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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The Beijing Hour
Evening Edition
It's Mark Griffiths with you on this Thursday, April 30th, 2015.
Welcome to the Beijing Hour, live from the Chinese capital...
Coming up on the program this evening...
The toll1 of death from Nepal's earthquake reaches 5,489 dead, 11,000 injured, 135,000 homes destroyed and 93,000 damaged.
Meanwhile, China gets set to evacuate3 around 6,000 people from a border town in its Tibet Autonomous4 Region also affected5 by the quake.
And observers say Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's speech to the US Congress falls short of demands for an apology for atrocities6 committed by Japan during World War Two.
In Business: A leading official with China's central bank rebuffs reports that the bank is planning to implement7 a new quantitative8 easing program by buying local government debt.
In Sports: The Memphis Grizzlies9 beat the Portland trailblazers to close out the NBA playoff series 4 to 1.
In Entertainment: "Avengers: Age of Ultron" director Joss Whedon says he's keen to shoot his next movie in China.
Top
Death toll soars to 5,489 in Nepal earthquake
The death toll from Nepal's earthquake has climbed to 5,489 with a total of 11000 others being injured.
135,000 houses have been destroyed and a further 93,000 damaged.
Official data shows that Sindhupalchowk is the worst-hit district with some 1600 people having died when the powerful quake hit Nepal on Saturday.
China is trying to evacuate around 6,000 people from a border town in Tibet.
Zham Town in Nyalam County has been at high risk of landslides11 following the strong quake in neighboring Nepal.
The displaced will be accommodated at a resettlement site some 300 kilometers away from their homes.
"Families with private cars are leaving in succession and we are trying to dispatch vehicles from police stations in the county to transfer those without private cars, but the vehicles have not arrived yet. We have arranged police officers to escort the people to safety on foot."
The rest of the displaced will arrive later today.
Around 1,000 tents have been set up with water and power supplies already in operation at the resettlement camp.
Access to Zham Town was cut off until Tuesday after rescuers reopened the No. 318 road that was blocked by landslides triggered by Saturday's quake and its aftershocks.
The quake has left nine people dead in the hillside town, which lies at a busy land crossing between Tibet and Nepal in the southern part of the Himalayas.
The death toll from the quake in Tibet now stands at 25, with 4 still missing and nearly 800 injured.
Abe's speech triggered strong opposition14
Anchor:
Despite pressure from various groups in the US, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has delivered a speech to the US Congress which many observers say fell short of their demands for the Japanese leader to acknowledge Japanese wrong-doing during World War II.
CRI's chief Washington correspondent Xiao Hong has the story.
Ann:
During his address to the joint15 session of the U.S. Congress, visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will uphold the views of previous leaders on his country's World War II history.
However, many have been left disappointed by his statement, saying it has steered-clear of the thorny16 issues.
Congressman17 Mike Honda says Abe had an opportunity to make history by acknowledging and expressing remorse18 over Japan's wartime atrocities.
"This is utterly19 shameful20 and shocking that Prime Minister Abe continues to evade21 his government's responsibility of systematic22 atrocity23 that was perpetrated by the Japanese imperial army against the so-called comfort women."
Estimates are some 200-thousand women across Asia were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II.
Today, only around one-hundred of the so-called "comfort women" survive.
One of them, an 87-year-old woman from South Korea, sat in the Gallery during Abe's speech, waiting for an apology from the Japanese Prime Minister.
At the same time, a 95-year-old U.S. veteran who endured the Bataan Death March in the Philippines at the hands of the Japanese military, was also left without the apology he had been hoping for.
Jan Thompson, President of the American Defenders24 of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society, says if only one line or one sentence was mentioned in Abe's lengthy25 speech, it would have brought some comfort to the old man and his family.
"The Prime Minister says history is harsh. We agree with the Prime Minister that history is harsh. But we offer the caution that history is ultimately harsher on those that deny it."
Grace Han Wolf, the first Korean-American woman elected to the town council in northern Virginia, says the Prime Minister is trying to portrait Japan as a world leader of the future.
However, she says his speech is just a re-packaging of the same old thing.
"A country that wishes to take the stage as a leader of the future, but will not acknowledge and recognize and earn up to its past. And I think going to be impossible for Japan to really be perceived as a world leader until they do take an active and direct role for recognizing their past."
The speech by Abe before the US Congress comes just weeks ahead of his much more widely-anticipated speech to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Xiaohong, CRI, Washington DC.
Abe's Speech Sparks Anger among Neighbors
Chinese Foreign Ministry26 Spokesperson Hong Lei has reiterated28 that Japan should deal with historical issues with a sense of responsibility.
Hong Lei made the remarks on Thursday at a regular press conference in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's speech to the US Congress.
"The Chinese side has always urged the Japanese government and Japanese leaders to deal with historical issues with a sense of responsibility and to stay true to its statements and commitments about reflecting upon its history of aggression30. Only by doing this can Japan convince the international community and build friendly relationships with its Asian neighbors."
South Korea has also expressed strong regret over Abe's speech to US lawmakers.
