concluded before any other action was taken."
Indonesia's Judicial42 Commission is investigating claims of corruption43 in the pair's original trial.
The two Australians were sentenced to death in 2006 for attempting to smuggle44 heroin45 out of Indonesia.
The executions are expected to be carried out within the next 24 to 48-hours.
Clashes Erupt after Freddie Gray's Funeral
Hundreds of young people have faced off with police in the US city of Baltimore following the funeral for a young black man killed in police custody46 this past week.
Local authorities in Baltimore say they have been receiving "credible48 threats" to law enforcement.
Baltimore lawyer Billy Murphy Junior says the entire community of Baltimore needs to be united.
"The eyes of this country are all on us because they want to see whether we got the stuff to make this right. They want to know whether our leadership is up to the task, they want to know whether we going to act as one people instead of a community divided by the superficialities of race."
25-year old Freddie Gray died last week after being arrested by police in Baltimore.
The arresting officers involved are currently under suspension while the investigation54 into the case moves forward.
Automakers Eyes China's New-energy Vehicle Market
Anchor
A record 103 new-energy vehicles are on display by both domestic and foreign auto49 manufacturers at this year's Shanghai Auto Show.
CRI's Yu Yang reports.
Reporter
Shifting from the focus on the display of vehicle designs seen in previous years, in this year's Shanghai Auto Show, so-called green auto cars become a priority.
Zheng Gang, general manager of BJEV, a Beijing-based auto maker32, says the company is in cooperation with an Italian auto manufacturer to design a world-leading new-energy car, which is expected to hit the market by the end of this year.
"This electric car is completely newly designed, rather than a modification55 from traditional cars. Currently, only two mass-produced car models in the world are made with this technology. One is BMW's I3 and the other is Tesla's model S. So this car will bring the Chinese domestic brands into the world top ranking of the new-energy vehicle producers."
World major automakers including Audi, BMW and Volvo all displayed the plug-in hybrid vehicles in the show.
Industry insiders say they have seen huge potential in the new-energy car sector, but add that nurturing57 a mature market still takes joint efforts from producers, government and the society.
Wang Hao, the US automaker Tesla's north region sales manager, says the company's future in China needs support from government policies and the general public.
"We hope that everyone can join us to understand that new-energy vehicles are development direction in the future. We also hope that the whole society can pay attention to this industry and the Chinese government can provide support in this regard. Then this sector will have a faster and healthier development in the future."
Observers say the Chinese government's huge subsidies58 for the purchase of new-energy vehicles has shown the country's determination to develop this green sector.
As one of the seven strategic emerging industries promoted by the government, with the advancement25 of technological innovation and more incentive59 policies, the development of China's new-energy vehicles is expected to go on the fast track in the coming years.
The ten-day Shanghai Auto Show, which will conclude on Wednesday, has attracted more than 2,000 domestic and international exhibitors.
For CRI, I'm Yu Yang.
Beijing Experiments On Seniors Canteen Service
Anchor
A new pilot project has been launched here in Beijing to offer subsidized meals to the elderly in the capital.
CRI's Li Ningjing has more.
Reporter
At the Beijing Chess Institutes' canteen, a staff has ladled out the lunch for an old lady. It's a two-dish combo consisting of fish braised in brown sauce and stewed60 Tofu served with rice. The lunch costs her approximately 15 yuan, or 2.5 US dollars, way cheaper than in a regular restaurant.
This is part of an initiative called Senior's Dining Table launched by the Beijing local government. The diners are seniors from the Beijing Evergreen61 Community in Dongcheng District.
While they eat, contentment is written all over their faces.
"I like the different kinds of fish and meat dishes they serve here. Tastes better than what we cook at home."
"It's good value-for-money. Much cheaper than what we buy at restaurants. And hygienic and safe too."
"This canteen belongs to a government institution. The food safety and hygiene62 issues have all been taken care of. And it's cheap and affordable63 for us."
