美联社新闻一分钟 AP NEWS 2007-12-25

1. Atlanta authorities say police shot and wounded a robbery suspect in a parking lot of a suburban¹ shopping mall. The suspect showed a gun to an off-duty police officer after complaining he'd been robbed. Police later arrested the suspect at a nearby home and say his wounds were not life-threatening

2. In the waning² hours before Christmas, the nation's retailers³ got a pleasant surprise--a last-minute shopping surge. The extra spending is expected to help stores' meet modest sales goals.

3. Chicago's airports are reporting normal operations after hundreds of flights were canceled over the weekend. After a high wind swept through the region, the Chicago Department of Aviation says smooth travel and fewer passengers are expected at O'Hare and Midway Airports because of the holiday.

4. Thousands of Christian⁴ pilgrims from around the world gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. The crowds included American tourists, clergymen and Palestinian scouts⁵. Tourists said they felt more at ease because of new peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 scouts   

侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员

参考例句：

• to join the Scouts 参加童子军
• The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。