Foreign Ministry spokesman, Noh Kwang-il, said the speech lacked a sincere apology.
The spokesman noted32 that the speech was a missed opportunity for Japan to apologise for past wrongdoings.
"As Japan has made clear during the speech at the US Congress, it is important to gain trust and build harmonious33 relationships with the international community by admitting the past and reflecting on their previous wrongdoing, in order to contribute to world peace. However, Japan's conduct is inconsistent in that it is moving in the opposite direction."
North Korea also criticised Abe for failing to apologise for Japan's wartime sex slavery and urged him to stop covering up Japan's "past wrongdoings".
It's the first time a Japanese leader has addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress.
In his speech, Abe offered condolences for Americans killed during World War II, but stopped short of apologising for wartime atrocities.
He also suggested that he would not use the phrases "heartfelt apology", or "colonial rule and aggression" in his forthcoming statement in August to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
Expert on Abe addressing US Congress
Anchor:
For more on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressing the US congress, CRI's Zhou Jingnan spoke27 earlier with Yang Xiyu, a research fellow at China Institute of International Studies.
…
Back anchor:
That was Yang Xiyu, a research fellow at China Institute of International Studies speaking with CRI's Zhou Jingnan.
Protests against Police Violence Held in Cities
Several US cities, including Baltimore, New York and Denver, have seen protests against police violence and racial profiling.
Two days after the worst riot in decades, a demonstration34 ended peacefully on Wednesday in Baltimore, where an African American man died in police custody35, causing civil unrest.
Baltimore police commissioner36 Anthony Batts says he is satisfied with the peaceful protests.
"I was very pleased with what took place in the city last night. For the most part, I think the curfew worked extremely well. Like I said, much like the mayor had predicted, we got people off the street. There wasn't a whole lot moving. I think the same thing is going to happen now."
However, 16 more adults and two juveniles37 have since been arrested, which brings the total number of arrests since Monday to more than 250.
In New York City, police have arrested more than 60 people.
Over a thousand protesters have gathered there to voice anger against police violence.
Faith Laugier is one of those protesters.
"The police are not there to protect the people. They are there to protect and worry about property. Windows can be replaced, this guy's spine38, his life can't be. He is gone."
25-year-old black resident Freddie Gray died on April 19 after suffering spinal39 injuries while in police custody.
His death triggered riots in Baltimore- nineteen buildings and dozens of cars were burned on Monday. Local government authorities had to enforce a curfew in the city and stationed 3,000 National Guard troops and police there.
Police are due to give their findings on Gray's death to prosecutors40 on Friday. But no information will be made public since prosecutors still have to decide whether to bring charges.
The US Department of Justice is conducting a separate probe into possible civil rights violations42 in Gray's death.
The former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative44 Region Tung Chee-hwa has urged legislators to vote for Hong Kong's universal suffrage package tabled last week at the Legislative45 Council.
The package signifies a major constitutional development for the Hong Kong SAR.
It has been designed for the selection of the next chief executive through "one man, one vote" universal suffrage in 2017.
Tung says the region should stick to its own principles for the development of its democracy.
"The return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 was inevitable46 whereas the realization47 of "one man, one vote" is a major opportunity and choice the time has bestowed48 upon us. Every country and every region has its own principle for the development of democracy, and the truth is, the constitutional reform proposal endorsed49 by the Standing50 Committee of the National People 's Congress is constitutional, lawful51, sensible and justifiable52."
Tung stresses that the proposal is not the ending of Hong Kong's constitutional reforms, but instead the beginning of the adaptation of the "one man, one vote" or 'one person one vote' concept, and tampering53 with the process will eventually push Hong Kong into a no-win situation.
"Passing the reform proposal marks not only a major improvement of Hong Kong's democracy, but also a moment when the general public in Hong Kong finally find a way out after years of debates, wrangling55, and protracted56 clashing in the Occupy Central movement."
The current Legislative Council has a total of 70 members.
The proposed universal suffrage package needs to secure support from at least 47 Legislative Council members.
China, S Korea, Japan to Step up Anti-Pollution Coop
Anchor:
Environment ministers from China, South Korea and Japan have signed a joint action plan to tackle environmental issues over the next five years.
The top targets that the three countries will take on include air pollution, sand storms and mercury contamination.
Luo Wen has more.
Reporter:
The 17th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting between China, South Korea and Japan has been held in Shanghai.
Ministers signed the Tripartite Joint Action Plan on Environmental Cooperation on Thursday, agreeing on lists of specific joint activities in nine priority areas.
The nine priority areas include air quality improvement; biodiversity; chemical management and environmental emergency response.
Chinese environment minister Chen Jining says China has made progress in combating air pollution, as the average density57 of fine particle matter or PM 2.5 in 74 cities adopting a new air quality index has dropped.
"In the first quarter of this year, the decreasing trend sped up. The average PM 2.5 density in 74 cities decreased by 16 percent. PM 2.5 density in cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region was reduced by more than 27 percent. "
Japanese environment minister Mochizuki Yoshio proposed that the three countries will step up their cooperation in the fields of monitoring technologies and emission58 reduction measures.
