NPR 2012-07-02

 Millions of people in eastern states are still without electricity in a heat wave after major storms swept the region Friday night. Utilities warn it may be days before power is restored to everyone. But NPR’s Alison Keyes reports some people are sticking to their normal routine.

 

Out of the National Mall, Angeline Patil is dripping with sweat. She stands under a tree.

 

“Ah, it’s really hot.”

 

But despite sweltering temperature, she is out for a usual run.

 

“Almost maybe a mile or less.”

 

The mall seems nearly deserted¹ as many seek air conditioned shelter in the nearby museums. But Patel is still smiling and hoping to make close to ten miles.

 

“Yeah, I feel it’s good to get it done with. I’m probably not gonna be smiling. You know, a mile air of green thing."

 

Patel isn’t carrying water, saying she relies on the water fountains.

 

“But today I would say bring my extra water ’cause I still need more of it.”

 

Alison Keyes, NPR News.

 

About 10,000 people are still out of their homes in Colorado Springs because of a major wildfire that’s been burning for a week. Nearly 350 homes were destroyed. Don Reeves owns a house in a neighborhood called Caro Lakes. He says the firefighters are doing a great job, but he is frustrated² that he can’t get any information on his home.

 

“Because our home is in the neighborhood that is in the National Forest, we are concerned that obviously with the break-ins that have occurred in Colorado Springs, whether or not our area is actively³ patrolled.”

 

Officials warn of another problem: bears. Black bears have been displaced from their usual habitat by the fire, and they are loyal to neighborhoods by the scent⁴ of garbage. People rushing to leave failed to secure their trash against wildfire. 

 

The problem in northeastern India is too much water. Monsoon⁵ rains had inundated⁶ more than 2,000 villages in Assam state. Officials say at least 62 people died in floods and landslides⁷. Thousands of homes have been destroyed.

 

If the polls are right, Mexicans are poised⁸ today to bring back to power the PRI or PRI Party which lost the presidency⁹ 12 years ago. This is the same party that ruled Mexico for more than 70 years. The PRI’s presidential candidate Enrique Pe?a Nieto has been waiting the polls for months. From the central state of Mexico, NPR’s Carrie Kahn reports.

 

Here in Mexico State, just outside the capital, Enrique Pe?a Nieto is very popular. He was recently the governor and left office with high marks. Voters today have said they believe he is the best to fix the sluggish¹⁰ economy and violence that is good to Mexico for the past six years. And many voters say they believe Pe?a Nieto is different and not like the old PRI that ruled the country with an iron fist for most of the 20th century. Primary on voters minds are the economy, jobs and crime. Many say they are unhappy with the current administration of Felipe Calderón who promised to create jobs but spent much of his term launching a violent war against drug traffickers. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Mexico State.

 

This is NPR News from Washington.

 

The European Union implemented¹¹ new sanctions against Iran today, barring EU countries from buying oil from Iran. The embargo¹² was designed to pressure Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapons program.

 

British Prime Minister David Cameron says he’s considering putting the United Kingdom’s continued relationship with the EU to a public vote. Larry Miller¹³ reports.

 

Cameron doesn't want to leave the EU, saying that’s not in Britain’s best interest, nor does he want further integration¹⁴ with a 27-nation bloc¹⁵. He wants to scale it back. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Cameron says there’s too much bureaucracy in the EU, too much meddling¹⁶ in internal British issues and too much binding¹⁷ EU legislation that should be scrapped¹⁸. Cameron concedes his government’s coalition¹⁹ partners won't agree. The Liberal Democrats²⁰ are dedicated²¹ to European integration. So a referendum would not happen before the next election. And that’s if the Conservatives win. Cameron’s trying to appease²² his party and also lay out now what’s likely to be a key part of the Conservatives' campaign strategy. For NPR News, I’m Larry Miller in London.

 

If you are a fan of My Little Pony²³, there’s only one place to be this weekend, the Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey²⁴ for a convention of enthusiasts²⁵ for the Hasbro toy line first released in 1983. The Pony’s popularity led to television specials and movie and a cartoon series. About 4,000 people are attending the convention, many in costume. There’s a subset of fans that call themselves “bronies,” boys and men who love My Little Pony. Twenty-six-year-old Zac North from Dayton, Ohio says he likes the show because it’s colorful and innocent, which he says is something he doesn't have in his life.

 

I’m Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.

1 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

2 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

4 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

5 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

6 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 landslides   

山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数

参考例句：

• Landslides have cut off many villages in remote areas. 滑坡使边远地区的许多村庄与外界隔绝。
• The storm caused landslides and flooding in Savona. 风暴致使萨沃纳发生塌方和洪灾。

8 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

9 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

10 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

11 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

12 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

13 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

14 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

15 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

16 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

17 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

18 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

19 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。

20 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

22 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

23 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

24 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

25 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册