美联社新闻一分钟 2005-08-06

1. 7 sailors aboard a Russian minisub get trapped down on the Pacific floor; the US and Britain send help for rescue efforts.

2. Britain's Blair proposes strict anti-terror measures, saying rules of the game are changing after last month's London attacks.

3. Iraq's prime minister says the country's top Shiite cleric would like to see a key role for Islam in the country's new constitution.

4. Mourners bury four Israeli Arabs gunned down by a Jewish soldier opposed to the Gaza pullout while police brace¹ for possible riots.

5. And shuttle Discovery astronauts get ready to leave the International Space Station ahead of their return to earth early next week.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

11. trap :VB;trap,traps,trapping,trapped
If you are trapped somewhere, something falls onto you or blocks your way and prevents you from moving or escaping.
eg. The train was trapped underground by a fire.
eg. Until he saw the trapped wagons² and animals, he did not realize the full extent of the catastrophe³.

2. brace :VB;brace braces⁴ bracing⁵ braced⁶
If you brace yourself for something unpleasant or difficult, you prepare yourself for it.
eg. He braced himself for the icy plunge⁷ into the black water.
eg. She braced herself, as if to meet a blow

1 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。

2 wagons   

n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车

参考例句：

• The wagons were hauled by horses. 那些货车是马拉的。
• They drew their wagons into a laager and set up camp. 他们把马车围成一圈扎起营地。

3 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

4 braces   

n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• The table is shaky because the braces are loose. 这张桌子摇摇晃晃，因为支架全松了。
• You don't need braces if you're wearing a belt! 要系腰带，就用不着吊带了。

5 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

6 braced   

adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。