"China, Japan and South Korea will continue their discussion about policies combating air pollutions. Such discussions have been successfully held twice before. We will share information and jointly59 carry out research in terms of monitoring technologies, survey methods and emission reductions measures… At this meeting, we have agreed to build two working groups in charge of air pollution."
South Korean environment minister Yoon Seongkyu added that dust and sand storm forecasting will be another priority for the trilateral cooperation initiative.
"The three countries will build a research group composed of 30 experts. Each country will dispatch 10 people for studies related to dust and sand storms. Actually, the trilateral cooperation regarding monitoring and forecasting of sand storms started in 2002. "
According to Yoon Seongkyu, the meeting agreed a research plan on dust and sand storms over the next five years, aimed at improve forecasting accuracy.
The Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting was first held in 1999. The three countries rotate the hosting of the meeting annually60.
For CRI, I'm Luo Wen
Grand parade marks 40th anniversary of end of war
Anchor:
Vietnam has commemorated61 the liberation of Saigon, an event which marked the end of the Vietnam War which plagued the country for over three decades.
Our reporter Guo Yan has the details:
Reporter:
Some 6,000 children, women, veterans and soldiers marched towards the Presidential Palace --known also as the Reunification Palace.
Most of the spectators were war veterans and members of the ruling party.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung addressed the ceremony.
"I call on Vietnamese people at home and abroad to uphold the sense of patriotism64, the tradition of humanity and tolerance65; to rise above the past and differences; to sincerely engage in national reconciliation66."
Phan Thi Thuy took part in the parade.
"I'm here today with many others and we are gathered to remember our country's memories. When I watch the reenactments, I am very touched by our nation's patriotism"
Also present were some of those who documented the deadly war, shocking international viewers who were previously67 unaware68 of the true horrors of conflict.
Tim Page is a former Vietnam War photographer.
"It's good to see Vietnam becoming robust69, becoming strong, organized. I want to see the corruption70 gone."
The Liberation of Saigon not only marked the end of the war, but also a decade of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
And He believes that the movement helped bring about change.
"You can tell from Vietnam there is a certain skepticism in America, what ever there religious disposition72 is. They do remember Vietnam, they do remember being sold a bill of goods and they remember all the boys that came back in body bags or limbless or had to go to the VA hospital that is underfunded. I think there is a healthy skepticism that would rise to the occasion if we got into a ground war big time."
Estimates of casualties during the Vietnam War reach into the millions.
The Vietnamese government has said it claimed the lives of up to 4 million people, while the U.S. Defense73 Ministry has said 58,000 U.S. troops were killed.
For CRI I'm Guo Yan.
Anchor:
China's top legislature has passed an amendment77 to the country's Advertising Law that restricts baby formula advertising, with the aim of promoting breastfeeding.
CRI's Tu Yun has the details.
Reporter:
The new amendment stipulates79 that "Dairy products, drinks and other food advertisements that claim to be partial or complete substitutes for mother's milk shall be banned from the mass media or public venues80".
The move has been welcomed by people who champion breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for newborns, as breastfeeding improves babies' immune systems and reduces the likelihood of obesity81 in adulthood82.
Statistics show that less than one third of infants younger than six months were 100 percent breastfed in China in 2008.
And the number is declining.
In order to reverse this situation, the Chinese government has set a goal to raise the number of babies to 50 percent by 2020.
And it has introduced measures to encourage breast feeding, such as building dedicated83 rooms in public venues for new mothers.
Hospitals are also encouraging new mothers to feed their babies themselves.
"In our hospital, unless the mothers need medication or a baby needs treatment, we encourage new mothers to breastfeed their babies as soon as possible. 90 percent of the mothers in our hospital breastfeed their babies."
China enacted85 a law to prohibit the advertisement and promotion86 of breast milk substitutes twenty years ago. However, its enforcement lacks teeth as the punishment is limited to warnings, confiscation87 or small fines.
This time, the maximum fine for a violation41 amounts to one million yuan, which is over 160-thousand US dollars.
However, Zhang Dianyuan, a professor at Fudan University's School of Journalism88 says the new regulation may not be strictly89 enforced:
"The big dairy companies may not be able to change the law, they could use their big public relations influence to avoid punishment. For medium and small companies, the penalty for violating the rule is very low, and they can make a lot of money by violating it."
What professor Zhang says is based on China's baby formula market.
China has about 16 million new-borns every year and the baby formula market is worth 18 billion yuan.
Many companies are prepared to take the risk of being fined to make profits in this enormous market.
Meanwhile, some mothers say they will still buy formula products, as they are not really affected by advertising. Their knowledge about baby formula products mostly comes from friends and peers.
" The ads for baby formula products won't affect me. I talk to my friends and then decide whether to use milk powder."
"My friends and I share our experiences with formula milk. I've also looked for some information online."
The change in the law only restricts ads in the mass media, but there is not a clear definition of just what that phrase means.
And an increasing number of formula products are using new marketing90 techniques, employing new media and peer to peer marketing.
For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.
Weather
Shanghai is cloudy tonight with a low of 17, tomorrow, cloudy, high of 26.