The canteen opens at 11 am every day to senior citizens of the community. They can choose from a healthy menu which comprises of six meat, fish and vegetable dishes served with free soup. Desert options are also available.
Li Mingche from the Civil Affairs Bureau of Stadium Road Community Center explained how they came up with this program.
"Our community is not a business district, so we have very few catering64 businesses around here. There isn't even a bus stop close by. So it's not that easy for seniors to go out to dine. Our community has over 7,000 senior citizens over the age of 60. Their demand for food catering is an imminent65 issue."
Taking into consideration of such factors, Evergreen community opted66 to cooperate with canteens belonging to government institutions close to the community, and open the doors of these canteens to senior citizens in the community.
To solve senior citizen's food issue, many districts in Beijing are trying out their own methods. Some choose to sign contracts with individual restaurants so that seniors will enjoy discounts at those restaurants. Other districts sign deals with restaurants so that they can deliver food to the doors of seniors of specific communities on order.
In Dongxinglou, a restaurant participating in the plan in Dongcheng District, a chef surnamed Wang introduces the dish he prepared for the seniors.
"I prepared this red stewed chicken leg. For this dish, we usually put less salt and cooking oil, and we also cook it longer so that they are suitable for the seniors."
Under the Seniors' Dining Table plan, meals are always cheaper.
Food served at the Beijing Chess Institutes' canteen is a quarter percent cheaper than normal price.
Hu Yanlong, head of the China Chess Institute Canteen explains how they managed to cut down on food prices so that seniors can enjoy cheaper food.
"We send our own truck to buy fresh vegetable and meat from Xinfadi wholesale68 market. This way we get the wholesale price which is much cheaper. For frozen food such as fish and shrimps69, we buy them directly from a frozen food storage house in Southwest Beijing."
Cheaper price, guaranteed food quality and hygiene standard, the Seniors' Dining Table initiative is heartily70 welcomed by seniors as it has made their lives much easier. However, low profit, a lack of venue71 and standardization72 are still hurdles73 containing the popularization of such senior care initiative.
How to find a balance between profitability of participating businesses and meeting seniors' needs to make the service sustainable, is a question that the service's investors74 still have to answer.
For CRI, I'm LNJ.
China International Cartoon and Animation Festival to Open on Tuesday
Anchor
This year's China International Cartoon and Animation Festival is set to get underway later today in the city of Hangzhou.
Around 600 animators from more than 70 countries are scheduled to take part in the event.
The Animation Festival is in its 11th year.
For more on the expectations for this year's event, we spoke earlier with Andrew Jones, senior editor at gbtimes, CRI's affiliate75 in Finland, who is covering the event in Hangzhou.
Andrew Jones, senior editor at CRI affiliate gbtimes, covering this year's China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou.
weather
Overnight temperatures should drop down to 14.
Shanghai will be cloudy with a high of 28 and a low of 19.
In Chongqing, it will be sunny during the daytime with a high of 31 and lows of 21.
Elsewhere in the world, staying here in Asia,
Katmandu, thunderstorms, 22.
Islamabad will be sunny with a high of 42.
Kabul will be sunny with a high of 27.
Over to North America,
New York will be cloudy with a high of 20 degrees.
Washington, cloudy with a high of 22 degrees.
Honolulu, windy, 28.
Toronto, Canada, will be sunny with a high of 19 degrees.
Finally, on to South America,
Buenos Aires will be cloudy with a high of 23.
And Rio de Janeiro will be cloudy with a high of 28 degrees Celsius.
Headline news
Nepal government declares national crisis as quake toll tops 4000
The Nepalese government says the death toll from Saturday's earthquake is now close to 4-thousand.
The 72-hour so-called "golden window" to rescue possible survivors is now fading.
Damaged roads, broken communication lines and landslides, as well as a lack of earth-moving equipment in rural areas is making relief efforts that much more difficult.
More than 1.4-million people in Nepal have been displaced by the massive quake and its subsequent aftershocks.
