美联社新闻一分钟 2007-01-14（在线收听）

1. Much of the country, west of the Mississippi is coping with a paralyzing ice and snow storm. Inches of ice is expected in several Midwest states including Kansas and Oklahoma. Four deaths are blamed on the storm so far. Thousands are expected to lose power.

2. Residents in the St. Louis, Missouri suburb are expressing shock that a man who worked at a pizza place was arrested for kidnapping two boys. Thirteen-year-old Ben Ownby disappeared days ago. Another boy, Shawn Hornbeck had disappeared four years ago. Both have been reunited with their parents.

3. People in Alaska and Hawaii have the all clear after a Pacific earthquake touched off tsunami watches and warnings. The alerts have been canceled. The warnings were prompted after a strong earthquake of 8.3 magnitudes struck off Japan's northern coast.

4. A giant panda cub put on quite a show for her media debut. Mei Lan romped about a Zoo Atlanta exhibit area for the crowd. The 16-pound cub and her mother had been in seclusion since the cub's birth September 6th

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. all clear : N-SING
The all clear is a signal that a dangerous situation, for example an air raid, has ended.

2. touch off : PHR-V
If something touches off a situation or series of events, it causes it to start happening.d

3. put on a show : PHR-V
When people put on a show, exhibition, or service, they perform it or organize it.

4. seclusion : N-UNCOUNT
If you are living in seclusion, you are in a quiet place away from other people.