Chongqing has heavy rain with a low of 22 tonight, also overcast tomorrow and a high of 26.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia,
Kathmandu,scattered thundershowers with a high of 25
Islamabad, sunny ,43.
Kabul, sunny, 24.
Over in Australia
Sydney, showers, high of 19,
Brisbane, thundershowers, 21,
Headline news
Death toll soars to 5,489 in Nepal earthquake
The death toll from Nepal's earthquake has climbed to 5,489 with a total of 11000 others being injured.
135,000 houses have been destroyed and a further 93,000 damaged.
Official data shows that Sindhupalchowk is the worst-hit district with some 1600 people having died when the powerful quake hit Nepal on Saturday.
China evacuates thousands in border town hit by Nepal quake
China has evacuated more than 4,000 people trapped in a border town in the Tibet Autonomous Region due to the high risk of landslides in the area.
Almost 1,000 displaced residents from Zham Town in Nyalam County arrived at a resettlement site in Lhatse County on Thursday morning. The rest of the evacuated will arrive later.
About 1,000 tents have been set up with water and power supplies at an open ground resettlement area.
An appeals court in Inner Mongolia has upheld the death sentence handed to a convicted serial killer and rapist.
The courts have rejected the appeal of Zhao Zhihong.
He was sentenced to death after being convicted in February of numerous crimes, including the murder of 10 different women.
Zhao was apprehended95 in 2005.
He later confessed to a string of rape96 and murder cases, including one in Hohhot in 1996 that was pinned on an 18-year-old, who was later executed.
The teen was exonerated97 in December, 18-years after his execution.
Abe's Speech Sparks Anger among Neighbors
China has again urged Japan to deal with historical issues with a sense of responsibility following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's speech to the US Congress.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei noted that Japan should stay true to its statements and commitments about reflecting upon its history of aggression.
South Korea also expressed strong regret over the speech, saying it was a missed opportunity for Japan to apologise for past wrongdoings.
Meanwhile, North Korea criticised Abe for failing to apologise for Japan's wartime sex slavery and urged him to stop covering up Japan's "past wrongdoings".
In his speech, Abe stopped short of apologising for wartime atrocities and suggested that he would not use the phrases "heartfelt apology", or "colonial rule and aggression" in his forthcoming statement in August to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
DPRK top leader cancels planned visit to Russia
Russia has confirmed that North Korea's top leader has canceled his planned visit to Moscow for the Victory Day celebration on May 9.
The Kremlin says Kim Jong Un cited interior affairs as the reason for his absence.
The Russian authority notes that Kim's decision has nothing to do with objections from western countries to his presence in Moscow.
Biz Reports
Stocks
Anchor:
Turning now to our business news, but first let's have a look at the numbers from the Asian markets this Thursday evening.
Joining me on the desk is CRI's Luo Wen.
Reporter:
Chinese shares closed lower due to weak heavyweights on Thursday, the last trading day before the three-day Labor98 Day holiday.
Shares of two major oil refineries100 and heavyweights, PetroChina and China Petroleum101 & Chemical Corporation dropped over 2 percent.
However, small caps continued with their rising performance as the ChiNext Index, China's Nasdaq-style tracking board of growth enterprises, rose nearly 2.2 percent.
At the close,
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.8 percent.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 0.9 percent.
Elsewhere in Asia,
Japanese stocks fell sharply on the day as investor103 sentiment was undermined by weak U.S. gross domestic data in the first quarter of this year.
The benchmark Nikkei tumbled 2.7 percent.
South Korea's Kospi ended down by 0.7 percent.
Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index sank 0.3 percent.
And finally, the Australian ASX200 decreased 0.8 percent.
Chinese Official Denies Reported Plans for QE Program
Anchor:
A leading official with China's central bank is rebuffing reports suggesting the bank is planning to implement a new quantitative easing program by buying local government debt.
Central Bank Research Bureau Chief Economist104 Ma Jun says there is no need for the central bank to buy new government debt directly, noting the central bank is also forbidden by law to provide funds directly to local governments.
This has to be done through the Ministry of Finance.
Ma Jun also suggests that the central bank still has a series of monetary105 and policy tools available to cope with economic downward pressure.
The central bank has been injecting liquidity106 into the market more aggressively since last year, including a pair of interest rate cuts since November.
For more on China's growth and the idea of a quantative easing program, The Beijing Hour's Paul James earlier spoke with CRI's financial commentator107, Cao Can.
…
Back anchor:
That was Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator, speaking with The Beijing Hour's Paul James.
Virtually All Provincial-level Regions Report Q1 Slowdown
A compilation108 by the China Daily newspaper shows that first quarter GDP growth slowed in 30 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland.
Resource producers and heavy industrial bases have been hit hard by sliding producer prices, which have been falling for more than three years.
Northeast China's Liaoning Province experienced the sharpest drop, where growth slumped109 by 3.9 percentage points to 1.9 percent.
Its year-on-year expansion is also the slowest among all regions.
East China's Zhejiang Province is the only provincial-level region to achieve higher growth in the first quarter.