The Chinese government is set to dispatch another search and rescue team into Nepal later on today.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson says the crews will join the 55 other PLA members who arrived in Kathmandu yesterday.
25 dead in Tibet following Nepal earthquake, aids being rushed in
The death toll in southwest China's Tibet from Saturday's earthquake in neighboring Nepal has risen to 25.
Close to 120 others have been injured.
The counties of Gyirong, Nyalam and Tingri were most affected, which have seen nearly 80 percent of the houses collapse.
Local officials are warning the number of casualties is likely to increase.
In the cut-off border town of Zham, food stocks will likely only last three days.
Aftershocks and bad weather have been hindering relief efforts.
Chinese Airlines Return 1,600 Nationals Home from Quake-hit Nepal
Chinese airlines are expected to help ferry an additional 500 people out of Nepal today.
China Eastern, China Southern and Air China have been running flights in and out of the country since Sunday, shuttling more than 16-hundred Chinese nationals out of the earthquake zone.
China's Civil Aviation Administration is requesting Chinese airlines prepare more flights to deliver humanitarian77 aid.
UN gives 15 mln USD in Humanitarian aid to quake hit Nepal
The United Nations is setting aside 15-million U.S. dollars for humanitarian assistance to quake-hit Nepal.
This comes on the heels of the United States pledging 10-million US dollars in relief.
Japan has announced an 8-million US dollar package.
8 missing after SW China colliery blast
Eight workers are missing following an explosion at a coal mine in Sichuan yesterday afternoon.
Authorities say the explosion took place at the mine in the city of Leshan while it was undergoing a safety overhaul78.
Three workers who survive the blast have been hospitalized.
Rescue operations to try to locate the missing miners is still underway.
Maryland Gov. Declares State of Emergency After Violent Clashes in Baltimore
The governor of the US state of Maryland has declared a state of emergency following a violent gathering in Baltimore.
This comes after hundreds of young people faced off with police following the funeral for a young black man killed in police custody this past week.
Angry protesters have been hurling rocks at passing police vehicles and buses.
25-year old Freddie Gray died last week after being arrested by police in Baltimore.
Biz reports
Anchor
First, a quick look at the closing numbers across North America and Europe.
Joining me on the desk, Niu Honglin.
Reporter
U.S. markets finished lower on Monday, with the Nasdaq Composite Index snapping a five-day winning streak80, as investors await the results of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, which begins later on this Tuesday.
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee is expected to provide an updated policy statement on when interest rates may be increased.
At the same time, Markit's flash PMI for the US service sector slipped to 57.8 in April.
That is down from a final reading of 59.2 in March.
In the after hours trading, shares of Apple have jumped 1.8 percent after the company reported record revenues and a record net profit of 18 billion US dollars through the quarter ending December 27th.
At close,
The Dow Jones shed 0.2 percent.
The S&P 500 lost 0.4 percent.
The Nasdaq ended down 0.6 percent.
Over in Europe,
Boosted by suggestions the Greek government is likely to find a solution to its debt issue, major European indices all posted significant gains on Monday.
At close,
The UK's FTSE 100 added half a percent.
Germany's DAX rallied 1.9 percent.
and France's CAC 40 moving 1.3 percent.
Liaoning sees negative industrial growth in first quarter
New stats out of Liaoning show the province saw a decline in industrial production through the first quarter.
The National Bureau of Statistics is reporting the manufacturing sector in Liaoning contracted just under 6-percent through the first three months.
Neighboring Heilongjiang recorded growth of 0.2-percent through Q1.
The other northeastern Chinese province, Jilin, did record industrial growth of 4.6-percent through the first 3-months of the year.
April's official purchasing manager's index report by the National Bureau of Statistics is due out on Friday.
PetroChina first quarter profit down 82 percent
PetroChina is reporting a significant downturn in its first-quarter profits.
The company has pulled in just under 1-billion US dollars during the first 3-months of the year.
This is down some 82 percent compared to the same period last year.
