美联社新闻一分钟 AP NEWS 2007-09-24

New York is preparing for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian president is visiting the United States this week and will deliver a speech to the United Nations and speak at Columbia University. Demonstrators are already lining¹ up.

After allegations that American civilian² security forces gunned down civilians³, US officials and Iraqis are revamping regulations for private security forces. An Iraqi official says pulling Blackwater out of Baghdad would create a security vacuum.

Marcel Marceau has died. The legendary⁴ mime⁵ entertained audiences for more than 50 years and never said a word. He once said Charlie Chaplin was his greatest inspiration. Marcel was 84.

It's a race to the open waters by some of the slowest creatures on earth. Environmentalists released thousands of sea turtles from a Mexican beach today, hoping to preserve the endangered species. Mexico is major nesting area for the reptiles. But turtle eggs are considered a delicacy⁷ in that country and each year officials seize thousands from markets.

1 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

5 mime   

n.指手画脚，做手势，哑剧演员，哑剧；vi./vt.指手画脚的表演，用哑剧的形式表演

参考例句：

• Several French mime artists will give some lectures this afternoon.几位法国哑剧表演艺术家将在今天下午做几场讲座。
• I couldn't speak Chinese,but I showed in mime that I wanted a drink.我不会讲汉语，但我作摹拟动作表示要一杯饮料。

6 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。