First quarter GDP growth in Zhejiang accelerated to 8.2 percent from 7.6 percent.
General fiscal revenue at the local level grew just 4.9 percent in the first quarter, the slowest rate since 1994.
Revenue from land sales, a pillar of local governments' income, slumped 36.1 percent.
China to start bank deposit insurance from May
The Chinese government has announced that the country will implement a long-awaited bank deposit insurance scheme in May, taking a key step forward in China's financial reform.
It stipulates that customers will be entitled to compensation of up to 500,000 yuan, almost 82,000 U.S. dollars, should their bank suffer insolvency111 or bankruptcy112.
The reimbursement113 limit will apply to 99.63 percent of Chinese depositors, and both RMB deposits and foreign currency deposits made by individuals as well as companies are covered.
Several other regulations and laws will also take effect from May.
China's Big Five Banks Report Weak Profit Gains in Q1
China's big five state-owned commercial banks have reported weaker profit growth rates in the first quarter of this year, due to economic slowdown and rising non-performing loans.
The net profits of the five banks grew by less than 2 percent in the first quarter.
The quarterly net profit of the Bank of China grew by less than one percent, far slower growth compared to same period last year's 14.3 percent increase.
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest lender by assets, posted a 1.4 percent year-on-year increase in its first-quarter net profits.
This is well below the 6.6 percent increase recorded in the same period last year.
The country's second-largest lender, China Construction Bank reported growth of 1.9 percent in the first quarter.
The Agricultural Bank of China reported net profit growth of 1.3 percent and the Bank of Communications 1.5 percent.
Meanwhile, all five banks saw a slight rise in their non-performing loans ratios in the first quarter of this year.
GM China Recalls Over Dangerous Tailgate Parts
US car maker31 General Motors is recall 650 Opel Insignia cars on the Chinese mainland over flawed gas-filled tailgate struts114 which may fall suddenly and cause accidents.
The affected vehicles are all imported models which were manufactured between June 22, 2011 and July 25, 2013.
Sports
Memphis Beat Portland 99-93, Win Series 4-1
In NBA Playoffs action,
The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Portland Trail Blazers 99-93 on Wednesday, closing out the series 4-1.
With the victory, the Grizzlies have reached the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2010.
But it marks the seventh time in their past eight post-seasons that the Trail Blazers have lost in the first round, despite reaching the Western semifinals last year.
Marc Gasol scored 26 points and 14 rebounds115 for Memphis while C.J. McCollum scored a career-high 33 points for the Portland.
Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger says he is proud of his players.
"To beat somebody eight times in one year, that's pretty difficult to do and I'm really proud of our guys because they're not slouches. That's a good team over there. So, emotional game, we lost our composure a little bit there in the third quarter. We fought through some adversity. We just kept banging away and banging away. It was obviously a very physical game, but we made the plays when we needed to."
The Grizzlies will take on top-seeded Golden State on Sunday.
Chelsea Beat Leicester 3-1
In football news,
Second half goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires helped league leaders Chelsea came from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 on Wednesday.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says working hard is the secret of their success this season.
"Work hard, it's the only - hard and well because some people work hard and bad! Work hard and well - I think that's the secret of every one of us. Everybody working for the same objective, no other objectives, no individual objectives. The individual objectives are behind the objective. The objective is the Barclays Premier117 League."
The win puts them 13 points clear at the top of the standings.
A victory on Sunday against Crystal Palace will give Chelsea their first Premier League title in five years.
In table tennis action down at the ITTF Table Tennis World Championships in Suzhou,
Chinese pair Xu Xin and Zhang Jike booked a place in the men's doubles semi-finals by beating Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima of Japan in seven games at the Suzhou International Exhibition Centre on Thursday.
Awaiting them in the semi-final clash are Lee Sangsu and Seo Hyundeok of South Korea.
In the men's singles,
Second-seeded Xu Xin reached the last 16 with a 4-2 win over his Russian compatriot.
Xu's countryman Fan Zhendong also advanced with a easy win 4-0.
In the women's singles,
Ni Xialian, the oldest female player at 51, bowed out of the world table tennis championships on Wednesday.
But Ni said she would stay to watch the championship finals on Sunday.
Vince Byron Wins BMX Vert Final Gold in Shanghai
Australia's Vince Byron made history on Thursday, winning BMX vert final gold at the World Extreme Games in Shanghai.
With his winning run winding119 down, Byron completed the first ever '540 flair120' in a vert competition.
American Mykel Larrin picked up the bronze and Britain's Simon Tabron finished third.
This marks the fourth year in a row that Byron has taken the gold, making BMX vert history in the process.
Byron is now looking to defend his mini vert title this weekend.
The World Extreme Games continue until Sunday.
Jordan Spieth Advances at Match Play Championships
In golf,
Master champion and World number two Jordan Spieth won 4 and 2 against Finland's Mikko Ilonen at this year's World Golf Matchplay Championships on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old said he was hungry for more glory.
"Certainly from my point of view I'm still extremely motivated and I haven't reached that top level and I'm happy with the way things have gone and I wouldn't be satisfied if my career ended today so all in all I've got more to do and I might as well try and do it soon."
