美联社新闻一分钟 AP NEWS 2007-11-01

1. As it moved out, Tropical Storm Noel triggered mudslides and floods in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The death toll¹ rose to 60 Wednesday, making it the second deadliest Atlantic storm this season. The killer² storm is now headed toward the Bahamas and bringing rough surfs to Florida.

2. Officials say one of last week’s devastating³ Southern California wildfires was accidentally started by a boy playing with matches. That fire destroyed 38,000 acres and 21 homes. It’s not immediately clear if he will be arrested or cited.

3. The accused ringleader of the 2004 Madrid train bombings has been acquitted⁴. The three lead defendants⁵ were found guilty of mass murder and other charges. One hundred ninety-one people were killed. Eighteen hundred others were hurt in the blast.

4. It was a record night for a rural Kansas football team. Smith Center High School scored 72 points in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s game. The undefeated team went on to win 83 to nothing. It’s believed to be a record for points scored in a quarter by a high school team.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

3 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

4 acquitted   

宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现

参考例句：

• The jury acquitted him of murder. 陪审团裁决他谋杀罪不成立。
• Five months ago she was acquitted on a shoplifting charge. 五个月前她被宣判未犯入店行窃罪。

5 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件