PetroChina is attributing this to the sharp downturn in global oil prices, on top of weak domestic demand.
In putting out its quarterly results, PetroChina also says its been able to slash81 its operating costs by just under 4-percent through the first quarter.
Shanghai FTZ Quadruples in Size
The Shanghai Free Trade Zone has been quadrupled in size.
Authorities in Shanghai have expanded its reach to include Lujiazui and two other districts.
Lujiazui is the area opposite the Bund from across the Huangpu River.
It's Shanghai's main financial center.
Close to 74-thousand additional companies are included in the expanded FTA area.
Over one-in-five are foreign-funded.
This follows on the heels of the expansion of the Free Trade Zone initiative in Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian earlier this month.
Call-in with Gao Shang 40 Percent Rich Chinese Want a Foreign Home
Anchor
The latest Hurun wealth report is suggesting a growing number of wealth investors on the mainland are looking toward the foreign real estate sector.
A survey of China's high-net individuals shows 2 out of 5 are looking at purchasing homes outside China.
Nearly 70-percent of those who bought houses outside China are looking to live in the houses themselves.
The rest are considering an overseas home purchase as an investment opportunity.
The Hurun report suggests the average investment in an overseas property is around one-million US dollars.
1, Is the buying a house abroad an all-safe bet? Is there any risk in this to the investors?
2, Some of the foreign countries are blaming rich Chinese for pushing up local home prices, those on the Jeju Island in South Korea for example. As the Chinese buyers seek good properties overseas, is it fair for the locals, would it generate some negative sentiment against the Chinese people in general?
3, America and Australia are now two of the favorite investment destinations for Chinese people. With more students going to study in these countries, parents are trying to provide them with better accommodation. Some even sold their house in China so that they can afford a house aboard. What is your take on that?
Back anchor
Gao Shang, analyst with Guantong Futures.
Duties on rare earth exports to be ended
The Ministry of Finance has announced to end the country's export duties on rare earth starting May 1st.
Analysts85 estimate the move will reduce the price of rare earth products coming out of China by 20 to 25-percent.
Rare earth exports from China last year grew by some 27-percent from a year earlier.
Rare earths are minerals used in the manufacturing of components86 mostly used in the technology and defense industries.
The Chinese government is currently trying to consolidate87 small mines and smelting88 firms in the rare earth sector.
The consolidation89 plans are due to be complete by the end of the year.
Bank of Beijing reports 10 pct profit rise in the first quarter
Bank of Beijing is reporting its net profits through the first-quarter are up 10-percent year on year to 820 million US dollars.
The profit margin90 is down somewhat from the 16-percent year-on-year rise through the whole of last year.
Bank of Beijing's financial report has also revealed its non-performing loan ratio currently sits at 0.93 percent as of the end of March.
This is the lowest among Chinese listed banks that have already disclosed their financial results for the first quarter.
Bank of Beijing handles the national housing fund for people living in the capital.
The housing fund is a compulsory91 saving program which requires both employers and employees to contribute money on a monthly basis.
CCECC Wins 3.5 billion dollars contract to build railway in Southwest Nigeria
State-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has secured multi-billion-dollar railway construction deal in Nigeria.
The light-rail project is said to be worth some 3.5-billion US dollars.
It's going to link 8 different cities in the southwest part of Nigeria.
A construction schedule has yet to be released.
At the same time, China Railway Construction has also secured a contract to build a 1.9-billion US dollar residential92 housing project in Zimbabwe.
Pyongyang Launches Twice-weekly Regular Flights to Shanghai
Air Koryo, North Korea's state-run air carrier, has begun twice-weekly flights between Shanghai and Pyongyang.
Each flight can carry up to 176 passengers.
The flights will cost around 5-thousand yuan.
Tours of North Korea will include visits to both Pyongyang and the Panmujom Peace Village along the border with South Korea.
Under previous agreements, flights only ran between Pyongyang and Shangahi in July, August and September.