World number one Rory McIlroy made only one birdie and had an even easier time in beating Jason Dufner 5 and 4.
Defending champion Jason Day struggled off the tee and lost to Charley Hoffman 4 and 3.
Despite Day, world number three Henrik Stenson and world number six Justin Rose were all early losers.
Spieth will next take on Matt Every, who lost his opening match to Lee Westwood 1-up.
Peete, 12-time Winner on PGA Tour, Dies at 71
In other golf news,
The PGA Tour said on Thursday that Calvin Peete, the 12-time-winner of the tour, died on Wednesday morning at the age of 71.
No cause was given for Peete's death.
Peete taught himself how to play golf aged2 24 and became the most successful black player on the PGA Tour before the Tiger Woods era.
Peete once led the PGA Tour in driving accuracy for 10 straight years from 1981, and won the Vardon Trophy121 in a clash with Jack122 Nicklaus in 1984.
Paul Stanley Tipping Mayweather in Upcoming Fight
In boxing,
The frenzy124 for boxing's biggest event of the century continued to build on Wednesday at the 32nd annual ASCAP Music Awards in Los Angeles.
"I think it's going to be an interesting fight, but it should be a fight. If it's purely126 going to be Mayweather doing what he does beautifully, which is tag you and you chase him, I don't think - for the amount of money they're making get in there and kick each other's asses127 for god's sake."
Asked who will win, Stanley says Mayweather may have a better chance.
"I just think Mayweather has the power to knock him out and Pacquiao has been out you know in the last few years. So I just pray that for that kind of money that they are getting that they fight. That's what people want to see. This isn't supposed to be a tactical match. This is supposed to be a brawl128."
Reports say Mayweather will likely earn 180 million dollars and Pacquiao 120 million for the long-awaited fight.
Entertainment
Avengers director keen to shoot in China
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" director Joss Whedon has said he would love to shoot his next movie in China.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing for the latest installment130 of the "Avengers" franchise131, Whedon said he was open to the idea, along with cast members Robert Downey Junior and Mark Ruffalo, who were equally enthusiastic.
The comic book inspired film has already beat "Fast and Furious 7" to top the global box office with over $200 million in its first week of release.
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" is set the hit cinemas on the Chinese mainland on May 12.
Royal baby due any day now
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate have just enjoyed their fourth wedding anniversary together.
But their were no big celebrations as they are still waiting on the birth of their second child, which is due any day now.
So far there has been silence from Kensington Palace about the royal birth, only palace tweets remembering the wedding.
The baby had been expected last week, so Kate is slightly overdue132, which was also the case when their first baby, Prince George of Cambridge, who was born in July 2013.
Fans have already started camping outside St Mary's Hospital in London's Paddington neighborhood, waiting for the first glimpse of the new addition to the royal family.
Charlie Hebdo's carttonist quits Mohammad drawings
Charlie Hebdo's cartoonist Luz who drew the cover picture that appeared after the Paris attacks in January, has said he will no longer draw the Prophet Mohammad.
Telling French Magazine "Les Inrocks" in an interview that the Prophet no longer interests him.
Armed men claiming to be avenging133 the Prophet killed 12 people when they attacked the Paris offices of the irreverent weekly.
Charlie Hebdo's next edition after the attacks carried on its cover Luz's cartoon of a tearful Mohammad holding a "Je suis Charlie" sign under the words "All is forgiven".
The magazine sold several million copies rather than its usual circulation of 60,000.
Kiss, The Doobie Brothers honored at ASCAP Music Awards
American rock bands 'Kiss' and 'The Doobie Brothers' were among the honorees at the 32nd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards, held in Los Angeles.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers celebrated134 artists of the most performed ASCAP pop songs of 2014.
Gene54 Simmons said the secret to the band's success, which has spanned 41 years, is all about timing136.
"Maybe it's fair to say that you have to have the right thing at the right place and the right time. Not sure if we had the same work ethic137 and the same shows and everything else during the Renaissance138 period, I don't know if people would look at us like aliens, so we happened to have come out at that right time."
The Doobie Brothers received the Voice of Music Award.
Max Martin won Songwriter of the Year, and John Legend's "All of Me" took Song of the Year.
Past winners include Sean "Diddy" Combs, Sir Paul McCartney, Stephen Sondheim and Joni Mitchell.
Chinese-American actress Celina Jade has been cast to star in "April Flowers," a U.S. indie drama that will begin shooting in New York next month.
The film is directed by Christopher Tedrick and co-stars Jon Fletcher from "The Messenger."
Jade plays and idealist whose dreams are fading away until she discovers an anonymous140 journal while on her daily commute141 to work. The personal accounts renew her faith in humanity.
Hong Kong-born Jade recently starred opposite Thai action star Tony Jaa "Skin Trade" which hits theaters in the U.S. on May 8.
ABC has canceled popular TV series "Revenge"
ABC has canceled the popular TV series "Revenge" after just four seasons.
