美联社新闻一分钟 AP NEWS 2007-12-26

1.Pope¹ Benedict delivered his traditional Christmas address from the Vatican today, urging world leaders to find wisdom and courage. The Pope offered Christmas greetings in more than 60 different languages. Thousands gathered at St. Peter's Basilica for the annual tradition.

2.In New York Christmas Day was marked with celebration, and yes, even shopping. The famed toy store FAO Schwarz stayed open for last-minute buyers or those looking for a gift upgrade². Some shoppers say Christmas Day is the best day to hit the stores because the lines are short.

3.The holiday brought no reprieve³ from violence in Iraq. Officials say more than 30 people died after two suicide⁴ bombings north of Baghdad.

4.Brit's Queen Elizabeth went to high-tech⁵ with her Christmas message this year. The queen posted her address on the video sharing website Youtube. This year's message was the queen's 50th holiday broadcast.

1 pope   

n.（罗马天主教的）教皇

参考例句：

• The Pope is the spiritual leader of many Christians.教皇是众多基督徒的宗教领袖。
• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。

2 upgrade   

vt.提高，加强，改善；n.提高，改善

参考例句：

• We need to upgrade the status of teachers.我们需要提升老师的地位。
• To upgrade a clerk to manager.将办事员提升为经理。

3 reprieve   

n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解

参考例句：

• He was saved from the gallows by a lastminute reprieve.最后一刻的缓刑令把他从绞架上解救了下来。
• The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve.本应停运的铁路线获准多运行6 个月。

4 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

5 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。