China boast world 2nd biggest wine growing area
New stats now suggest China has surpassed France to sit number-2 in the world when it comes to land used for wine cultivation93.
Figures from the International Organization of Vine and Wine show China has just under 800-thousand hectares of land devoted95 to the wine industry.
Spain has around a million hectares.
The analysis does show France remains the biggest producer of wine in the world.
The French wine export sector is worth nearly 8.5-billion US dollars.
Sports
Volvo Ocean Race: Dongfeng Race Team Leads Race to Newport
In sailing:
Chinese fleet Dongfeng Race Team, under skipper Charles Caudrelier of France, held a lead of just 4.4 nautical96 miles in the Volvo Ocean Race on Monday heading for Newport, Rhode Island.
Dongfeng's mast broke on the previous leg to Brazil of what is the 12th edition of the event.
MAPFRE was in second place on Monday and Team Brunel third a further 3.7 nm back.
The all-female Team SCA and overall race leaders Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing97 under British skipper Ian Walker were respectively 15.2nm and 19.7nm behind Dongfeng.
Last of the six boats was Team Alvimedica, heading for its home port in Newport, but the crew was still in contention98, being only 22.7nautical miles behind the Chinese yacht with at least another week of racing to go.
Alvimedica navigator Will Oxley of Australia says someone has to make a bold move.
"This race is so close and everyone is so terrified to make a move that there's moments when you have to try and be bold and that won't always pay off, but it's the only way in a race like this now, unless you've got superior boat speed, that you can get, get ahead."
The fleet is expected to reach Newport between May 6-8 after between 17-19 days of sailing from Brazil.
Basketball: NBA Playoffs Preview
Atlanta is leading the series 2 games to 1 over Brooklyn, but the Nets are coming off a win in their latest game against the Hawks. Atlanta allowed Brooklyn 18 unanswered points in the second half, which gave the Nets the win. Another lackluster performance in the clutch will make this a tight race for the Hawks.
Then, at 8 a.m. Beijing time;
Chicago face Milwaukee for game 5 of their series. The Bulls are one win away from making it into the next round, but allowed the Bucks101 to survive in game for, where they gave up a season-high 28 turnovers102 to lose it 92-90. Both teams have been promising103 to step up the intensity104 ahead of tonight’s game.
Then later, Memphis is taking on Portland:
The Grizzlies105 are 3-0 over the Trailblazers in the series and one win away from the franchise's first playoff sweep. But Memphis will hit game 4 without point guard Mike Conley, who went down in game 3 from an elbow to the eye delivered by Portland's CJ McCollum. Conley has also been dealing106 with a foot injury throughout the series.
Golf: Lydia Ko Wins Playoff for Second-Straight Swinging Skirts Title
Top-ranked Lydia Ko won the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco for the second straight year on Sunday, beating American Morgan Pressel in a playoff.
Pressel started the day one shot off the pace and quickly moved to the top of the leaderboard, but defending champ Lydia Ko was hot on the American's heels.
Ko sank another birdie putt at the 18th for a 2-under-par 70 to draw level with Pressel and force a playoff.
Ko and Pressel both set up birdie chances at the second playoff hole; Pressel missed her putt, while Ko found the centre of the cup to win.
Ko says she is happy to come out on top of the tournament for a second time:
"This week I hit the ball really well and it definitely makes this course a lot easier and last year I wasn't hitting the ball good. So, I don't know, the fans were awesome107 this week and it's always great to come back to a tournament where you're feeling the love."
The win gives Ko her second-straight Swinging Skirts title and her seventh win on the LPGA Tour.
Football: Valencia Back in Champions League Hunt With 4-0 Win Over Granada
In football, taking a look at action de La Liga:
Valencia are back in Champions League contention after their 4-0 dismantling108 of relegation-threatened Granada.
The win puts Valencia two points clear of Sevilla in fourth place.
Hockey: NHL Preview
And in action on-ice from the National Hockey League Playoffs:
The Detroit Redwings and the Tampa Bay Lightnight are battling right now in game 6 of their series:
The D leads 3 games to 2 and sit just a win away from advancing to the next round.