Since its breakout start four years ago, the series saw show runner Mike Kelley exit and its goodwill143 among critics fade after its sophomore144 run.
The most recent season has averaged a 1.8 million viewer rating.
Revenge's cancelation marks the first news from ABC about this year's program lineup.
The final episode of the primetime soap will air on May 10.
Weather
Beijing, overcast tonight with a low of 16, tomorrow some rain with a high of 25.
Shanghai is cloudy tonight with a low of 17, tomorrow, cloudy, high of 26.
Chongqing has heavy rain with a low of 22 tonight, also overcast tomorrow and a high of 26.
Elsewhere in the world, staying in Asia,
Kathmandu,scattered thundershowers with a high of 25
Islamabad, sunny,43.
Kabul, sunny, 24.
Over in Australia
Sydney, showers, high of 19,
Brisbane, thundershowers, 21,
Finally Perth is cloudy with a high of 22 degrees Celsius.
That’s it for this edition of the Beijing Hour...
A quick look at the headlines before we go...
The toll of death from Nepal's earthquake has reached 5,489 dead, 11,000 injured, 135,000 homes destroyed and 93,000 damaged.
Meanwhile, China is preparing to evacuate around 6,000 people from a border town in its Tibet Autonomous Region that was also badly affected by the quake.
And observers say Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's speech to the US Congress fell short of demands for an apology for atrocities committed by Japan during World War Two.
In Business: A leading official with China's central bank rebuffs reports that the bank is planning to implement a new quantitative easing program by buying local government debt
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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 aged | |
adj.年老的,陈年的 | |
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3 evacuate | |
v.遣送;搬空;抽出;排泄;大(小)便 | |
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4 autonomous | |
adj.自治的;独立的 | |
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5 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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6 atrocities | |
n.邪恶,暴行( atrocity的名词复数 );滔天大罪 | |
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7 implement | |
n.(pl.)工具,器具;vt.实行,实施,执行 | |
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8 quantitative | |
adj.数量的,定量的 | |
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9 grizzlies | |
北美洲灰熊( grizzly的名词复数 ) | |
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10 evacuates | |
撤离,疏散( evacuate的第三人称单数 ); 排空(胃肠),排泄(粪便); (从危险的地方)撤出,搬出,撤空 | |
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11 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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12 evacuees | |
n.被疏散者( evacuee的名词复数 ) | |
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13 evacuated | |
撤退者的 | |
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14 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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15 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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16 thorny | |
adj.多刺的,棘手的 | |
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17 Congressman | |
n.(美)国会议员 | |
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18 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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19 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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20 shameful | |
adj.可耻的,不道德的 | |
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21 evade | |
vt.逃避,回避;避开,躲避 | |
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22 systematic | |
adj.有系统的,有计划的,有方法的 | |
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23 atrocity | |
n.残暴,暴行 | |
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24 defenders | |
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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25 lengthy | |
adj.漫长的,冗长的 | |
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26 ministry | |
n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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27 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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28 reiterated | |
反复地说,重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29 bout | |
n.侵袭,发作;一次(阵,回);拳击等比赛 | |
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30 aggression | |
n.进攻,侵略,侵犯,侵害 | |
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31 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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32 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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33 harmonious | |
adj.和睦的,调和的,和谐的,协调的 | |
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34 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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35 custody | |
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留 | |
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36 commissioner | |
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员 | |
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37 juveniles | |
n.青少年( juvenile的名词复数 );扮演少年角色的演员;未成年人 | |
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38 spine | |
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊 | |
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39 spinal | |
adj.针的,尖刺的,尖刺状突起的;adj.脊骨的,脊髓的 | |
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40 prosecutors | |
检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 ); 告发人; 起诉人; 公诉人 | |
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41 violation | |
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯 | |
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42 violations | |
违反( violation的名词复数 ); 冒犯; 违反(行为、事例); 强奸 | |
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43 suffrage | |
n.投票,选举权,参政权 | |
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44 administrative | |
adj.行政的,管理的 | |
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45 legislative | |
n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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46 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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47 realization | |
n.实现;认识到,深刻了解 | |
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48 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49 endorsed | |
vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 );在(尤指支票的)背面签字;在(文件的)背面写评论;在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品 | |
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50 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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51 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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52 justifiable | |
adj.有理由的,无可非议的 | |
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53 tampering | |
v.窜改( tamper的现在分词 );篡改;(用不正当手段)影响;瞎摆弄 | |
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54 gene | |
n.遗传因子,基因 | |
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55 wrangling | |
v.争吵,争论,口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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56 protracted | |
adj.拖延的;延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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57 density | |
n.密集,密度,浓度 | |
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58 emission | |
n.发出物,散发物;发出,散发 | |
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59 jointly | |
ad.联合地,共同地 | |
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60 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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61 commemorated | |
v.纪念,庆祝( commemorate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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63 patriotic | |
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的 | |
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64 patriotism | |
n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义 | |
