美联社新闻一分钟 2007-02-02

1. Two men accused of placing electronic ads that caused the citywide scare around Boston have been released on bond. Prosecutors¹ say the men were trying to cause fear and unrest, but after court the two mocked the case and made light of the situation.

2. Areas of the Southeast are under snow and ice following an overnight blast of wintry weather. Parts of South Carolina got up to 4 inches of snow and ice. And 30 counties in northern Georgia closed their schools for the day.

3. Maytag is recalling more than two million dishwashers because of faulty wiring. The appliance is in question of blame for causing 135 fires and 4 injuries.

4. They may look like the real thing. But police in Miami are warning consumers that these won't get you into the Super Bowl Sunday. Authorities say there are a number of fake tickets being offered to fans and on the Internet. And they promise to crack down on sellers.

 

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. make light of: phrase
If you make light of something, you treat it as though it is not serious or important, when in fact it is.

2. in question: phrase
If something is in question or has been called into question, doubt or uncertainty² has been expressed about it.

3. crack down: phrase
If people in authority crack down on a group of people, they become stricter in making the group obey rules or laws.

1 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

2 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。