英语听力：澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-03-18

 Australia has taken control of the search in the southern Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysian Airlines plane. Another two orion patrol planes are being sent to join the search. Authorities now believe it was the co-pilot who uttered the final words “All right, good night”just before the plane's tracking devices were switched off. 

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognizing Crimea as an independent state. There's speculation¹ that this could be the first step the Moscow annexing² the region. Crimeans have voted overwhelmingly to leave Ukraine and join Russia. In retaliation³, the United States and the European Unions have imposed travel bans and asset freezes against several officials from Russia and Ukraine. 

 

Fashion designer Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott has been found dead in her New York apartment. U.S. media are reporting the former model took her own life. A spokesman for Jagger, who's in Australia at the moment for a Rolling Stones tour, says the singer is completely shocked and devastated⁴.

1 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 annexing   

并吞( annex的现在分词 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）

参考例句：

• In addition to annexing territory, they exacted huge indemnities. 割地之外，又索去了巨大的赔款。
• He succeeded in annexing all the property of Hindley's and the Linton's. 他成功的占有了亨得利和林顿的所有财产。

3 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。