美联社新闻一分钟 2007-07-28

1. NASA says it's unaware¹ of any astronauts who flew after heavy drinking, but the Space Agency says it is investigating. An independent panel says astronauts were cleared to fly after drinking despite warnings from NASA doctors.

2. Stocks continue their slide with investors² favoring a sell-off. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has finished down more than 500 points over two days, with investors worried about a climb in borrowing costs for companies and homeowners.

3. One of the 22 South Koreans held hostage in Afghanistan says the group is sick and says their lives are in danger. The Taliban wants prisoners released in exchange for hostages. If they are not, a purported⁴ spokesman for the kidnappers⁵ says, the Korean captives may be killed.

4. Another Hollywood's starlet is headed to jail. Nicole Richie pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs. She has been sentenced to 90 hours in jail and fined after driving a wrong way down a freeway.



WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. sell-off: N-COUNT usu with supp
The sell-off of something, for example an industry owned by the state or a company's shares, is the selling of it. (BUSINESS)

2. purport³: VERB V to-inf
If you say that someone or something purports⁶ to do or be a particular thing, you mean that they claim to do or be that thing, although you may not always believe that claim. (FORMAL)

3. starlet: N-COUNT
A starlet is a young actress who is expected to become a film star in the future. (JOURNALISM)

4. freeway: N-COUNT
A freeway is a major road that has been specially⁷ built for fast travel over long distances. Freeways have several lanes and special places where traffic gets on and leaves. (AM; in BRIT, usually use motorway)

1 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 purport   

n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是...

参考例句：

• Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.许多理论都标榜以单一的原因解释生长。
• Her letter may purport her forthcoming arrival.她的来信可能意味着她快要到了。

4 purported   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• the scene of the purported crime 传闻中的罪案发生地点
• The film purported to represent the lives of ordinary people. 这部影片声称旨在表现普通人的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 purports   

v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She purports to represent the whole group. 她自称代表整个团体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The document purports to be official but is really private. 那份文件据称是官方的，但实际上是私人的。 来自辞典例句

7 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。