ANd just hitting the ice for game seven of their series, it's the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals.
The last time the Caps and Islanders hit the ice for game 7 in the post-season was in 1987 and the match went down in hockey history as one of the NHL's greatest playoff battles. Dubbed109 the "Easter Epic," the Caps and Islanders battled long into the night before the Islanders took it 3-2 in the fourth overtime110, thanks to a goal from Pat LaFontaine.
Entertainment
Rock theme film "Rock Hero" releases trailer ahead of its May premiere
China's first rock youth movie "rock hero" has released a poster and trailer ahead of its upcoming premiere next Month.
The film centers on the love story of a gifted rock star and a pop diva and is full of heartbreak and betrayal.
The film director Tan Huaceng says the story draws from the real life story of Chinese rock legend Dou Wei and his roller-coaster affair with Faye Wong.
Dou Wei was a famous rock singer back to the 1990s. He was among the Top 3 Artists of Magic Stone Records together with Heyong and Zhangchu.
Dou Wei married Faye Wong in 1996 and they divorced three years later.
"Rock Hero" is produced by Annie Shizuka Inou and stars actor Qinhao.
China, Iran Join Hands to Shoot Kung Fu Film
Chinese and Iranian film makers33 have reached an agreement on Monday to co-produce a martial111 arts (Kung Fu) film on the sidelines of the 33rd Fajr International Film Festival.
The film is tentatively named "the Way to Shaolin".
The film tells the story of an Iranian Kung Fu fan, who underwent much hardship to become a Kung Fu master and then embarked112 upon a pilgrimage to the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu in central China's Henan province.
The film will be shot in both Iran and China with actors and crew from both countries.
The Fajr International Film Festival is an annual event sponsored by the Iranian government to mark the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Michelle Yeoh is 'safely home' after being stuck in the Nepal quake zone
The "Crouching113 Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star Michelle Yeoh is "safely home" after she was stuck in Nepal during the deadly earthquake on Saturday.
Yeoh was visiting Nepal to attend the inaugural114 Asia Pacific Sport Regional Congress with her partner Jean Todt.
After being stranded115 at the airport for a few hours, they were able to catch a flight and return home to Paris.
The 52 year old actress also vowed116 to do her best to help Nepal to rebuild after the devastating117 earthquake.
Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder tie the knot
The 36-year-old star from "The Vampire118 Diaries" Ian Somerhalder and 26-year-old Nikki Reed, who appeared in the "Twilight119" films as vampire Rosalie, tied the knot on Sunday in California.
Paparazzi photos of the Sunday wedding surfaced on Twitter early Monday morning, and showed the bride and groom120 in matching white attire121.
This marks the second marriage for Reed and the first for Somerhalder.
The couple began dating last summer.
They got engaged four months ago.
The couple has plenty in common, from a love of animals to their joint online venture, Thrive Market, that helps low income families have access to affordable healthy food.
The 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards handed out
The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were given out on Sunday, honoring excellence122 in daytime television programming.
"General Hospital" and "The Young and the Restless" were the top winners at the awards with three trophies123 each. "Days of Our Lives" clinched124 the award for the best drama series
Anthony Geary won his eighth Emmy for his "General Hospital" role, while fellow series star Maura West was named best lead drama actress.
Freddie Smith was honored as best young actor in a drama for his role as Sonny in "Days of Our Lives."
Betty White was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
Other winners included Amelia Heinle, best supporting actress in a drama series for "The Young and the Beautiful," and Chad Duell, best supporting actor for "General Hospital."
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour.
A quick look at the headlines before we go...
Officials in Nepal are warning the death toll from Saturday's earthquake, which is already close to 4-thousand, is expected to continue to rise.
Chinese authorities have laid out a new long-term strategy for the Traditional Chinese Medicine sector.
World leaders are coming together in New York to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In Business.... new stats show industrial production in Liaoning has contracted through the first quarter.
