NPR 2011-11-12

 From NPR News in Washington, I’m Lakshmi Singh.

        US troops around the globe are paying tributes to veterans sustain including Afghanistan where NATO allies have joined in commemorations. This is the military ally reports the death of another soldier killed in an insurgent¹ attack in southern Afghanistan. 

        At the Tomb of the Unknowns, President Obama took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery² in honor of fallen service members. 

        “Three, go, three, dock,pull”

        In Taps play, Mr. President Obama and another stood in silence. 

        Italy Senate has approved the package of economic reforms demanded by the European Union. NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli reports that it’s a first step to work of replacing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. 

        The Senate voted 156 to 12 to pass the bill which now goes to the lower house that is expected to be approved by tomorrow. Berlusconi lost his majority Tuesday in promise to step down as soon as the austerity bill wins full approval. That could happen as early as tomorrow evening. There’re increasing indications that the economist³ Mario Monti is waiting in the wins to be tapped to form a national unity⁴ government but it’s not clear how much Parliamentary support would have. The main center-left opposition⁵ parties are firmly backing Monti. Berlusconi’s own party sharply divided between Monti backers and those waiting elections. And Berlusconi’s partner is outgoing coalition⁶ of Northern League will not back the new government. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.

        In Greece, a colorful swear-in ceremony was held today for Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, a global financial expert who has a new coalition cabinet to also help save Greece from bankruptcy⁸. 

        Americans seem to be feeling better about the economy. NPR’s Giles Snyder reports at a closely watch gauge⁹ of consumers sentiment is at its highest level in 5 months.

        The Thomason Reuters/University of Michigan’s preliminary index of consumer sentiment in November topped than analysts¹⁰ expectations are all consumer sentiment roles to 64.2 compared with October’s final reading of 60.9 and all set specters a small rise. The index cling on the strain of consumer expectations the service shows responders were less likely to expect the economy to worse in the euro head and were less pessimistic about the labor¹¹ market even as they remain gloomy about their own finances. Of the recovery of the optimism among consumers is a key to economic growth. Consumer spending accounts for 2/3 of economic activity. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

        One of the Mexican governments most prominent figures in its battle with drug cartels is dead. Francisco Blake Mora, the country’s interim¹² secretary and second highest official with among 8 people killed today in a helicopter crash southeast of Mexico City. 

        This is NPR.

        The United Nations is accusing Sudan of bombing a refugee camp in the newly independent country of South Sudan. As NPR’s Michele Kelemen reports the United States is worrying about the rising intensions in that region. 

        The UN’s top peacekeeping official confirmed reports that Sudan’s armed forces dropped at least 2 bombs near refugee camp in South Sudan. US ambassador Susan Rice called it outrages¹³ and says this is a moment for restrain. 

        “Government of Sudan needs to halt all offensive actions against the South. Immediately. And the South needs to have the wisdom and restraint not to take the bait and not to respond in kind.”

        Sudan accuses the South of supporting rebel movements in the North. South Sudan says its former rulers in the North are always trying to blame others for their problems. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.

        A conference is underway on saving the Atlantic blue fin⁷ tuna which has been overfished to be the demands of the world’s sushi markets. Delegates from 48 countries are in Turkey trying to determine how to monitor illegal catches. The European Union executive commission is expected to propose electronic surveillance. 

        In Turkey, meanwhile efforts underway to find more victims of Wednesday’s earthquake in the city of Van. The death toll¹⁴ now stands at 19 so far.

        At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up to 255 points, more than 2% at 12,149 in trading of 2 billion shares; NASDAQ up nearly 2% at 2,676; S&P 500 about 2%, it’s 1,263. This is NPR.

1 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

2 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

3 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 fin   

n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼

参考例句：

• They swim using a small fin on their back.它们用背上的小鳍游动。
• The aircraft has a long tail fin.那架飞机有一个长长的尾翼。

8 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

9 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

12 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

13 outrages   

引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• People are seeking retribution for the latest terrorist outrages. 人们在设法对恐怖分子最近的暴行进行严惩。
• He [She] is not allowed to commit any outrages. 不能任其胡作非为。

14 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。