美联社新闻一分钟 2006-12-02

1. It's not winter yet, but much of the country has already experienced the winter blast. Snow and freezing rain which moved through the Midwest early Friday knocked out power, delayed flights and slowed traffic on some of the nation's major roadways.

2. More human contact with radiation is being reported out of London. The wife of a former Russian spy who died from radiation poisoning is showing signs which indicate she may be suffering from radiation exposure.

3. In observance of World AIDS Day, curators at the Metropolitan¹ Museum of Art have set up an exhibit called "A Day Without Art". Eight thousand museums and schools nationwide are taking part in Friday's observances.

4. Mexico's new president Felipe Calderon took the oath of office Friday amid jeer²s and whistles. It was a lightning-fast ceremony because lawmakers had been exchanging punches and insults over the conservative leader's narrow victory. All broadcast on television.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. knock out: phrase
If something is knocked out by enemy or bad weather, it is destroyed or stops functioning because of it.

2. observance: noun
The observance of something such as a law or custom is the practice of obeying or following it.

3. curator: n-count
A curator is someone who is in charge of the objects or works of art in a museum or art gallery.

4. jeer: n-count
Jeers³ are rude and insulting things that people shout to show they do not like or respect someone.

5. narrow victory: phrase
If you have a narrow victory, you succeed in winning but only by a small amount.

1 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

2 jeer   

vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评

参考例句：

• Do not jeer at the mistakes or misfortunes of others.不要嘲笑别人的错误或不幸。
• The children liked to jeer at the awkward students.孩子们喜欢嘲笑笨拙的学生。

3 jeers   

n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They shouted jeers at him. 他们大声地嘲讽他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The jeers from the crowd caused the speaker to leave the platform. 群众的哄笑使讲演者离开讲台。 来自辞典例句