On behalf of the Beijing Hour staffers, this is Paul James Beijing hoping you'll join us for our next edition of the Beijing Hour to open a window to the world together.
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1 toll | |
n.过路(桥)费;损失,伤亡人数;v.敲(钟) | |
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2 sector | |
n.部门,部分;防御地段,防区;扇形 | |
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3 squad | |
n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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4 animation | |
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作 | |
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5 survivors | |
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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6 landslides | |
山崩( landslide的名词复数 ); (山坡、悬崖等的)崩塌; 滑坡; (竞选中)一方选票占压倒性多数 | |
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7 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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8 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 | |
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9 collapse | |
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷 | |
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10 intermittent | |
adj.间歇的,断断续续的 | |
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11 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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12 highland | |
n.(pl.)高地,山地 | |
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13 prone | |
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的 | |
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14 telecommunication | |
n.电信,远距离通信 | |
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15 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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16 delegation | |
n.代表团;派遣 | |
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17 coordinate | |
adj.同等的,协调的;n.同等者;vt.协作,协调 | |
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18 avalanches | |
n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 ) | |
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19 component | |
n.组成部分,成分,元件;adj.组成的,合成的 | |
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20 bomber | |
n.轰炸机,投弹手,投掷炸弹者 | |
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21 structural | |
adj.构造的,组织的,建筑(用)的 | |
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22 maritime | |
adj.海的,海事的,航海的,近海的,沿海的 | |
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23 promotion | |
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
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24 technological | |
adj.技术的;工艺的 | |
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25 advancement | |
n.前进,促进,提升 | |
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26 advancements | |
n.(级别的)晋升( advancement的名词复数 );前进;进展;促进 | |
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27 pesticides | |
n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 );除害药物 | |
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28 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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29 civic | |
adj.城市的,都市的,市民的,公民的 | |
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30 activist | |
n.活动分子,积极分子 | |
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31 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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32 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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33 makers | |
n.制造者,制造商(maker的复数形式) | |
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34 aggression | |
n.进攻,侵略,侵犯,侵害 | |
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35 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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36 inspectors | |
n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 );(英国公共汽车或火车上的)查票员;(警察)巡官;检阅官 | |
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37 adherence | |
n.信奉,依附,坚持,固着 | |
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38 accede | |
v.应允,同意 | |
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39 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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40 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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41 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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42 judicial | |
adj.司法的,法庭的,审判的,明断的,公正的 | |
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43 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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44 smuggle | |
vt.私运;vi.走私 | |
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45 heroin | |
n.海洛因 | |
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46 custody | |
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留 | |
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47 hurling | |
n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的现在分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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48 credible | |
adj.可信任的,可靠的 | |
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49 auto | |
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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50 autopsy | |
n.尸体解剖;尸检 | |
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51 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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52 spine | |
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊 | |
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53 severed | |
v.切断,断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 );断,裂 | |
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54 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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55 modification | |
n.修改,改进,缓和,减轻 | |
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56 hybrid | |
n.(动,植)杂种,混合物 | |
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57 nurturing | |
养育( nurture的现在分词 ); 培育; 滋长; 助长 | |
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58 subsidies | |
n.补贴,津贴,补助金( subsidy的名词复数 ) | |
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59 incentive | |
n.刺激;动力;鼓励;诱因;动机 | |
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60 stewed | |
adj.焦虑不安的,烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 );煨;思考;担忧 | |
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61 evergreen | |
n.常青树;adj.四季常青的 | |
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62 hygiene | |
n.健康法,卫生学 (a.hygienic) | |
