美联社新闻一分钟 2006-07-15

1. Hezbollah's leader warns his group is ready for "open war" with Israel. That's according to an audiotape that was released shortly after Israel blasted Hassan Nasrallah's home and office in southern Beirut. The leader wasn't hurt.

2. President Bush says he's told Russian activists¹ the US cares about what type of government Russia has. The president arrived in Saintt Petersburg in advance of a G-8 summit. There's concern that Russian President Putin is backing away from democratic principles.

3. Police just released the surveillance video of a landmark² New York City town house being leveled by an explosion. Investigators³ believed the homeowner might have caused the blast, so his ex-wife wouldn't get money from the property during their divorce.

4. Ben Roethlisberger says his motorcycle accident changed his life. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback told reporters the wreck⁴ was a wake-up call that showed him he might have been taking his life for granted

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. back away: phr-v
If you back away from a commitment that you made or something you involved in the past, you try to show that you are no longer committed to it or involved with it.

2. landmark: n-count
A landmark is a building or feature which is easily noticed and can be used to judge your position or the position of other buildings or features.

3. wreck: vb
A wreck is an accident in which a moving vehicle hit something and is damaged or destroyed.

4. wake-up call: n-count
If you say something is a wake-up call to a person or a group of people, you mean it will make them notice something and start to take action.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 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》

4 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。