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65 tolerance | |
n.宽容;容忍,忍受;耐药力;公差 | |
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66 reconciliation | |
n.和解,和谐,一致 | |
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67 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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68 unaware | |
a.不知道的,未意识到的 | |
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69 robust | |
adj.强壮的,强健的,粗野的,需要体力的,浓的 | |
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70 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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71 activist | |
n.活动分子,积极分子 | |
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72 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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73 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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74 civilian | |
adj.平民的,民用的,民众的 | |
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75 restriction | |
n.限制,约束 | |
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76 advertising | |
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的 | |
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77 amendment | |
n.改正,修正,改善,修正案 | |
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78 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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79 stipulates | |
n.(尤指在协议或建议中)规定,约定,讲明(条件等)( stipulate的名词复数 );规定,明确要求v.(尤指在协议或建议中)规定,约定,讲明(条件等)( stipulate的第三人称单数 );规定,明确要求 | |
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80 venues | |
n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 );会场;(尤指)体育比赛场所;犯罪地点 | |
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81 obesity | |
n.肥胖,肥大 | |
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82 adulthood | |
n.成年,成人期 | |
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83 dedicated | |
adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
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84 maternity | |
n.母性,母道,妇产科病房;adj.孕妇的,母性的 | |
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85 enacted | |
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86 promotion | |
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
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87 confiscation | |
n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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88 journalism | |
n.新闻工作,报业 | |
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89 strictly | |
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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90 marketing | |
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西 | |
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91 overcast | |
adj.阴天的,阴暗的,愁闷的;v.遮盖,(使)变暗,包边缝;n.覆盖,阴天 | |
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92 Celsius | |
adj.摄氏温度计的,摄氏的 | |
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93 serial | |
n.连本影片,连本电视节目;adj.连续的 | |
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94 killer | |
n.杀人者,杀人犯,杀手,屠杀者 | |
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95 apprehended | |
逮捕,拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 ); 理解 | |
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96 rape | |
n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸 | |
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97 exonerated | |
v.使免罪,免除( exonerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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99 sectors | |
n.部门( sector的名词复数 );领域;防御地区;扇形 | |
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100 refineries | |
精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 ) | |
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101 petroleum | |
n.原油,石油 | |
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102 component | |
n.组成部分,成分,元件;adj.组成的,合成的 | |
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103 investor | |
n.投资者,投资人 | |
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104 economist | |
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人 | |
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105 monetary | |
adj.货币的,钱的;通货的;金融的;财政的 | |
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106 liquidity | |
n.流动性,偿债能力,流动资产 | |
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107 commentator | |
n.注释者,解说者;实况广播评论员 | |
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108 compilation | |
n.编译,编辑 | |
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109 slumped | |
大幅度下降,暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 ); 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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110 fiscal | |
adj.财政的,会计的,国库的,国库岁入的 | |
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111 insolvency | |
n.无力偿付,破产 | |
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112 bankruptcy | |
n.破产;无偿付能力 | |
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113 reimbursement | |
n.偿还,退还 | |
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114 struts | |
(框架的)支杆( strut的名词复数 ); 支柱; 趾高气扬的步态; (尤指跳舞或表演时)卖弄 | |
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115 rebounds | |
反弹球( rebound的名词复数 ); 回弹球; 抢断篮板球; 复兴 | |
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116 clinching | |
v.(尤指两人)互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的现在分词 );解决(争端、交易),达成(协议) | |
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117 premier | |
adj.首要的;n.总理,首相 | |
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118 thriller | |
n.惊险片,恐怖片 | |
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119 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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120 flair | |
n.天赋,本领,才华;洞察力 | |
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121 trophy | |
n.优胜旗,奖品,奖杯,战胜品,纪念品 | |
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122 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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123 ethnic | |
adj.人种的,种族的,异教徒的 | |
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124 frenzy | |
n.疯狂,狂热,极度的激动 | |
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125 epic | |
n.史诗,叙事诗;adj.史诗般的,壮丽的 | |
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126 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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127 asses | |
n. 驴,愚蠢的人,臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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128 brawl | |
n.大声争吵,喧嚷;v.吵架,对骂 | |
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129 spawned | |
(鱼、蛙等)大量产(卵)( spawn的过去式和过去分词 ); 大量生产 | |
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130 installment | |
n.(instalment)分期付款;(连载的)一期 | |
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131 franchise | |
n.特许,特权,专营权,特许权 | |
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132 overdue | |
adj.过期的,到期未付的;早该有的,迟到的 | |
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133 avenging | |
adj.报仇的,复仇的v.为…复仇,报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 );为…报复 | |
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134 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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135 founders | |
n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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136 timing | |
n.时间安排,时间选择 | |
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137 ethic | |
n.道德标准,行为准则 | |
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138 renaissance | |
n.复活,复兴,文艺复兴 | |
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139 jade | |
n.玉石;碧玉;翡翠 | |
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140 anonymous | |
adj.无名的;匿名的;无特色的 | |
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141 commute | |
vi.乘车上下班;vt.减(刑);折合;n.上下班交通 | |
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142 dwindle | |
v.逐渐变小(或减少) | |
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143 goodwill | |
n.善意,亲善,信誉,声誉 | |
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144 sophomore | |
n.大学二年级生;adj.第二年的 | |
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