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63 affordable | |
adj.支付得起的,不太昂贵的 | |
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64 catering | |
n. 给养 | |
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65 imminent | |
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
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66 opted | |
v.选择,挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67 caters | |
提供饮食及服务( cater的第三人称单数 ); 满足需要,适合 | |
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68 wholesale | |
n.批发;adv.以批发方式;vt.批发,成批出售 | |
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69 shrimps | |
n.虾,小虾( shrimp的名词复数 );矮小的人 | |
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70 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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71 venue | |
n.犯罪地点,审判地,管辖地,发生地点,集合地点 | |
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72 standardization | |
n.标准化 | |
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73 hurdles | |
n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 );跳栏;(供人或马跳跃的)栏架;跨栏赛 | |
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74 investors | |
n.投资者,出资者( investor的名词复数 ) | |
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75 affiliate | |
vt.使隶(附)属于;n.附属机构,分公司 | |
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76 Celsius | |
adj.摄氏温度计的,摄氏的 | |
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77 humanitarian | |
n.人道主义者,博爱者,基督凡人论者 | |
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78 overhaul | |
v./n.大修,仔细检查 | |
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79 activated | |
adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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80 streak | |
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动 | |
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81 slash | |
vi.大幅度削减;vt.猛砍,尖锐抨击,大幅减少;n.猛砍,斜线,长切口,衣衩 | |
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82 high-tech | |
adj.高科技的 | |
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83 analyst | |
n.分析家,化验员;心理分析学家 | |
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84 futures | |
n.期货,期货交易 | |
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85 analysts | |
分析家,化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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86 components | |
(机器、设备等的)构成要素,零件,成分; 成分( component的名词复数 ); [物理化学]组分; [数学]分量; (混合物的)组成部分 | |
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87 consolidate | |
v.使加固,使加强;(把...)联为一体,合并 | |
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88 smelting | |
n.熔炼v.熔炼,提炼(矿石)( smelt的现在分词 ) | |
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89 consolidation | |
n.合并,巩固 | |
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90 margin | |
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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91 compulsory | |
n.强制的,必修的;规定的,义务的 | |
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92 residential | |
adj.提供住宿的;居住的;住宅的 | |
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93 cultivation | |
n.耕作,培养,栽培(法),养成 | |
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94 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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95 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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96 nautical | |
adj.海上的,航海的,船员的 | |
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97 racing | |
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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98 contention | |
n.争论,争辩,论战;论点,主张 | |
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99 hoops | |
n.箍( hoop的名词复数 );(篮球)篮圈;(旧时儿童玩的)大环子;(两端埋在地里的)小铁弓 | |
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100 hawks | |
鹰( hawk的名词复数 ); 鹰派人物,主战派人物 | |
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101 bucks | |
n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 );钱;(英国十九世纪初的)花花公子;(用于某些表达方式)责任v.(马等)猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 );抵制;猛然震荡;马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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102 turnovers | |
n.营业额( turnover的名词复数 );失误(篮球术语);职工流动率;(商店的)货物周转率 | |
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103 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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104 intensity | |
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
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105 grizzlies | |
北美洲灰熊( grizzly的名词复数 ) | |
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106 dealing | |
n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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107 awesome | |
adj.令人惊叹的,难得吓人的,很好的 | |
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108 dismantling | |
(枪支)分解 | |
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109 dubbed | |
v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 );把…称为;配音;复制 | |
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110 overtime | |
adj.超时的,加班的;adv.加班地 | |
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111 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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112 embarked | |
乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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113 crouching | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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114 inaugural | |
adj.就职的;n.就职典礼 | |
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115 stranded | |
a.搁浅的,进退两难的 | |
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116 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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117 devastating | |
adj.毁灭性的,令人震惊的,强有力的 | |
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118 vampire | |
n.吸血鬼 | |
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119 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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120 groom | |
vt.给(马、狗等)梳毛,照料,使...整洁 | |
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121 attire | |
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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122 excellence | |
n.优秀,杰出,(pl.)优点,美德 | |
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123 trophies | |
n.(为竞赛获胜者颁发的)奖品( trophy的名词复数 );奖杯;(尤指狩猎或战争中获得的)纪念品;(用于比赛或赛跑名称)奖 | |
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124 clinched | |
v.(尤指两人)互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 );解决(争端、交易),达成(协议) | |
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