伊斯兰国家宣称对沙特清真寺自杀式爆炸案件负责

IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing at Saudi Mosque¹ 伊斯兰国家宣称对沙特清真寺自杀式爆炸案件负责

A new Islamic State group claimed responsibility Thursday for a deadly attack at a Saudi mosque. Saudi officials say the suicide bombing in the southern city of Abha killed 15 people.

The Hijaz Province of the Islamic State said it carried out the attack. It made the claim in a Twitter statement hours after the attack. Abha is close to Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen.

The group vowed³ to launch more strikes against "tyrants⁵ in the Arabian peninsula...in the coming days."

Croatia 'doing all it can' to resolve hostage situation

The Croatian government said it is "doing all it can" in connection with a death threat against a Croatian hostage. Islamic State militants⁶ released a video in which they threatened to execute the man.

In the video, the hostage identified himself as Tomislav Salopek. He said he would be killed if Egypt's government did not release Muslim women held in prisons.

Wednesday night, Croatia’s government released a statement. It said it was “doing all it can to promptly⁷ resolve the difficult situation.” It did not give any details.

Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic left for Cairo Thursday. Officials say he was in contact with Egyptian officials.

Mr. Salopek said in the video that he was kidnapped July 22.

Chinese families question MH370 declaration

Chinese relatives of passengers on the missing Malaysian flight MH370 have criticized the recent announcement about the mystery. On Wednesday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed that a wing piece found on an Indian Ocean island was part of the missing plane.

Several Chinese family members say the announcement only increased their frustration⁸ as investigators⁹ had not given confirmation¹⁰.

Malaysia’s prime minister had said an international team of experts had “conclusively confirmed” that the piece belonged to the missing plane. However, investigators in France only called it a “very strong presumption¹¹” that the piece belonged to MH370.

Chinese family members say that both French investigators and Boeing – the maker¹² of the aircraft – should confirm the report.

Words in the News

vow² – v. to make a serious promise to do something or to behave in a certain way

tyrant⁴ – n. a ruler who has complete power over a country and who is cruel and unfair

frustration – n. a feeling of anger or annoyance¹³ caused by being unable to do something: the state of being frustrated¹⁴

presumption – n. a belief that something is true even though it has not been proved

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

3 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

4 tyrant   

n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.该国处在一个专制暴君的统治之下。
• The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves.暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。

5 tyrants   

专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。
• The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。

6 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

7 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

8 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

9 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

11 presumption   

n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定

参考例句：

• Please pardon my presumption in writing to you.请原谅我很冒昧地写信给你。
• I don't think that's a false presumption.我认为那并不是错误的推测。

12 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

13 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

14 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》