美联社新闻一分钟 2006-04-27

1. Karl Rove puts in his fifth appearance before a grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA officer’s identity. President Bush’s deputy chief of staff and a lawyer entered the federal courthouse in Washington D.C. Sources say Rove is testifying about new evidence that’s emerged in the case.

2. A community in Central Pennsylvania is mourning the tragic¹ loss of a 6-year-old girl. Officials say the girl and her mother escaped safely from their burning home, but the girl got separated and ran back into the burning home where she died.

3. If you think gas prices are soaring here, wait until you hear what drivers are paying at the pump overseas. In London, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $6.17.

4. Researchers unveiled new technology that one day may be able to help the elderly and disabled. This 2-legged robot, which is controlled by 2 joysticks, allows patients to be carried upstairs (or) on bumpy² surfaces, but it would be at least five years until the device is on the market.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. put in an appearance
Show oneself at or attend a meeting, party, etc, esp for a short time
e.g. I don’t want to go to the party but I’d better put in an appearance, I suppose.

2. joystick : noun
A manual control or cursor device, as one attached to a computer or video game.

3. bumpy : adj.
(of a surface) not even; with a lot of bumps
e.g. a bumpy road / track ; bumpy ground

 

1 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

2 bumpy   

adj.颠簸不平的，崎岖的

参考例句：

• I think we've a bumpy road ahead of us.我觉得我们将要面临一段困难时期。
• The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track.铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。