美联社新闻一分钟 2006-12-03

1. Havana was the scene of a major military parade in honor of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's 80th birthday. However, the ailing¹ Castro wasn't in attendance. US officials believe Castro is suffering from some form of inoperable cancer.

2. At least 33 are dead in India after a 150-year-old footbridge collapsed² onto railroad tracks, burying the train beneath tons of rock. The rescue effort turned into recovery by nightfall. In addition to the dead, there are many people seriously wounded.

3. National Guard members are in the St. Louis area in an effort to clear up the mess left by Thursday's massive winter storm. Ice and snow damaged property in the area and caused widespread power outages.

4. Call it a quick way to find a match, in the business world, that is. A concept called "speed interviewing" was tried at a Houston hotel where job candidates rotated through 15-minute shifts to meet with potential employers.

WORDS IN THE NEWS


1. in attendance : PHR
If someone is in attendance at a place or an event, they are there.

2. inoperable : ADJ
An inoperable medical condition is one that cannot be cured by a surgical³ operation.

3. footbridge : N-COUNT
A footbridge is a narrow bridge for people travelling on foot.

4. that is : PHR 更确切地说...,也就是说...
You use that is or that is to say to indicate that you are about to express the same idea more clearly or precisely⁴.

1 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

2 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

3 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

4 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。